October Birchbox Review

October Birchbox Review

It's been a couple of weeks since I last posted, as life is always really hectic in September. I managed to squeeze in another holiday before moving back to university, while sorting my portfolio alongside applying for internships and doing lots of research for new projects meant my blog wasn't always at the front of my mind!
Upon receiving the October Birchbox, however, I decided I had to do a (belated) review of both the box and my thoughts on the whole subscription service itself.

I've been a Birchbox subscriber for over two years now, and I've always loved having boxes delivered - they always surprise me with fab products to try out and even some full sized ones, with cult beauty brands often included such as Benefit, Spectrum Collections and Lord & Berry. They even send occasional lifestyle products, like bars of chocolate (!), This Works sprays and colourful photo holders - perfect for placing around my uni bedroom. I love that they do this, providing stuff for everyday life rather than just limiting themselves to the constraints of beauty products. The boxes themselves (or drawers, more recently!) are always handy and have really cool ideas - I've had boxes before that can be coloured in for competitions, or scratched away to reveal cool patterns with pennies, like scratchcards.

The theme for this month's Birchbox is Star Signs. As a Virgo (ignoring all recent news surrounding the introduction of Ophiuchus), I was sent the Earth box. I am not usually a fan of green, but Birchboxes are always beautifully designed and this one actually glows in the dark!

Lord & Berry

Maxi Matte Crayon Lipstick in Intimacy

This lipstick crayon was the full-sized product included in this month's box, worth £12.
It's a dark-rose shade with a matte finish, and I was looking forward to using this as I know from experience that Lord & Berry's lip products are great. I love matte lip pencils as they seem to have longer staying-power than lipsticks, though I always thought this was due to their heavy, drying texture. This 'crayon', however, has longevity and a creamy consistency, making it much more wearable in winter months when lips are prone to becoming dry. I'm sure I'll be using this a lot, as it's such a pretty shade too!

Batiste

Stylist Oomph My Locks XXL Volume Spray

As an extremely busy student that doesn't even own a hairdryer, I always keep an emergency stash of Batiste's amazing dry shampoo, which I find very volumising as it always gives hair a much-needed boost. I have tried this hairspray before and it too has worked wonders! The one thing I would say (from my incredibly naive point of view) is that the bottle should warn that it is actually a dry shampoo hairspray - I somehow expected an ordinary one, though it turned the top of my hair white and did actually seem harder to rub in! Despite this, it did volumise and make hair more stylable, so I'd always recommend Batiste products.

Doux Me

Pure Spring Mist

The most disappointing product in the box - this is literally water in a spray can. Not even joking, I tasted it too. Directions for use state that you should spray it on the face or body, however I'd probably advise against the face option unless you aren't wearing makeup. The Birchbox website actually says it can be used as a setting spray, though I'm not sure how this works as I imagine it would be more likely to leave a streaming mascara effect. The only time I can see this being of any use is during summer, as it is slightly cooling - like the other forms of water you don't have to waste £16 on...

Rituals 

Hammam Body Mud

This purifying body scrub is enriched with a refreshing eucalyptus scent and Rhassoul clay that can be used as a body mask to remove dead skin cells. I love the whole idea behind the Rituals ethos and how their products are inspired by ancient Eastern traditions and the use of fragrance. Aromatherapy has always intrigued me and Rituals focus on this as a way in which to relax and create your own mood-boosting 'rituals'.

Number 4

Fluoro5 Elixer Restore & Repair Oil

I have received quite a few Number 4 products from Birchbox so far, and can say that their various hair oils, sprays and serums always work well on repairing my hair. Their packaging is always pleasingly minimalist and fits well in any bathroom. I have used this a few times recently, as I have just gone white-blonde, and it definitely makes my hair much more manageable, tamed and shiny! I am always careful while using oils but I have even used small parts of this one towards the top of my hair and it still hasn't looked greasy or over-oily.

Birchbox

Eyebrow Brush

I haven't actually used this yet, as I expect it will work just as any other ordinary eyebrow brush does. One of the things I like about Birchbox though is how they do often include their own useful products, and these can be anything from pretty gold and ribbon bracelets (as I received in September), to handy little mirrors and pencil sharpeners.


Overall, I love this box as much as I do all the others I receive. The range of products included mean I very rarely have to go shopping for makeup or beauty essentials, as I have a huge stash of sample shampoos, foundations, mascaras and blushers that could last me a lifetime.

One of my new favourite things about Birchbox is how they have recently redesigned their boxes so they can now be conveniently stacked on top of one another rather than just having removable lids. I have always used my boxes to store various things such as fabric paints, beads, Pritt stick collections and even Polaroid photos, so finding that my last few boxes have arrived in a 'drawer' style has made me so pleased! I now store boxes on my desk, pulling out each drawer as I need to use it rather than having to disrupt a whole shelf so I can find something as small as a washi tape.

I'd highly recommend subscribing to Birchbox, as it's always something I look forward to receiving each month. It's not priced too highly considering the range of generously-sized samples and full-sized products included, not to mention how each box purchased and reviewed goes towards points to spend in the Birchbox shop.
If you subscribe using this link, you will receive 50% off your first box as well as £5 to spend on cult beauty products!

What's your favourite thing about Birchbox?
Thanks for reading,
Indy ♥

Graze Box Review

Graze Box Review

I'm a big fan of subscription boxes - I've been a Birchbox subscriber for over two years now, and love how everything I receive is like a self-gifted surprise! I have tried the Graze box before and loved it, but I thought I'd order another one to see if I want to become a full-time subscriber.











My first box included:

Banana Protein Flapjack

I didn't enjoy this flapjack as much as the other snacks, simply because I don't really like banana-flavoured things. I'll be putting this in my snack 'bin' on the website, as you can choose what you like, love, dislike and really want to try! I have since received other versions of the Graze flapjack, such as the lemon one, and loved them!

Herby Bread Basket

This was my favourite snack out of the whole box - I much prefer savoury to sweet foods so these were perfect for me and tasted amazing, with garlic, basil and oregano flavours. 

Triple Berry Smoothie

This one was very much enjoyed. I love all things fruity, so I had this one morning for breakfast and it was surprisingly filling! I was a bit put off by the idea of dried banana, but they did go well with the rest of the fruits so I can't complain.

Vanilla and Almond Protein Yoghurt Topper

I haven't yet tried this one, but I'm sure it will be lovely. I'm not a massive yoghurt eater but have since received another of these snacks in the post. I need to sort myself out and take advantage of the bin / try / like / love system on the website!

I love that everything Graze offers is healthy and interesting, with lots of protein and vitamin-rich options. All packaging is recyclable and biodegradable too, so they're very conscious about environmental issues.

The sizing of the Graze box is great; the plastic pots are perfect for keeping in your bag as a quick lunch snack, and nothing needs to be refrigerated so you can store them anywhere. The box itself fits nicely through the standard letterbox - a must for busy people, as you don't have to be home when it's delivered! Portion sizes are controlled by the brand's nutritionist, and are big enough to leave you feeling full and satisfied.

The boxes are only £3.99 - as a student, they're a really handy way to get healthy and affordable treats delivered, meaning you won't have to resort to having ice cream or something equally ridiculous as a midnight snack. If the Variety Box isn't your thing, Graze offer a range of other choices, from a Light (calorie aware) box to an Aromatic Broths box! There's also a shop selling ingredients from the bag, sharing bags and multipacks.

Have you tried the Graze box before? Which are your favourite snacks?
If you haven't yet subscribed, you can get your 1st, 5th and 10th boxes free here!

Indy  ♥

Benefit: Do The Hoola Review

Benefit: Do The Hoola Review

I recently ordered a Benefit kit with my Birchbox points. After wanting to try the Hoola bronzer a few times, but not wanting to splash out on the full-sized product in case it was the wrong shade, I decided to go for the 'Do The Hoola' box.

It comes with a good range of popular products to try, so this kit is a great idea for if you're not 100% sure about buying something!













The products are reviewed in order of swatches from top to bottom.

Hoola Bronzer

Dubbed as the UK's best-selling bronzer, Hoola is a natural-looking shade and you don't need to use too much of the powder to make a difference. I really liked this, as it wasn't orange at all and blended in with the rest of my makeup easily. It comes with a tiny version of the flat bronzing brush - this is really soft but did have a few bristles come loose. As this was the only downside to an otherwise amazing product, I'll definitely be buying the actual thing!

Dew The Hoola

One of Benefit's latest releases, this version of the Hoola bronzer is in liquid rather than powder form and aims to give a dewy look. When sampling this, it was quite orange and watery so I struggled to blend it in, though I may have used too much product. Due to this, I'm a bit wary of using it on my face - I'm happy enough with the powder version, and think I'll save this one to use on a day where I don't have to leave the house!

Benebalm

Okay, so I know this is a lip tint but I very rarely wear this kind of colour on my lips, so I tried it on my cheeks. I'm supposing it's meant to be similar to the Benetint, so I may have to buy that as it left a really nice pinkish colour that finished off my makeup nicely. I've never actually used blusher before, but it's definitely something I'll carry on using as I was pleasantly surprised when finding this actually looked okay!

Ultra Plush in Hoola

I'm not a huge fan of lipgloss, as I find it unbearably sticky and often just irritating. This one smells lovely and wasn't too sticky, though it did rub off rather easily. The shade is really nice, and did look good with the glow given by the other products in the box, but the small version is enough for me!

They're Real! Mascara in Barely Black

I've always gone for ultra-black mascaras wherever possible, so I never thought a Barely Black one would make much of an impact. It definitely did though! I do have quite long lashes naturally, but they're almost blonde in colour so I'm always looking for a mascara that catches them all. This one worked wonders, was easy to apply and has kept my lashes looking long all day. Definitely another product on my must-have list.

Thanks for reading! What are your favourite Benefit products?
Indy ♥

Grasmere

Grasmere

Today I visited Grasmere in the middle of the Lake District with Robbie and his grandma. It's always a popular tourist area so we thought it would be really busy on bank holiday Monday, but the visit was well worth the little people and car-dodging we did and it was actually quite quiet in most places.
 

Faeryland - a tea and coffee garden on the lakefront, with cute pastel-coloured rowing boats to hire.

We visited The Potting Shed for food as the menu sounded amazing. I went for the BBQ chicken pitta and vegetable ribbon salad with a feta yoghurt dressing and tzatziki and beetroot dips.

The setting was lovely as it was based in the Grasmere Garden Village - so we were surrounded by stone animals, flowers and wooden carvings of owls.

After food we visited the Wordsworth Daffodil Garden, right next to the famous Grasmere Gingerbread bakery and shop. Wordsworth lived in Grasmere and was therefore known as one of the 'Lake Poets,' alongside others such as Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

The final stanza from Wordsworth's poem, I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud. The paths of the park are filled with the names and locations of donors that bought their place on paving stones in aid of the church alongside which Wordsworth is buried.

We saw a few paragliders while walking next to the river. Something I've always wanted to do!





Overall we had a lovely day in the sun! Grasmere is such a pretty place and we walked past loads of pretty little gift shops, ice cream places and cafés. It's also home to the Lake Artists Society, which hosts a Summer and a Winter Exhibition in Grasmere's town hall, attracting over 10,000 visitors each time. The summer exhibition ends on the 7th September and the dates for the winter exhibition are still to be announced on the website. It was really cool to go there and see pieces by people such as my old art teacher and local artists I'd met during workshops. This actually inspired me to start a new Pinterest board based on Lake District art and artists, particularly those featured in the exhibition.

Thanks for reading,
Indy ♥

101 Ways to Stay Creative

101 Ways to Stay Creative

I posted something quite similar to this on an old blog I used to run. It was in response to a question I had been asked, and when it actually came to trying to find an answer, I felt like I had no clue how to respond. I feel like I'm always looking for ways to stay creative myself, so, while this list may help you too, it's definitely something I know I'll look back on while trying to think of new ways to stay imaginative. It's a long list, but there are so many ways to keep inspired that I wanted to share so many! Some might seem a little bit cringey or cliché, like number 28 and 52 (and basically every other number on this list), or even a little out of touch, but a big part of being creative is leaving your comfort zone and doing things you wouldn't usually do; so take risks and follow the list...

1. Stock up on pretty notebooks. Take one everywhere you go.
2. Make a creativity playlist - or listen to the 'Creativity Boost' one by Spotify. It's always updated and a pleasure to listen to while drawing.
3. Drink green or herbal tea.
4. Go into a book shop and buy the first book you see. Read it. Even if it's a biography about a train driver (not that I've ever come across one of those).
5. Have a Studio Ghibli film day. You have to watch My Neighbour Totoro and Grave of the Fireflies. But if you cry, it's not my fault. You will cry.
6. Find a new DIY project to do each week.
7. Look through other people's sketchbooks.
8. Learn how to lucid dream.
9. Refresh your living space; get rid of old, unwanted things and replace them with new, pre-loved or handmade stuff. 
10. Go for a drive in the rain.
11. Say yes to all new opportunities (unless they're ridiculous or you are feeling overwhelmed). 
12. Keep plants or grow some flowers. They are pretty!
13. Start a new sketchbook and fill each page with drawings that use a new material - charcoal, lipstick, oil pastels... Use stuff you would never normally think of putting on paper, like wet sand or bright jelly. I sound like an idiot. I am.
14. Have a look at some contemporary magazines to read - Kinfolk, Frankie and Rookie Mag are my favourites!
15. Ask questions. Stay curious.
16. Get a big box and fill it with art materials. You will use it, one day.
17. Use essential oils with different mood properties. Lemon, rosemary, jasmine and neroli are meant to enhance creativity.
18. Take up a new hobby, or just learn how to do something new.
19. Don't think too much about what you're doing.
20. Buy one of the Moleskine 'Passion Journals' - the art and book ones look really good.
21. Go to local markets, vintage fairs and even car boot sales.
22. You'll find some interesting stuff.
23. Decorate an old denim jacket with badges and patches of things you love.
24. Write a list of reasons to be happy. Read them when it's raining.
25. Make a gift for someone you appreciate. Have a lazy day! Spend it snuggled with your favourite book or film.
26. Get a Lomography camera and follow the rules. Get your film developed and laugh at what comes out.
27. Decorate natural things like stones, leaves and twigs. Leave them for people to find.
28. Try not to be a perfectionist. Mistakes can be turned into something new.
29. Draw with your 'wrong' hand, with your eyes shut, or without taking the pen off the paper.
30. Visit the Wikipedia 'random' page and refresh until you find something interesting. Read the whole article.
31. Keep a notebook full of inspirational quotes you come across.
32. Get away from technology for a day. Turn off your phone, laptop, and TV - go outside.
33. Listen to podcasts; you can always learn something new while going somewhere or even relaxing before sleep. I like Stuff You Should Know, The Complete Guide to Everything, and I also find TED talks really inspirational.
34. Complete a Wreck This Journal.
35. Read about people who inspire you.
36. Make a dream collage of all the things you want to achieve.
37. Go on a long bike ride with your headphones on.
38. Read '365 Days of Inspiration' book by Lizzie Cornwall - some of the ideas on here are featured in there.
39. Make your own fruit juice.
40. Find a blank piece of paper and fill it with whatever enters your head - drawings, doodles, thoughts...
41. Eat different foods you wouldn't normally try.
42. Keep a dream diary. Write in it as soon as you wake up so you don't forget. Use stuff that happens in your dreams to inspire drawings or short stories - even if you keep them to yourself. 
43. Create new Pinterest boards based on Dictionary's 'word of the day'. Fill them up.
44. Visit local art galleries and museums. Make sure you see everything.
45. Eat breakfast and drink your morning coffee in the sun.
46. Stick pictures of the things you love on bedroom walls, or around the house.
47. Go for a run.
48. Wear something you'd never usually wear - put bright colours together, or busy prints.
49. Travel. Keep a visual diary for each different place you visit, and keep tickets, notes, sketches and thoughts in there.
50. Be experimental.
51. Look at some of the books Anthropologie sells, they're always inspirational. I bought a 5-year diary and a 52 week list book from the Chelsea shop in New York, and I love them! The UK website stocks different things but they all have the same quirky and expressive feel.
52. On the same topic, Urban Outfitters (another company owned by URBN) have some similarly thought-provoking things on their bookshelves.
53. Learn to love what you do - or do what you love.
54. Go to a science museum.
55. Recycle something old.
56. Work somewhere new; outdoors, in bed, while travelling, in a cafe... Different perspectives can often give new ideas.
57. Get enough rest and don't overwork yourself.
58. Watch a new film each week. Netflix is full of both good and bad, but even the bad films can be... Encouraging...
59. Surround yourself with creative people.
60. Look at classes in your local area and find something that interests you. Draw your own imaginary world.
61. Grow a herb garden.
62. Collaborate.
63. Start using an adult colouring book! They're really therapeutic. I recently bought the Tropical Wonderland one by Millie Marotta, and spent hours colouring in with my three year-old sister. I did also feel like a three year-old, but it was very refreshing.
64. Stay open to new ideas and experiences.
65. Make sure you have time for you.
66. Don't think too much about the past - or the future.
67. Be spontaneous.
68. Start collecting books, even if you don't plan to read them in the near future.
69. Take on new challenges.
70. Break the 'rules' - do the opposite of what you're meant to do. Use colours that clash, forget about composition and being neat.
71. Don't just stick to one thing. You can change your mind whenever, whether it be related to something as big as a change in career path or even what you want to have for lunch.
72. Visit places that aren't obviously inspirational - the supermarket, historical sites, the beach, etc.
73. Help people. It will make you feel much better about yourself.
74. The Paperchase website will make you want to buy cute sketchbooks and photo albums. Even if you never use them, they're there.
75. Make a list of goals for the week, month or year; but make them realistic.
76. Listen more and talk less.
77. Make a mess! This is one of the art 'rules' I live by.
78. Don't compare yourself to others. Everyone has different ideas. Being creativity is very subjective.
79. Notice the small details.
80. Read poems.
81. Don't be afraid to leave something unfinished. You can always go back to it later with new ideas after a while.
82. Remind yourself that art is very personal - everyone should be creating their own thing.
83. Learn to cook a new favourite meal.
84. Learn about new places you've never heard of. Google is your friend.
85. Mistakes are no longer mistakes.
86. People watch.
87. Know that we are all human. (Except nasty people. They are just mean.)
88. Remind yourself that everyone has potential, even if you think you can't create things. Try it. 
89. Everything is interesting, and everyone has something new to teach you.
90. Make homemade ice lollies! Ice lollies are one of my favourite things. You will learn this. 
91. Spend time with your friends and family, but make sure you get enough time alone.
92. Don't rely on material things.
93. Listen to Sunscreen by Baz Luhrmann. It will make you feel much better.
94. Discuss your ideas with people. It will give you someone else's viewpoint.
95. Eat healthy foods.
96. Go through a whole year without buying someone a gift - make them instead. Find D.I.Y projects on Pinterest and use them to make things that are much more thoughtful.
97. Draw a new object every day... Even the every day stuff.
98. If you're stuck, list every idea that comes to mind. You'll find something innovative.
99. Reflect on your day each night. Don't think about what you could have done, but about what you will do next time.
100. Trust your instincts. Do what you feel like. Not everything has to be overly thought-out or heavily calculated.
101. Remember -

"The earth without art is just 'eh'."

Too Faced: Chocolate Bar

Too Faced: Chocolate Bar

While in Barcelona, I decided to treat myself to some Sephora buys. I already own too many eyeshadow palettes, but seeing the Too Faced 'Chocolate Bar' made me so happy - all the colours are ones I love to wear, the palette smells of chocolate and Too Faced is a brand I've always wanted to try. Their pretty, girlish packaging has always enticed me, along with their cruelty free mission and strong focus on confidence and empowering women.







The sixteen shades in the palette are all gorgeous; a mixture of very wearable glittery and matte neutrals, plums and pinks, each with hunger-inducing names. The colours are highly pigmented and last all day, even in the heat. They're also mixed with actual cocoa powder, which is where they get their delicious smell!

• Gilded Ganache - a glittery dark greenish-gold.
• White Chocolate - a creamy coloured matte.
• Milk Chocolate - matte, light tan shade.
• Black Forest Truffle - sparkly deep purple.
• Triple Fudge - dark brown, perfect for a strong smokey eye.
• Salted Caramel - almost orangey matte.
• Marzipan - a light but lustrous coral colour.
• Semi-Sweet - burnt neutral brown matte.
• Strawberry Bon Bon - matte, sweet pastel pink shade.
• Candied Violet - a bright gleaming cool-toned purple.
• Amaretto - a glimmering, warm purplish-pink.
• Hazelnut - warm-toned glittery brown.
• Creme Brulee - unbelievably shimmery, a radiant gold.
• Haute Chocolate - a darker, luminous brown.
• Cherry Cordial - a dark, sparkling burgundy-maroon.
• Champagne Truffle - I sometimes use this one as a highlighter; it's a glowy pinkish shade that accentuates underneath the brow really well.

Have you ever used Too Faced products? Which are your favourites? I'd love to try more!
Indy ♥

Benicàssim Festival

Benicàssim Festival

Okay, so I'm aware that my blog is full of travel stuff at the moment, but I've been on a couple of holidays just recently so it's all I've been up to the past month!

I got back from a trip to Spain with my flatmates and a couple of other friends about a week ago. We had gone to the festival in the first week and Barcelona for the second week (more on that in a later post). The festival itself was in Valencia, so after arriving at Barcelona airport we took the three hour bus to the town of Benicàssim. The bus was freezing as the air-con was on way too low - or high? But as soon as we finally arrived we had to trek our suitcases through the heat and what seemed like miles of bumpy dirt paths, so I'd have been grateful for any cool air!

Just a warning that this is going to be a really photo-heavy post, as usual...



Playsuit: Missguided
Shoes: Superga
Bag: Primark
Anklet: from a stall in Benicassim town. I haven't taken it off since I bought it, so it's survived a lot of swimming in the sea and wandering around Spain!

Landing at Barcelona airport - the sunset looked amazing. I always love flying while the sun goes down, the colours are unreal.








Issy's bag: New Look
Stopping off at a service station for a snack and a break while on the way to Benicassim from the airport.

Our faces got progressively glittery as the week went on. We also didn't get Wi-Fi by the tent so I made my own Snapchat filter. So clever.

Right at the beginning of the week, on the bus en route to the beach.

Enjoying watermelon from the fruit stand! Grabbing some fruit and freshly-squeezed orange juice in a morning was so refreshing after waking up in a boiling tent.

Headband: Claire's Accessories - I don't usually shop here, but I'd gone in with a friend once as she looked for something and thought this would actually be really cool for festivals!

The inside of the Toastie Shack was really cute, with bright bunting and metallic signs. It even had a disco ball. Amazing.

Some of the pretty streets we found in the town. There were quite a few colourful buildings too, it's such a nice place! We spent most of our days sunbathing / sleeping on the beach and going in the sea to cool down, then wandering around the town looking for nice places to eat.

Vegetable and smoked cheese bruschetta, with aubergine, courgette, tomato and leek.

Salmon carbonara - this was actually really nice but I ate the tiniest bit as I was so full after my bruschetta starter! I think our stomachs were shocked whenever we tried to eat a full meal, as we lived off baguettes and crisps whenever we weren't by a restaurant.

Playsuit: Missguided (as seen before)
I actually look tanned on here - I somehow ended up being the only one of us that didn't burn! My face doesn't tan well though, so it always looks really pale in comparison to the rest of me when I go away.

Necklaces: New Look

Dress: ASOS
Shoes: Topshop

Bralette: Calvin Klein
Tattoo: from a strange shop in the town

After looking back on this post, I've realised I haven't put photos of the acts themselves - I mainly took videos or all my images were on Snapchat, which weren't saved to my phone. Oops. We saw some amazing people though, some of my favourites were Mac Demarco, Biffy Clyro, The Chemical Brothers, Muse, Hannah Wants, Skepta, The Vaccines, Disclosure and Bloc Party. I did miss a few acts I wanted to see, like Massive Attack, as everything is on until about six in the morning due to there being no acts on in the day. I'd really recommend the festival on the whole though; I just didn't sleep great and I am always tired anyway - I struggle to stay awake past 10PM at the moment. It was lovely being able to camp at a festival without getting caked in wet mud though, as there was obviously very little chance of rain. I'm used to English festivals, where it pours for about a week and everything gets ruined due to basically camping in a swamp. Overall, the festival was a great experience for my first time at Beni - but here are some tips for next time...

Tips

• Make sure to get enough sleep, even if it is on the beach during the day. Just don't fall asleep in the sun!
• Take some old trainers you don't mind getting ruined. My white Supergas were brown by the end of the festival, but I had to wear them while in the arena to avoid my feet getting trampled while in sandals. The dust and stones also get into sandals really easily, so trainers were often more practical.
• Buy a couple of disposable cameras to use while you're there.
• Learn a bit of Spanish before you go. It goes a long way when you're trying to communicate, I know I struggled sometimes.
• Buy the Benicassim bus card at the beginning of the festival. It's only 15 Euros and makes getting on and off the bus so much quicker, you even skip the queues sometimes.
• Take tons of baby wipes and antibacterial stuff - 'Wet Ones' wipes are really handy for keeping hands clean and bacteria-free. You and everything you own will either get covered in dust from the ground, or sand from the beach.
• Be prepared with all the medications and creams you need. I was our camp's go-to pharmacist as I had loads of different creams with me, from antihistamines and calamine lotion for bites to aqueous cream and Elizabeth Arden's 8-hour stuff to use as extra-strong aftersun.
• Drink a lot of water and wear a hat. Being dehydrated and getting ill from sun stroke is absolutely not fun.
• Buy a cooler box and make sure to get ice from the supermarket every day to keep drinks and aftersun cool. Drinking warm Desperados is never fun.
• Take a good portable charger for your phone. I lasted the week without my phone dying once, as I had bought a RavPower charger for about £20 - it charged my phone a full six times! This also stops you going to the charger tent and spending 10 Euros on a charger that will only charge your phone once, if that, before it breaks; this happened to a friend.

Have you ever been to Beni? How did you find it?
Indy ♥

M&S Home Favourites

M&S Home Favourites

I have to admit that M&S wouldn't be my first place to go for homeware, but at work I'm always walking past the home section and seeing stuff I'd love to buy. With moving back to university soon, I've been looking on the  website  too, and there's so many pretty new things out to decorate your space with! Here are some of my favourites, some of which I'll definitely be buying in time for moving into my new flat.

1. Kerava Armchair - £249 - I love the colours on this armchair as well as the geometric print. While I probably won't be buying any armchairs any time soon, I love the idea of using a statement chair to brighten up a room and this one really stood out for me.
2. Tribeca 4 Pack Mixed Side Plate Set - £19.50 - The botanical prints on these plates are lovely - can you tell I'm a huge print fan yet? Side plates are also the perfect size for snacking (something I do a lot).
3. Lavender and Chamomile Lidded Filled Candle - £12 - I love the smell of both lavender and chamomile, as I always have a chamomile tea before bed and spray my pillows with lavender scented sleep spray; so this candle would be the perfect thing to help get me to sleep.
4. Metal Globe - £69 - I'm not much good with maps but I know I need to improve my geographical awareness. This metal globe would be a great accessory to any room.
5. Pom-Pom Throw in Cream - £69 - Using a throw is one of the easiest ways to change the look of your bedroom and make things feel cosy. As I love bright and colourful bedding, a plain one with fluffy pom-poms would mean nothing looked too in-your-face.
6. Hexagonal Mirror Frame - £19.50 - This mirror has a clean, minimalistic feel, which I love alongside busy prints and an abundance of useless trinkets. I'm a bit of a hoarder so often find my spaces looking a bit too fussy if I'm not careful.
7. Abstract Paint Wall Art - £19.50 - I really love abstract art (I have a whole Pinterest board dedicated to the movement), and the colours in this piece are really eye-catching.
8. Floral Birds Trinket Box - £29.50 - Another cute, delicate print. I own so many little bits and bobs like jewellery and small washi tapes that clutter my desk, so I'm forever looking for nice boxes and holders to keep them all in.
9. Alphabet N Cushion - £15 - All the alphabet cushions by M&S are individual, but they're all brilliantly colourful and quirky!
10. Metal Ornate Fruit Bowl - £19.50 - This is similar to the mirror with its gold hexagonal shapes, and metal accents make any room look utilitarian cool.
11. Isobella Bedding Set - £15 - £45 - This is something I'm definitely going to buy. The double set is only £25, a bargain for a good quality M&S product!

I hope you like the items I've picked out. There's so many more to see on the website, so it's definitely worth having a look for yourselves if you're thinking of decorating a room with lovely pieces! Which are your favourites?

Thank you for reading,
Indy ♥

Dalyan

Dalyan

While in Turkey, we went on a day tour to Dalyan, organised by a tour guide friend, to visit the mud baths and see the turtles. The day featured lots of boat rides, some amazing views and an hour of being slathered in herb-infused mud. The bus journey took about three hours each way, but was so worth it.

Dalyan is a town in Mugla, surrounded by the most beautiful mountains and amazing turquoise sea. It's home to the endangered loggerhead turtle, who lay their eggs on the protected beaches.

Mud Baths

The mud baths - there were about five different areas of mud, each mixed with a different type of skin-enriching plant, such as rosemary and rose. Afterwards our skin did actually feel really good! The only downside was that we had to spend about half an hour trying to scrub ourselves off in the showers (and it was literally everywhere).

This makes me laugh because I look like something that just crawled out of Shrek's swamp and Robbie looks really good. There were also a lot of fat, muddy men that actually looked like Shrek himself.

Seeing the Turtles

Lunch was included in the tour, a salad buffet with a choice of chicken or fish. When it comes to choosing between meat or fish, I almost always choose fish!

We also ate some freshly caught and cooked crab while on the boat, and got to hold some of the live ones - they creep me out so much.

(not a real turtle)

I bought this for my little sister, Sailor, from the shop near the buffet place.

Lycian tombs cut out of rock. I had to zoom in a bit for this photo so it looks nowhere near as amazing as the real thing.

(a real turtle)

It was so cool seeing these swimming around and coming to the surface to catch pieces of crab! I've always loved turtles so getting to sea them in their natural habitat was a really good experience.

The Beach

We went to the beach before heading back, to see where the turtles lay their eggs, which are surrounded by metal cages. People also aren't allowed to sunbathe or stay around the area and are told to move further down the beach, in order to protect the eggs.

So there was our day trip to Dalyan! It was a great experience and a fab day, so I'd really recommend it to anyone thinking of going to Turkey. I think it also cost around just £20 in total too, so it's really affordable. We had gone to Pamukkale last year on a tour, which was also amazing, but I actually think I preferred this one more.

Thanks for reading!

Indy ♥