Here we have some life ramblings of things happening at the moment... 




If you had spoken to me a month ago and asked me the dreaded question of "So, Sarah, what are you doing after university?" I would have to make something up about looking for a job and nervously laugh as the real answer is actually "I have no clue".  I had ideas of plan A, B and C in my head but I had no idea whether these were real plans that were realistic or would work for me. I actually have ended up with an outcome that I never had planned and so I thought I'd share with you how things have changed in the past few months and how they are going to carry on changing in the future. 

Graduating for University
If you didn't know, I've spent the past three years studying Psychology BSc at the University of York. As of last Thursday, I am officially a graduate and I have said goodbye to the university that I adored. On the whole, I really loved spending the last few years here as well as living in such a lovely city. More sadly, it's time to say goodbye to that beloved student discount; I really don't know what I'll do without it! 

After quite a stressful and tough final year, I shocked myself by managing to come out with a first in my degree. I'm so happy that all my hard work paid off! I loved my degree as it was so fascinating and I was always learning something new. While I'm giving my psychological brain a rest, for now, my love for the subject will always be there and I may revisit the subject in the future. 

I am thinking of doing a more in-depth post about my time in university and what third-year specifically taught me as well as some honest thoughts about my university so keep an eye out for that one. 

Getting a Job 
I'll keep this brief but yes, I manage to find a job! An internship to be specific but one I think will open a lot of doors and will be a really fun and interesting position in a really creative company. 

I think I may do a separate post on this later down the line once I'm settled into the role but, honestly, if it wasn't for my blog, I don't think I would have been able to get this internship and the position I did. I'm so excited to start this internship next week! 

Moving to London
I remember saying a few weeks ago "I could never move to London" and two weeks later I was planning on moving down there. As I started looking for jobs, it seems very evident that, while I'd love to stay in York, London was where the experience was and the jobs I wanted. 

While most people do move back home with their parents, after managing to save enough money from my part-time job to put a deposit on a flat, I couldn't see myself adjusting back to living with the family. I thought it seemed perfect to challenge myself a little by moving out completely after uni and moving to London. Along with getting this internship in London, it seemed only right. 

I'll be moving down this Thursday and I can quite frankly admit that I am scared with just the weekend to adjust enough to start my job the following Monday. I don't think I'll be more ready than I am now so fingers crossed it all works out. 


A lot of big changes are happening at once and, for once, I seem to be embracing it (with still a pinch of apprehension). As university ends, my new chapter in London is soon to start and while I'm incredibly nervous to be living in a completely new and unknown environment, I'm also excited to see how it all goes. 

Hope you're doing great, 
Sarah x

I feel like we all like to recommend new music to people; whether it's something completely different to what they are used to or something you think they'd like as it has a familiar sound to their other favourites. Here, I thought I'd share with you five albums that are not only great for the summer but suitable for different music tastes. Hopefully, you'll discover a new album or artist that you haven't given a listen to before. 

Jeremy Zucker // Motions

Jeremy Zucker has a chilled tone that I have loved to have in the background while I clean, work or read. The album Motions includes tracks that make the perfect late night playlist.  While it was released back in 2017, it’s only a recent discovery for me along with his more recent tracks that I’ve also been loving. If you’re looking for an artist to add to your late night, chilled playlist, Motions is the perfect album for that.

Favourite Tracks: Heavy, Idk Love & Stay Quiet

LAUV // I met you when I was 18

Like with Jeremy Zucker, LAUV’s album is perfect to have on in the background and enjoy. This album has a mixture of slower songs that I enjoy the most, as well as some more upbeat tracks like Chasing Fire that are great for the summer and long car journeys.  It’s the album that I can have on while I’m tidying and I’ll soon catch myself bobbing and even singing along to. 

Favourite Tracks: Never Not, The Story Never Ends, Chasing Fire

BTS // Map of The Soul: Persona

I’ve already mentioned this album in my last “READ, WATCH, LISTEN“. Since that post, I actually saw BTS live and since then, I’ve not stopped listening to this album. It doesn’t matter that it’s by Korean artists and spoken in Korean; the songs are still super catchy and I don’t see myself stopping listening to this anytime soon!


Favourite Tracks: Intro: Persona, Home & Mikrokosmos

Khalid // Free Spirit

Since his last album, I haven’t stopped listening to Khalid. He was in my top 5 most played artists on Spotify last year and a lot of that was down to it being the perfect album to listen to while revising. While I know most people can’t work with music on, it was never too distracting and was just a nice chilled album to have on in the background. His new album Free Spirit I treated in a similar way, but with a few more upbeat tracks, they also made the perfect summer songs to play when with friends or for a good sing-along in the shower!

Favourite Tracks: Intro, Right Back & Bad Luck

Loyle Carner // Not Waving, But Drowning

While you might be thinking my picks so far are chilled, this one tops them all. Loyle Carner was introduced by my housemate (thanks Ben) and, with his most recent album, I haven’t stopped listening to. It reminds me of Frank Ocean’s Album Blonde with a mix of music and filler talking tracks.  It’s the perfect album to enjoy in the evenings while I’m reading or just taking some time for myself. I love how it’s like a story; start from the beginning and listen to the end. Also with a track featuring Sampha, of course, I’m going to love it! It’s definitely one I recommend giving a listen. Loyle Carner just released some tour dates so I am highly considering seeing him live soon. 

Favourite Tracks: Krispy, Ottolenghi, Desoleil (Brilliant Corners)


What are your current favourite albums? Leave me some of your own recommendations!

Hope you're doing great, 
Sarah x 


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With the transition into summer well underway, I thought it was time I shared some of the products I have been reaching for on the warmer, sunnier days to help my skin glow and feel summer-ready. I have been choosing, as always, to opt for a lighter base and focussing a little more on my skin and body care to help me achieve a natural glow. 


 BODY CARE 


As the weather picks up, more skin tends to be on show and so I like to make sure that my skin is well protected and well moisturised to help me feel a little more confident in my skin. 

This has been really great to apply to my legs before shaving, to get rid of any flaky dead skin and start with a fresh smooth base for any shaving products, moisturisers and tan. I've also been applying this to the tops of my arms. I have a very common skin condition called Keratosis Pilaris where the use of harsh exfoliants can only make it worse. However, every so often a little more exfoliation is nice and, with this scrub, it leaves my arms feeling lovely and smooth. 

This is probably one of my current beauty obsessions. Gone are days that I can be bothered to fake tan and have to deal with the patchy consequences when it all goes wrong. After picking this up in HomeSense a month ago, I have been absolutely loving applying this. Unlike other tanning lotions or fake tans, this is a really hydrating tinted lotion that not only smells amazing but leaves my skin feeling so smooth and soft. Application has also been a breeze; by applying in circular motions and making sure I wash my hands thoroughly after, I've had no mishaps in the forms of patches or streaks. Even after a shower or two and no reapplication, I can still see the subtle tan and glow it gives. With small shimmer reflexes, as well as almost a blurring effect, I'm really loving this product right now. 



It's warm and muggy. The last thing you want to be doing is hanging around waiting for your body lotion to dry. This is where this fabulous spray-on lotion comes in handy. There was quite the hype around these a few years back and I still haven't stopped enjoying this product on days I need to moisturise but don't want to wait forever for it to dry. This Spray on lotion from Superdrug is super affordable and has lasted me for ages and so I feel it's a great addition to your summer body care as well as being a great product to take on your travels. 

SKINCARE


For me, skin care in summer is probably the most important. I don't like to have a face full of makeup in the heat and so, if I can get my skin in a place where I am happy to not wear makeup, then that would be amazing. At the moment, I have been opting for products that promote skin glow as well as hydration. 

You may have seen this in my 3 TRANSITIONAL SKINCARE STAPLES and, while we have transitioned into the hotter climates, this is still making its way into my skincare routine. As the summer weather can be muggy and the air is highly polluted, I find this a great non-harsh exfoliator to remove any impurities. Also with vitamin C, it's promoting your skin's healthy glow which, if you haven't caught onto the theme yet, is perfect for the summer. 

In winter, this was great for hydration and now into summer, it's also great for that added glow. After I apply this, I automatically feel my skin is in better condition and that I don't need to wear makeup. It is such a simple oil that I am really enjoying using. Applied morning and night, I really feel the benefits under my make up during the day or in the morning after applying the night before. 


MAKEUP

Like I said, I tend to put down the makeup brush and pick up a good cleanser in the warmer months. However, on days where I need a little something, I love using these two products especially.

I've already shared my love for this on multiple occasions including my MINIMALIST SUMMER MAKEUP post the other month. Since wanting to branch out from using my The Body Shop BB Cream, this has been a great alternative. It helps give my skin a natural glow as well as the colour and enough coverage I want in my base before applying concealer. I definitely recommend this if you are looking for a lightweight base that doesn't require constant attention throughout the day. 


NYX illuminator
This acts as a 2-in-1 blush and highlight for me. With quite chunky gold reflexes, I don't go too heavy handed with this. However, for every day, a little applied to my cheeks and cheekbones adds a little flush of colour as well as adding to that glowing look. It has such a pretty and natural orange/coral colour that I find it really flattering especially for a summery look. This seems to be discontinued but the old favourite Sleek Rose Gold Blush* is a good alternative. 

So there is a breakdown of some products that I reach for in summer and that I am currently loving in this warmer weather. 

Are there any products you find yourself loving in the summer months? Leave your recommendations!
Hope you're doing great, 
Sarah x

One's relationship with their own confidence tends to be a rocky one; you can go from loving yourself to not even being able to stand the sight of yourself in a short space of time. Since I remember, I have struggled to accept how I look and be happy with what I see in the mirror. But... this is slowly changing. 

Back in 2017, I wrote a post called "Is it right I feel confident?". This was more about society's ideas with body confidence and how it can really stop someone like me from being happy with how they look. People aren't nice to those who aren't considered "pretty" in high school and, while at the time the validation of others seems like all that's needed to cure my unhealthy relationship with my body, I now realise the only validation I need is my own. But I guess, for a 14-year-old, that's hard to understand. 

Back in high school in the peak of the summer terms, I would always still be wearing tights even in the scorching UK sun. PE was my least favourite subject. Not because of the physical element which I actually loved it was the ordeal of getting changed. I never had my bare legs out, would forever cover my arms like they were something to hide, something to be ashamed of. Back then I was unhappy and unconfident with how I looked. I would buy size 16/18 clothes when I was actually a size 12 because I thought I was bigger than I really was. I was never small but how I saw myself was not the reality of it. 

My relationship with my body intertwined with my relationship to food. I hated to be seen eating in front of people; shamed to be judged about what I was eating and so would choose to eat in the toilets at points (disgusting, I know). At the end of high school, things weren't all that fabulous. 

Flashforward to the first year of university. I'd grown in confidence through sixth form in speaking openly with new people but my body confidence was still not all there. However, throughout the three years at university, I think it has what has really driven a change in how I perceive myself. 

I'd say my first big body confidence accomplishment was summer ball in the first year. For the first time in years, I left the house without a jacket or anything to cover my arms. I felt good at with I was wearing and wasn't worried about people looking at me. This one small spark of confidence was the first step in me gaining a whole new lease of self-confidence.




While the next two years I still covered up and was never really happy in what I was wearing or how I looked, the days that I could stop and look in the mirror became more frequent. My relationship with food changed; I was eating healthier, not worried about people judging what I ate and I enjoyed trying new foods and more vegetarian meals. Over the years, my weight has fluctuated; I lost weight in the first year only to put it back on in second and, while it hurt to know, going into the third year I was happier within myself without looking at the number on the scales. I started to exercise more again; not a lot but still more than I was which definitely made me happier.

With summer approaching, I feel like I am in a good place to be confident with not having to cover up on the warmer days. While there will be times that I don't feel confident and will feel how I used to feel, the more days I have felt positive in my body, the better. 

It's been a long journey but I'm so happy to share with you that things are finally looking positive with my body confidence. There was a time where mirrors were the enemy- I couldn't look in one without finding a flaw. Now, I can look at it, happy with my reflection. 

I've still got a way to go before I'm truly confident with my body but I'm definitely on the right path to having a happy and healthy relationship with how I see myself.



Hope you're doing great, 
Sarah x