2016

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

2015 was hard, I guess. I mean it wasn't the worst year I've ever had, but it's up there on the list. I'm tired of my life being like this and I really, really want 2016 to be better. But I've learnt that I can't just expect it to be my year, I have to make it my year. I want to help myself and just be genuinely happy. For a long time, I guess you could say I just expected things to become better all by themselves but I now know they won't and I have to do that myself, yknow? 

Essentially what I'm getting at is that I'm super determined to make 2016 my year, so I thought I'd share my New Year's Resolutions with you. And I know some people think New Year's Resolutions are dumb and think things like 'why wait until the New Year to change your life?' etc, and for me personally, it's because I feel more motivated to do so, I guess?  

Care less about what people think of me. I care too much about what people think and it holds me back too much. I need to do what I want to do, say, wear, etc, without letting other people's opinions affect me because at the end of the day (this is going to be a cliche) it's my life and I need to live it for myself. 

Be more consistent with my blog. Blogging is something I really love doing and I just want to be more consistent. I've wanted a camera for years because I also really love photography and I've saved up and finally bought myself one - I got the Canon 1200D and it's made me really excited to start doing more blog posts. I've never had an upload day before but I've decided that I'm going to post on Thursdays. I may also post twice a week, but I'll always tweet about it, so if you want you can follow my twitter here - @autumnntaste

Go on adventures and make memories.  Truth time: I don't get out much, at all. I'm home/online schooled, I have anxiety and basically it's really hard for me. This year I just want to do things you know, I really want to try and control and deal with my anxiety, because like I said I just can't live like this anymore, I'm tired of it and I just want to live and have fun and make memories, yknow? 

Those three are my, I guess you could say main resolutions? I have a few others too, but I won't expand on those because I don't want to bore you to death haha. 

Appreciate the small things. 

Love myself and be confident. 

Enjoy life and be happy. 

Make more friends. 

Donate my hair. 

Be healthier. 

Say yes to more things and step out of my comfort zone. 

I think these are do-able, I mean I hope they are haha. I hope you've had a great start to the year and leave some of your New Year's Resolutions in the comments. Thank you for reading!

Love, 

Shannon

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December Favourites

I'm back with a good old favourites post today. I say that as if it's been forever, but it's only been a week haha. December has been a really busy month, which was obviously expected but now I am exhausted! Honestly, this year has gone so fast I can't quite believe it? I feel as if I've missed most of it. 

 

Beauty

First up is the Real Techniques Travel Essentials Set. I picked these up in Superdrug when they were in the sale and I really love them. Considering that they're 'Travel Essentials', they are still full sized brushes which is why I picked them up as these are also my first proper makeup brushes. I've been using these ever since I got them and they're so soft and nice, also look how cute they look haha! 

Next is the Tanya Burr Rosy Flush Cheek Palette. My mum actually got me this for Christmas and I've used it nearly everyday since. I am very pale and I've never used bronzer before so I was a bit iffy about using the bronzer, but it's so pretty! It's definitely the right shade for me and it's not too dark or orange. I really love this palette, it's so gorgeous and the packaging is so pretty too! 

 My next favourites are the Zoella Scrubbing Me Softly Body Scrub and the Zoella Candy Cream Body Lotion. These smell amazing and the actual products are so good, my skin has never felt better! I love that in the body lotion there are little pink beads that burst when you rub it in - I don't know why that satisfies me so much haha. I honestly rate these so much, you should definitely give these a try if you haven't already! 

Next up is The Body Shop Vanilla Body Mist. I've had this before and absolutely loved it but it ran out a few months ago. So I was extremely happy to see that my mum got me this for Christmas! I'm very picky with scents, but this smells so good I wish you could smell it through the screen haha. 

Skincare

On boxing day I picked up the Simple Kind To Skin Purifying Cleansing Lotion and the Simple Kind To Skin Soothing Facial Toner for only around £1 each! I've never had a proper skincare routine, I used to just take my makeup off and moisturise but now I'm so glad I picked these up! My skin has felt so good over the past few days and so fresh and hydrated and I can really tell the difference by using these! 

Random

My random favourite for this month is an adult colouring book and I don't have a link for it as it was a birthday present, but you can pick these up anywhere! Colouring is so relaxing, and I've really been loving colouring this month as it's just such a great way to de-stress, or even just for fun! My sister has one too, and we've been colouring together and singing along to Disney songs haha. 

What have you been loving this month? 

I hope you all had a great Christmas and if you don't celebrate Christmas, I hope you had a great day anyway - also happy new year! 

Love,

Shannon

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Christmas Tag

There is only three days until Christmas, yet I don't feel festive at all. So, hopefully by doing this tag I will get in the festive spirit! 

1. Favourite Christmas Movie? 
I think probably The Holiday, The Polar Express or Home Alone! Oooh, I also love The Snowman too! 

2. Have you ever had a White Christmas? 
I don't think I ever have, I don't remember one anyway. It rarely snows in the South of England, and if it does, it's not a lot at all! (doesn't stop me from hoping we'll have one though) 

3. Favourite Christmas Song?
I have so many, I couldn't narrow it down to just one! I have a Christmas playlist if you want to have a look - Christmas Playlist

4. Where do you usually spend your Christmas? 
Usually at home and my family will come over and spend the day, but this year we're spending it by ourselves. We're just going to have a chill day, eat food, watch films and play a few games so it should be good!

5. Do you open any presents on Christmas Eve? 
No, we wait until Christmas Day to open presents. 

6. Can you name all of Santa's Reindeer's? 
Rudolph, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer.. no.

7. What holiday traditions are you looking forward to this year? 
Getting up early and waiting with my brother and sisters until we're allowed to come downstairs, the food, ah so many! 

8. Is your Christmas tree real or fake? 
Fake. My mum isn't a fan of real ones haha.

9. What's your favourite holiday food? 
Christmas dinner, especially Yorkshire Puddings, they are the best things ever! I also love all the tinned sweets, like Celebrations, Quality Streets etc. 

10. Do you prefer giving or receiving gifts? 
Being totally honest here, receiving gifts is really fun but I also really love giving gifts. I think I'm more excited to give my mum her presents this year and see her reaction! 

11. What's the best gift you've ever received? 
One that particularly stands out is one I received when I was 10; I got a Nintendo DSI and I remember being so excited and I thought it was the best present ever haha!

12. Where would be your dream place to visit for the Christmas Season? 
I'm going to be really stereotypical here and say New York. In all the photos I've seen, it looks incredible and so beautiful!

13. Are you a pro present wrapper, or do you fail miserably? 
I mean I'm not the best, but I'd like to think I'm pretty good haha! 

14. Most memorable holiday moment? 
I have no idea, there's so many! 

15. Do you make any New Years Resolutions, if so do you stick to them? 
Sometimes, but I've never stuck to them! I'm going to be making some this year (expect a blog post) and I'm determined to stick to them!

I hope you enjoyed this post, thank you for reading! And I hope you have a great Christmas if I don't do a post beforehand! 

Love,
Shannon


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Christmas Gift Guide | Under £10

Hi! 

As you can obviously tell by the title of this post, I am going to be doing a Christmas Gift Guide! I've never done a Gift Guide before, but I really enjoy watching and reading them as they're always helpful and full of inspiration; so hopefully this helps you in some way! 

Lush Cosmic Gift Box 
I have never tried anything from Lush, shocker I know, so personally I don't know what their products are like but SO many people rave about them, so I'm guessing they're good haha! In this particular gift box there are two bath bombs; Intergalactic and Twilight. Lush do quite a variety of different sets with different products in so it's definitely worth checking that out! 

Lush Cosmic Gift Box  £9.50

Zoella Beauty Two Balmy Lip Balm Duo
In this duo you get a Vanilla Cream lip balm and a Sweet Mint lip balm and they're only £5 which is really good. This is part of Zoe's limited edition Christmas range so beware of the fact that they are selling out very quickly. I think it's sold out on the feel unique site at the moment, but Superdrug also sell them! 

Zoella Beauty Two Balmy Lip Balm Duo £5

Nivea Mini Treats Gift Set
In this set you get four products and I think it'd be such a cute stocking filler! I'm probably going to get this for my mum, also it's very affordable too!

Nivea Mini Treats Gift Set £4

Enchanted Forest Colouring Book - Johanna Basford 
Colouring is really relaxing and calming and it's a really great way to de-stress. I think this is a really good gift for people you know who get stressed easy or really just in general as they're super fun too haha! (Side note - it'd probably be a good idea to get some pens/pencils with it!) 

Enchanted Forest Colouring Book £4.99 

Quality Street Jar 
Chocolate is a great gift for any time of the year haha, but it's perfect for Christmas! Quality Streets are amazing, I also love Celebrations! 

Sprinkle Of Glitter 2016 Diary
I feel like this diary would be a really good gift idea for someone who watches Louise - or even if they don't, everyone needs a diary! I got this for my birthday last week and I really love it, it's very Louise-y (obviously, as she made it) and it's got a very personal feel to it, yknow?

Sprinkle Of Glitter 2016 Diary £4 

A Candle
Candles are a great gift, I know my mum loves her candles haha! I think anyone would be happy with a great smelling candle if I'm honest. 

Looking For Alaska - John Green
Obviously this can be any book, but I chose Looking For Alaska. I think it'd be really great for a friend who likes to read, or even a family member who is in their teenage years as it's such an amazing book!

Looking For Alaska £3.85

Tanya Burr Candy Glam Beauty Essentials Palette 
This would be a really good gift for someone who likes makeup. This palette includes nine special edition eye shadows, a blusher, a bronzer and a lip gloss. I think this is such a pretty palette and I think it's a really good price considering how much is included! 

Tanya Burr Candy Glam Palette £10

So that's my Christmas Gift Guide, I hope this was helpful in some way! 

Thank you for reading!

Love, 
Shannon

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My Christmas Playlist

Like I said in my last post, it is now completely acceptable to be listening to Christmas music. Just like Christmas films, Christmas music is really uplifting and puts you in a really good mood and it's one of my favourite parts of this season. 

I've had this playlist on shuffle ever since I made it, what is December without Christmas music?  

I think I've got quite a few classics but a lot of the songs on here are covers from current artists. My all time favourite Christmas album is definitely Under The Mistletoe by Justin Bieber so there are quite a few songs from there on here too! 

Let me know if I've missed any important songs!

My Christmas Playlist

What are some of your favourite Christmas songs? 

Love,

Shannon 

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