Beauty: 5 minute pamper ideas

In the ideal world we'd all be able to spend hours pimping and preening our body to perfection. But after a hard day at work, sometimes you just want to collapse into bed after dinner. I often struggle to do much of a beauty routine during the week - I have my current one down to a cool 15 minutes. But I don't want to wait until the weekend to get some pampering in - or rather my skin can't wait till them. So I've put together a few pampering products that only add an extra five minutes onto your night time routine. You can even spread them out over the week!

Jurlique Rose Hand Cream c/o
I'm a sucker for anything Rose scented so obviously this product had me at hello! I pop it on my hands just before I nod off to sleep. I find it a bit too thick for frequent use during the day but it's a perfect intense moisturiser. My hands feel so soft and supple the next day. It's a lifesaver especially in this continuous cold weather!

No 7 Beautiful Skin Hot Cloth Cleanser
I always stock up on this when Boots have their skincare vouchers. This is such a staple in my skincare collection - I can't sing it's praises enough. When I have more energy, I use this product to double cleanse my face. It helps to make sure every last scrap of make up has been removed. It only takes a few minutes but it makes a world of difference.

Lotil Cream with Aloe Vera Extract c/o
Feet are often forgotten about when it comes to personal grooming. This thick, luscious cream is perfect to slather on before you go to bed. Pop on a pair of socks to lock it in and voila you'll wake up with gorgeous tootsies. It literally takes a minute and the rewards will be great!

Super Facialist By Una Brennan Tea Flower Deep Clean Purifying Clay Mask
I found this tucked under my endless toiletries pile and decided to give it a whirl before Christmas. Since then it's become a staple. It only stays on your face for five minutes before you wash it off - perfect for when your bed is calling! It has quite a thin formula so it feels like it dries in an instant. Beware of a slight tingly feeling as it dries - it's nothing to worry about. My skin always feels so refreshed and I can notice the difference the next day.

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor Conditioner  c/o
As much as I love a deep conditioner, sometimes I haven't got the time or patience to wait ten minutes for it to work it's magic. This product takes just three minutes to make your hair silky smooth. I usually use it around three times a week to help my hair keep it's shine. You'll need a dollop the size of a golf ball and make sure you smooth it down to your very tips. It's fantastic if your hair is feeling a little dry.

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A few favourites #2

Mary Berry Baking Bible
I was very kindly given this by my sister-in-law for Christmas. I just adore Mary Berry - she's such a babe and whenever I follow her recipes I always have such incredibly tasting cakes. Admittedly I haven't made anything out of this yet as I've just not had time to think since the festive period. But things should calm down soon and I have the cheese straws and Swiss Roll at the top of list of things to bake.

Matalan Pink Initial Scarf
My mum bought my dad his own version of this scarf just before Christmas and kindly treated me too when I expressed an interest. I love things with my initial/name and I kind of feel a little like High School Musical in it. It's very warm and the £10 goes straight to Alder Hey charity. Not only do you look good but you do a good deed at the same time!

Topshop Forest Green Tunic
I've been on the hunt for suitable tops for jeans for what feels like my whole life. Okay slight exaggeration there... But in an era of crop tops, they're like a needle in a haystack. I'm quite fussy and like tops to cover my bum and to be long and flowing.  Thankfully Topshop have come up trumps with this tunic. I love the colour and it skims perfectly past my rather large booty - winner all round! I might have to get it in the oxblood colour too.

No7 Pop and Glow Cream Blush Stick
I bought this with a No7 voucher, used it once and then popped it in my make up drawer and promptly forgot all about it. Fast forward to a day where I was determined to finally get a hold on my mountain of stuff - never did - and I came across it. Since then it's barely left my cheeks. Although the colour looks a touch scary, it's the perfect shade to build to your tastes and has great staying power. I'd love to try other shades in the range.

Rimmel Apocalips Lip Laquer Big Bang
Over the last few months I can seem to get enough of a red lip and this is one of the top contenders that I reach for. It can be a little tricky to apply as it's so easy to be heavy handed with it. A lip liner might help to keep it under control. But it really does pack a punch.

Enrapture Totem Styler 
I asked for this a few birthday's ago when it reached the dizzy heights of the blogger hype. Everyone and their dog seems to have one. Again it had been pushed to one side for a good few months - sense a theme? I need to detox my room. But I picked it up before Christmas and instantly remembered how much I loved it. I adore the fact you can adjust the curl depending on your mood and it really does lasts on my dreaded heavy hair. Perfect!

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Night time skin routine

Origins Drink-Up Intensive Overnight Mask, Bioderma, No7 Beautiful Skin Hot Cloth Cleanser and Heaven By Deborah Mitchell Bee Venom Mask c/o

After many experiments with all kinds of lotions and potions over the years i've finally found a night time skin routine that suits me down to a tee.

Starting with the famous Bioderma, I use this to clear every last scrap of make up. I find it just glides off effortlessly with this cleanser and a little goes a long way. It only takes a couple of minutes to do my whole face. Next I use the hot cloth cleanser to ensure my face really is make up free! I smear over a semi thick layer and place a hot cloth on my face for around 30 seconds before wiping it off. I then quickly rinse the cloth with ice cold water and place it on my face for a nice shock!

I rub in a thick layer of the intensive mask and leave it on my face for around 10-15 minutes before using the eye cream over the top to finish off the job. I can't praise the Origins face mask enough, it does wonders for dry, tight skin and is a commuter's lifesaver. Those trains don't do anyone any good! Made with Shea Butter, Rose and Lavender essential oils, the eye cream is ideal for soft  skin and i've really noticed a difference since i've been using it both day at night. It's a great product if you're looking to help rehydrate your skin. I've noticed it helps to lighten my dreaded black circles too which is always a plus.

What do you use in your night time routine? Any gems I should try out?

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Beauty: January Empties

001: No7 Beautiful Skin Hot Cloth Cleanser
Review here

002: Paul Smith Hold Tight Firm Hold Hairpsray c/o work beauty drawer
I am like a magpie and when I spotted this bright pink bottle peaking up from the depth of the beauty drawer I thought it was worth a shot.  It stated that it was a firm hold hairspray but it seems a bit flimsy to be unless of course you sprayed for a very long time. Then it turned a bit crispy. It wasn't the perfect partner for my curls but did the job if it was in a topknot. It's not the best product I've tried and I do think there are better hairsprays out there in the price point. It's not something I'd pick up and buy with my own money.

003: Schwarzkopf Osis+ Sparkler Finish c/o work beauty drawer
This was another product I picked up in the same binge at work - have I mentioned how much I love my job? I'm always a bit confused by shine sprays. They always remind me of the Emperors New Clothes - do they actually make a difference. Maybe it's because luckily I've never had dull hair and it doesn't need much of a boost to help it shine. A good shampoo does the job! Therefore I'm not convinced this made a difference at all.

004: L'Oreal Elvive Nutri-gloss Crystal Sparkling Conditioner
I picked this up as it was on offer in Boots and had tried a few L'Oreal shampoos and conditioner before. This was a good conditioner, nothing too ground-breaking but it kept my hair lovely and soft. I had to brush my hair before as it didn't cope well on knotted hair.

005: L'Oreal Elvive Nutri-gloss Crystal Sparkling Shampoo
This shampoo lathered up brilliantly and a little went a long well. It seemed like the bottle lasted forever! It was such good value for money and I did buy it again a few times. It did they job well and kept my hair in good condition. I'm onto something else now just for a change!

006: Witch Cleansing Lotion c/o
I won this from Witch Skincare's twitter in their Flawless Followers competition. This cleansing lotion did the treat. It was gentle around the eye area and took out the make up without too much rubbing. It doesn't beat my Bioderma but it did the trick. Well worth picking up if you're on a budget.

007: Marc Jacobs Daisy
I have gone through so many bottles of this I have lost count. It's always brought for my birthday from my nan. I think it's the perfect day time scent as it's not too heavy and smells lovely and fresh. I like to think of it as my signature now!

Have you tried any of these products?

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December empties

Toni & Guy Glamour Firm Hold Hairspray c/o
I picked this up when I was kindly invited to a Boots pick and mix style press day through work - I can't get over how amazing it was! My mum and I both picked one up and can't stop singing it's praises. It is quite expensive and will work out to be a costly habit if you use hairspray like my mum every day. But it's perfect as a little treat! It keeps every hair in place without being crusty and isn't a pain to brush out at night. Overall it's a pretty good buy! I'd buy this again as it's offers great support for nights out.

Batiste Original Dry Shampoo
Review here

Prada Perfumed Bath Salts
These were a gift from a while ago and only just gotten round to using them all up! They were the ideal remedy for a relaxing weekend bath with the sweet aromas wafting around the bathroom. I don't really know what the deal is with bath salts. They just seem to make the room smell nice! Therefore I'm going to judge these on that basis and they get a thumbs up from me!

Jurlique Hyrda Control Ultra Rich Body Lotion c/o
Admittedly Jurlique was not a brand I was familiar with until I was invited along to a press day but boy am I glad I finally became wiser! I usually prefer body butters to lotions as they're thicker and feel more luxurious. This lotion however proved to be a corker. It was non-greasy - something essential when you apply post shower - and worked wonders for dry skin. It kept my skin supple and soft throughout the day. The pump proved very handy indeed!

Tommy Guns Bergamot and Inula Shampoo and Conditioner to protect and prolong colour treated hair c/o
These were including in a goodie bag and initially I was a bit hesitant about using them as I didn't have coloured hair. The beautiful citrus smell hit me as soon as I squeezed a blob in my hands - the perfect wake up call in a morning shower. It's quite expensive for only 250ml of product and I do think there's better value haircare out there. But it had a good impact on my hair and who can say no to pretty, shiny locks? I noticed it felt visibly softer too.

No7 Protect & Prefect Night Cream
I picked this up when I had a no7 voucher a few moths back. I've found it's a good quality moisturiser for a very reasonable price - well worth picking up. It doesn't make your skin feel greasy and sinks in more or less straight away without leaving any residue behind. It smells like the rest of the No7 skin range which isn't overpowering. Nothing worse than constantly smelling the same smell as you're trying to slip away to the land of nod.

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August Empties

Avene Gentle Eye Make Up Remover
Review here

Lee Stafford Breaking Hair Shampoo
This was going spare at work so I nabbed it to give it a little whirl. What a disappointment. It made my hair feel absolutely awful and it collected grease more often than normal. It didn't lather at all and I had to use a lot in order to feel like my hair had a good wash. It's not worth spending your hard earned pennies on!  

No7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Lotion
I'm a sucker for No7 products. I think they're such good value for money and always feel lovely on my skin. This was no exception. It helped my skin feel nice and refreshed in the morning and didn't break me out. It's one to pick up when the no7 vouchers come out again.

No7 Beautiful Skin Hot Cloth Cleanser
This is one product i'll continue to buy time and time again. It's perfect to use at the end of the day to get rid of all the grime on your face that has built up. It's like having your own little spa in your bathroom! I just leave it on for a couple of minutes to soak in and then remove for silky soft skin.

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula
Review here

No7 Beautiful Skin Day Cream Dry/Very Dry
Review here

Nivea Daily Essentials Regenerating Night Cream
I cannot recommend this product enough. It feels like a little bit of luxury on your skin despite the cheap price tag. The gorgeous thickness of the product glides on perfectly and makes your skin feel completely regenerated in the morning - exactly what it says on the tin!

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Holiday essentials

If you're anything like me, it can be a nightmare trying to condense your beauty products down to try and fit them in a suitcase when you go on holiday. They always seem to weigh an awful lot! These are just a few essentials that I believe are perfect for a trip away!

001. Toni and Guy Casual Sea Salt Texturising Spray
Hot weather can play havoc with your hair. I give up straightening my hair in the humidity as it just goes frizzy again anyway! I really can't be bothered to do anything fancy because let's face it, stuffing your face at dinner is much more important! This is where salt spray works wonders! I found this mini bottle worked a treat.

004. Caudalie Lip Conditioner
I've got to admit i'm a bit of a lip balm sell out, I carry so many around with me at once time and am constantly changing but this Caudalie product has a special place in my heart. I love the lipstick shape as it makes it so easy to apply and it doesn't go sticky nor does it melt in the heat. It works wonders on my lips, keeping them perfectly moisturised throughout the day ready for some lipstick in the evenings.

003. Etat Pur Biomimetique Micellar Cleansing Water c/o AX Paris goodie bag
I don't like to use cleansing water to take my make up off everyday - it's purely reserved for drunk and lazy nights. But a bottle of it is perfect for a holiday. It does everything so you don't need to carry around eye make up remover and a cleanser. I got this bottle in a goody bag from the Ax Paris event and it's doing it's job very nicely indeed.

004.Batiste original dry shampoo
Well i've spouted off enough rave reviews for this product so I really don't need to say anything other than make sure you pack it. It's a lifesaver to give your hair a bit of spring clean before you march down to the pool in the evening.

005. Ted Baker Rose, Vanilla, Sandalwood and Raspberry Body Spray
Sometimes perfume can feel to heavy in the daytime on holiday so I like to use a few spritzs of a body spray to keep me smelling fresh. They come in handy sized bottles and as they're made of plastic it helps to save a few kilos on your luggage allowance. Glass bottles can weigh a ton! This one was part of a Christmas gift set.

006. No 7 Protect and Prefect Night Cream
I have to use a cream at night otherwise my skin has a tantrum. This works great with the moisturiser below and helps to regenerate your sin overnight as it recovers from a day in the sun. I find the sun can be very drying!

007. No 7 Beautiful Skin Day Cream  Dry/Very Dry
I have to use a moisturising cream during the day and this one is perfect for taking on holiday. It had added spf so it doesn't matter too much if you forget to put suncream on your face first thing. Anyone else completely bypass their face too by accident?

008. Perfume samples
Like I mentioned earlier lugging a full size bottle of perfume on holiday can take up unnecessary weight. I tend to take a couple of perfume samples with me. That way you can have a different scent every night!

What are your holiday essentials?

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March empties

001: Original Batiste Dry Shampoo - Already reviewed.

002: Eau Thermale Avene Gentle Eye Make Up Remover
This was recommended to me by Sarah - she's a bit of a skincare guru - as she's a fellow contact lense wearing too. I fell in love with it and am already on my second bottle. It has a gel like consistency and feels lovely on my eyes. It glides on and doesn't seem to leave any grease behind. I'm looking to try other products of this brand if you have any suggestions!

003: Garnier Fresh Essentials Refreshing Toner Enriched with Grape Extract
Not much to say about this apart from it doesn't break me out and i've been using it religiously for around 4-5 years. I don't think i'll ever stray! I don't see the point of splashing the cash on a toner.

004: Lee Stafford Breaking Hair Treatment via the Beauty Drawer at work
I picked this up from work as I needed a new hair mask. My hair was looking dire! I've got a Lee Stafford hairdryer and used his dry shampoo before so was expecting good things. I wasn't disappointed. This did the trick perfectly and lasted a good few months as I only a treatment every fortnight or so. I didn't think the price was too shabby as i'll buy it again once i've used my other hair masks i've collected. Thumbs up from me!

005: Caudalie Eye and Lip Cream
This small sample came with some Caudalie products I ordered. The sample was so small I don't really know if it made a difference. But it felt gentle on my skin. Gotta be a plus point right?! It's suppose to reduce dark circles which seem to haunt me. Maybe i'll order the full size to try it out. Anyone used it before?

006: Soap and Glory Flake Away
I'm a massive fan of Soap and Glory and always find them in my present haul come Christmas' and Birthdays. I could smell this for hours and it makes me skin feel silky smooth. I find it a great choice for fake tanning. It really feels like it works - sometimes a bit too much maybe!

007: No 7 Protect and Perfect Day Cream SPF 15 - Review here

008: Caudalie Eau Demaquillante Cleansing Water
I use this in the evenings to take off my make up. It seems to scrap off every last bit and makes me feel lovely and refreshed before going to bed. I will make sure this enters my basket again but as with the case with the hair mask, I seem to have required a few cleansing products I have to use up first.

009: Nip and Fab Glycolic Fix Exfoliating Facial Pads
I once again required these through work. I'd read about the brand and was eager to try them out for myself. I was a bit underwhelmed and don't think i'll be splashing my cash on them. I didn't really think they made a difference and I have other exfoliaters I prefer.

What did you use up this month?

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Feburary Empties

Another month gone and another month of empties to report! Better late than never. How quick is this year going? Far too quick for my liking!

001. Boots Extract Cocoa Butter
I recieved this in a set for Christmas off my sister-in-law. She came up trumps as coconut is my favourite scent when it comes to skincare products. This was just the right thickness of products - I don't like mine too runny. It smells gorgeous and left my skin feeling nice and soft. It's just a shame I only got three uses out of it - I like to lather product on!

002. Dove Go Fresh Nourishing Body Wash in Plum and Sakura Blossom Scent
Yet another Christmas present from two years ago. Sense a theme? My family know i'm a sucker for lotions and potions. This had an absolutely gorgeous smell and had a fierce lather once it got going. I did find you had to put quite a big blob to make it last your whole body but maybe there's just a lot of me! I have long legs!

003. Loreal Elvive Full Restore Repairing Shampoo
I must admit i'm rather shoddy with taking care of my hair. I tend to use whatever my mum has picked up in her weekly shop. But i'd noticed that my hair had became rather lank and lifeless so thought i'd better do something pronto. I found this did the trick quite nicely and i'm already on my second bottle. It gave it such a shine and is pretty cheap too. I probably won't buy it again as i've heard you should change your shampoo every so often? But i'd would reconmend it!

004. No7 Completely Quenched Moisturising Body Lotion
This was another gift for Christmas and came in a brilliant hamper of no7 products. It lasted a whole month which was pretty special I thought. A little went quite a long way. I more or less used it every mourning. The only downside was it seemed to make my stretchmarks flare up again but this could just be down to the fact that I hadn't used coco butter for a few months. It has a great fresh smell and helps keep your dry patches on your elbows under control.

005. Nivea Daily Essentials Ricvh Regenerating Night Cream

006: Ghost - I have no idea what this name is as i've chucked it!
It may look like i've used a lot of perfume this month but these were halfway between getting empty. This is a pleasant scent and it's great as a daytime smell but it's not something I'd buy again as i's rather spend my money on Marc Jacobs Daisy.

007: DKNY Be Delicious
Another perfume bites the dust! I find this scent quite strong and lasts quite a long time without having to reapply. It's also a smell that catches peoples attention - quite a novelty to be told you smell a bit lush i'm sure you'll all agree! I'm already working my way through a second bottle and it's brilliant for an everyday scent as it's not too expensive.

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January Empties

This month I seem to be using up products like nobodies business! I've already done reviews on the linked products.

001: Aussie Take the Heat leave-in cream c/o Blogger event

I picked this up at an Aussie event I went to absolutely ages ago and have finally used it up. I tend to start a product and then get bored and it goes to one side. This didn't make my hair feel greasy which was a giant plus. I can't really comment too much as it's the first heat protection cream i've used but i'd definately buy it again if I didn't nab some different brands from work.

002: Batiste dry shampoo

003: Rimmel concealer

I have no idea what this is called as it's rubbed off but this was my failsafe product to try and disguise my dreaded dark circles. I've brought this time and time again. It glides on nicely and pretty much does what it says on the tin. The only reason why I wouldn't repurchase is because i've now discovered the Collection one. What a god send!

004: No7 Beautiful Skin eye make up remover

005: Marc Jacobs Daisy

This is my all time favourite daytime perfume - Chanel Coco Mademoiselle is my favourite evening. I spray this on by the bucketload. It smells so crisp and fresh. As you can tell i'm pretty rubbish at describing smells but I absolutely love this one!

006: No7 Beautiful Skin dry/very dry Day cream

007: Molton Brown vitalising vitamin AB+C Bath and shower

I recieved this in a glossybox back when I was a subscriber. I'm a massive fan of Molton Brown products - I just don't like the prices. It smells gorgeous and lathers up like a good 'un. There's nothing worse than a shower gel that performs pathetically.

008: Maybelline Colossal Volume express

I adore this mascara, it's one I got back to countless times. I love big fat brushes. I have fairly sensitive eyes and some mascara wands really hurt. This comes off like a dream and doesn't feel too rough on my eyes. It does the job very well indeed.

009: Vo5 High Volume extra strong hold weather resistant spray

Trying out a different brand has made me realise just how much I love this hairspray. It keeps your style nice and solid without feeling sticky and hard. The massive can is great value for money and it lasts for ages.

What items have you been using this month?

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I'll win your heart with a whit-woo

Outfit:
Silky cream blouse with a peter pan collar and sheer sleeves: c/o Glamorous
Black pleated maxi skirt: Clothing at Tesco
Quilted black ballet pumps: Primark
Cream and gold statement ring: Accessorize
Cream metal flower bangle: Primark
Red nail Varnish: No7 Rose Truffle

I was very kindly contacted by Glamourous and asked if I wanted to choose a few items. Obviously I said yes please and decided to choose some things that would be suitable to wear to work - I start on Thursday eeeek! The first was this lovely polka dot blouse. I loved the sheer sleeves and the peter pan collar. I always get a bit nervous when ordering online as i'm never too sure on the sizes. I went for my normal size 10 and the blouse fitted perfectly. It's lovely and loose around the bottom and doesn't draw attention to my hips - the one thing I always look for when buying tops! I also picked a blazer (which i'll show off soon) and got very excited when I saw they'd kindly chucked a tote bag in too - they are perfect to take car booting!

Like I said I start my new job on Thursday. It's amazing how quick it's came around and i've got my fingers crossed my first day goes ok! I'm so looking forward to it but also a little scared. It's an actual grown up job and it feels strange to have finally started my career! The bloggers picnic is on Saturday so I hope to see so many of you there - i'm making some scones so get there early ;) Destined to be the biggest blogging event this year, you'd be silly to miss out so get yourself down to Hyde Park!

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I said are you gonna be my girl

Outfit:
Purple floral playsuit: Next
Cropped black velvet jacket: Topshop
Black tights: Primark
Patent round toed black heels: Primark
Black ponyskin clutch bag: Primark
Lilac flower pearl ring: Primark
Purple cameo brooch: Mothers jewellery box
Nails: OPI Strawberry Margarita and No7

It's always a plus when you think you can't fit in anything anymore and by some miracle it fits when you put it on! Exactly what happened with this playsuit. This outfit is old. The playsuit is about two years old and I brought the jacket with the wages of my first job. £45 is a lot of money when your 15 and only earning £12 a week! I don't think i'll ever chuck it out purely for that reason!

Off out tonight down my nan's local working men's club that she's been going down every saturday night for the past 40 years. Her birthday is the day after mine on Tuesday so she orders a plate of sandwiches the saturday before at the club and all the family trots down there for the evening. Always nice to have a bit of family bonding!

Hope everyone has a lovely evening!

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Don't you know i'd chop a limb off just to have a good time

Outfit:

Seaside print blue dress: Primark

Chunky cream cardigan: C/O Joe Browns

Grey tights: Primark

Grey pumps: Primark

Nail: OPI Strawberry Margarita and No7

Pearl and diamond ring: 21st Birthday gift

Not perhaps the most wintery looking outfit but surprisingly warm with my massive faux fur coat thrown on. This is one of my favourite dresses, I adore the print and colours. A bargain at £12 back when Primark used to be dirt cheap. Think it's from a few seasons ago. I tried an accent nail manicure today and really like the two colours together even if my mum thought I was mad having one nail a different colour. After looking at these photos I am not quite sure my legs are ready for coloured tights, look a bit of a chunky monkey haha! Ah well hopefully if I stick to my diet I shall be half a stone lighter by the end of the month. Wishful thinking!

If you follow me on Twitter you'll already have heard my amazing news. I have been offered a six month freelance paid journalism contract at the company where i'm currently interning! Someone actually believes in me to pay me for my writing! I am completely over the moon and in shock that I will actually be a proper journalist and no longer an intern. Fingers crossed i'll impress and there is the work there for the contract to be extended when it finishes in July. I have a list as long as my arm of things I want to buy and places I want to go. Hopefully this will start with a visit to Aberdeen to see a friend in March! It will be so nice not to be skint for a little while and know I have at least six months worth of money.

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