As someone that's suffered with anxiety for many years, chilling out isn't really something I've ever been good at. It hasn't really mattered what I've done whether it be yoga or meditation, my brain just won't shut the hell up for much longer than 20 seconds and I really struggle to completely relax or switch off.

I didn't quite realise just how bad I was at relaxing until I made an appointment for a lymphatic drainage massage and after half an hour of a fantastic massage my therapist Joanna at TruthPie told me that she could tell that I struggled to completely unwind. I almost felt caught out but she reassured me that she thought another therapy would suit me better; aromatherapy. I'm not going to lie, I didn't really have a clue what aromatherapy entailed but agreed to give a session ago.

So we started by picking oils that would a) be good for stress and anxiety and b) that I actually liked because Joanna said that it can differ from session to session and your body will react differently to different oils depending on what it needs at the time.

The three oils which appealed to me the most were Ylang Ylang (good for relaxation), Myrtle (great for fatigue) and Eucalyptus Staigeriana (which is really useful for easing any aches and pains). Joanna then used a mixture of these for the massage itself.

She spent an hour working these essential oils into my skin in a medium-pressure massage, she worked out some knots and tension in my upper back and shoulders before moving onto my legs individually, feet, arms, hands and then my neck. It was a really relaxing experience although I found my mind still buzzing every now and again but I tried really hard to clear my head and just relax to get the most of the massage.

Joanna gave me a mix of the oils to take home to add to my bath, so I'm really excited to give that a go and see if I feel as mellowed as I do right now as I write this blog post!

If you're thinking of trying aromatherapy then I would 100% recommend it as it's a therapy that's tailored to you, your mind and your body and what it needs. Don't forget that self-care needs to be your top priority and we need to nurture our minds and bodies alike.

A LESSON IN SELF-LOVE

I'm my own worst enemy 99.9% of the time, if not 100% of the time. I think I've learnt more about myself and changed in more ways during the course of 2016 than I have any other year.

Now let me stop being so vague and mysterious, what I'm talking about is learning to love yourself. We all want to stop judging ourselves when we look in the mirror and to not care about things we can't change but hello, those things make us the perfectly deranged, crazy, wonderful people that we are and it's not about eradicating those qualities but about learning to have full control over them.

THE PERFECT WINTER WALK: KEW GARDENS

It may sound as though I'm 25 going on 85 but I am a sucker for a Sunday morning stroll. I'm lucky enough to live close to some incredible lakes, gardens and country houses and when I woke up this morning to blue-skies and sunshine it was a majority decision in our household to bundle up and head out for a nice winter walk.

We opted for Kew Gardens which is home to Royal Botanic Gardens (a fancy word for lots of gorgeous trees, plants and greenhouses) just outside of London. During the winter which is classed as Nov 1st onwards entry is £10 including a donation to Gift Aid and you definitely get fantastic value for money here, it makes such a great day out.

There's plenty to do here (as well as of course just wandering aimlessly around and just taking in the gorgeous scenery) including a Treetop Walkway which gives an awesome birds-eye-view of the park a giant badger sett and amazing indoor greenhouses and buildings to explore.

It was the perfect opportunity to take some photos and if you live nearby then I would 100% recommend taking a trip here as it makes for a perfect backdrop for blog photos.

NARS LAGUNA & LUSTER

So I'm late on this particular bandwagon, I know, but last weekend I purchased the NARS Laguna bronzer. I've heard so much about this product and I know it's the 'holy grail' of bronzers for a lot of beauty bloggers and YouTubers out there.

The packaging is standard NARS, slightly larger than the blush packaging and still with that super sleek black casing - which, is it just me, or does it seem to attract smudges and smears?! The product itself is beautifully matte and can look a little scarily dark at first glance but I held back reservations until I'd given it a go.

I loved how well pigmented this bronzer is, it gives my skin a sunkissed, healthy glow with only the slightest hint of a shimmer. It can be difficult with some bronzers to avoid that awkward orange undertone but with Laguna there's nothing of the sort. Due to it's matte nature, this product is perfect for contouring and I use it with my Real Techniques Sculpting Brush for a really defined contour. Laguna blends out really flawlessly too so you're not left with harsh lines.

This bronzer does come in a little on the pricey side at £27.50 but in my opinion it's absolutely worth it.

When I picked up Laguna, I also bought NARS blush in the shade 'Luster'. I own a lot of pink blushes and decided that now fall and winter is practically here, it was time to invest in something a little warmer so I went for the beautiful, peach tones of Luster.

Luster has a really soft, smooth texture and just like all other NARS products is super well-pigmented so I find that I don't need to use a lot of it at all to get a really pretty warm glow. Personally, this shade is just right for my skin-tone but I am not sure how it would look on someone who is quite fair or pale as the blush does carry a lot of orange-undertones but like I said before, you don't need to use a lot to get a well-pigmented shade so just use a lighter hand if you do happen to be blessed with paler skin.

I'm incredibly happy with these two NARS purchases and they've become staple products in my everyday make-up routine, if you'd like to see me use these for a fall/winter look then leave a comment below.

LUSH TEA TREE WATER SPRAY REVIEW

I've been super lazy recently with my skincare routine and I've also been forgetting to take my Hair Burst pills (which I felt really made a difference to my skin) so, to get back on track I've invested in a new product to keep my skin feeling fresh and clean after I remove my make-up.

This is the Tea Tree Water, £7.95 which is a toner water from Lush and I picked it up from their Kingston branch last weekend, with the help of the absolutely lovely ladies who worked in the store. I watched Lauren Elizabeth (the YouTuber who I share both a first and middle name with) review this product and include it in her beauty favourites and I was dying to try it out.

This water contains only six ingredients, four of which are all natural; Tea Tree Water, Grapefruit Water, Juniperberry, and Limonene. The first of these three ingredients are well known for their antibacterial properties. The grapefruit is great for balancing oily and problematic skin which luckily I don't really suffer with, except a few little mishaps in the T-Zone area. Since using this spray after removing my make-up and washing my face - it's the final step in my skincare routine before my head hits the pillow - two zits I had on my chin have vanished into nothingness so already I'm loving it.

The ladies in Lush did mention that it can be used to remove make-up, I haven't tried this yet as I'm a big fan of the Yes To Cucumbers wipes, followed by a Freederm facewash which together get rid of 99% of my make-up, I will definitely spritz a little on a cotton pad and give it a go soon.

What I liked most about this spray, as I've used tea tree products in the past, is that this one doesn't smell medicinal or like something you'd drink when you've had a cold or the flu for a week. It's only lightly fragranced and there's no lingering smell after you've sprayed it. The bottle is easy to use and the pump distributes the spray evenly so you're not blasted in the face by a stream of toner water!

Do you use a toner? Would you try this one from Lush?

MAZE RUNNER: THE SCORCH TRIALS UK PREMIERE

Firstly, I'd like to say how sorry I am for not updating in such a long time. Life has just been manic and you know what it's like when you feel like everything's on fast forward and you could really do with a pause button while you have a cup of tea and let yourself catch up!

However, on Monday night (7th September) I was extremely lucky to be invited to the UK premiere of Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials at Vue cinema in Leicester Square, London. Let me start by saying I am a huge fan of this book series - and the first movie which was released at the end of last year - so this was an opportunity I was not going to miss! It was a manic rush to get up to London after work on a Monday night but my gosh it was well worth it. As usual, no spoilers in this here post my friends, so don't fear.

The event was hosted by YouTube star Jim Chapman who was so, so lovely and did a great job getting the fans waiting outside the cinema excited for the arrival of the movie's stars. Unfortunately, Dylan O'Brien who plays Thomas in the series had major food-poisoning and was unable to make it but Kaya Scodelario, Ki Hong Lee, Thomas Brodie-Sangster and director Wes Ball all made an appearance before the film begun to answer some fan questions.

The Scorch Trials continues where The Maze Runner left off. The Gladers are just out of the maze and thrust into a compound, being clothed, fed and looked after properly for the first time in years all seems well and good, with the promise of a new life just around the corner. However, not is all as it seems and Thomas soon learns that not everyone can be trusted. He escapes the compound with Teresa, Newt, Minho, Frypan and others into The Scorch where they encounter those left behind after sun flares scorched the earth, unleashing a nasty virus called The Flare. The Gladers find hope in rumours of a rebellion army called The Right Arm and they make it their mission to find these survivors, but WCKD aren't far behind...

Now, I had a lot of expectations for this movie because I'm such a fan of the books but I was pleasantly surprised by the adaption for the big screen. Although there were quite a few things that were different from the novels, Wes Ball had directed it in such a way that kept the true spirit of the Maze Runner series, written by James Dashner. There were moments from the movie that made me glance over at the hardcore fans (some dressed in costume) to see their reaction and it was really lovely to see how much they appreciated the small details that had been included.

It was an intense, fast-paced roller coaster ride of a movie that had me screaming, crying and laughing throughout and I am already dying to see it again once it's released in the UK tomorrow, September 10th. 

Will you be watching Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials?

Brandy Melville Haul

Last weekend I went for dinner on the Kings Road in Chelsea with a couple of friends and on the way home, after we said our goodbyes, I couldn't resist popping into Brandy Melville for a little browse and I didn't leave empty handed!

I'm all about Brandy-esque styles right now, I love loose, oversized tees and tanks that are super simple, plain and comfy and if there's one thing Brandy does well, it's comfort! I love that their tees are so, so soft and the John Galt graphic tees are always to die for. This is what I picked up.

I spotted this tank top on Kendall Jenner and she'd teamed it with light blue jeans and white sneakers and I just loved how laid-back and relaxed the whole outfit looked. This tank wont look as good on me as it does on Kendall of course but what would?! Kaya Tank, £12



As if I don't already own enough navy and white striped tees I thought I'd go and add yet another to my collection. I don't know what my obsession is with tees like this but I just love wearing them with jeans and converse or with dark jeans and ankle boots for work - like I did today! This tee along with a few others sold at Brandy is designed by John Galt, a concession within the Brandy stores. Nadine Top, £15



Brandy Melville are renowned for this graphic moon-phase print and it first appeared on a crop top ages ago, now it's back on this awesome vintage-inspired charcoal tee so I had to have it. Unfortunately I can't seem to find this tee on the website but I think it cost me approx.£17, definitely no more than £20.



Finally, these sunnies were an impulse buy which I picked up at the till whilst I was paying. They were the last pair in the store and as I managed to drop and break my Topshop sunnies at the gym, I needed a new pair so nabbed these for £16. They also came with this cool faux-leather case which I thought I'd end up getting charged extra for but nope, included in the price, thank you very much Brandy Melville!

Just a quick note, I know Brandy gets a lot of criticism for it's 'one size fits most' sizing and I have to admit, I would never pick up jeans or shorts in that store for that reason but as someone who is somewhere between a UK size 10/12 I find plenty in store that fits me well, and a lot of oversized tees/cardigans/sweaters that would comfortably fit up to a size 14/16. The staff are always so sweet and helpful so if you're thinking about paying Brandy a visit (there's also a store in Carnarby St now, hello) then I'd say go and do it, you're bound to find something you love, don't let the sizing structure put you off.