Cervical Cancer Awareness Week

For those of you who didn't know, the 25 - 31 January 2015 is Cervical Cancer Awareness Week. 

As the title suggests, this is dedicated to raising awareness of Cervical Cancer including, information on symptoms, causes and stressing the importance of attending a smear test. Each year over 3,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer. 

One of the main awareness campaigns, which as far as I have seen is the most popular across social media sites, has been the #SmearForSmear campaign. This, much like the Ice Bucket Challenge and the No Make-up Selfie, encourages women - and men if they like - to get involved to raise awareness of the disease. 

This time instead of pouring freezing water or sharing a bare face, the campaign asks people to take a photo with lipstick smeared down their face. Although this may sound a little bizarre, the "Smear For Smear" actually very cleverly ties in with one of the main ways to detect and prevent Cervical Cancer - a Smear Test. 

Source

What is a Smear Test?

According the NHS website a Smear Test, or cervical screening test, is a method used by doctors and nurses to check and detect for any abnormal cells within the cervix. The examination will check for any abnormalities as well as any cells that may become cancerous. 

All women aged 25 - 49 are invited to attend a screening every three years and women aged between 50 & 64 are invited every five years. 

As I am only 22 I am not ready to be invited for a smear test, so therefore have no personal experience of how an examination would go. However, it is something I have researched and according to one the website behind the #SmearForSmear campaing - Jo's Trust (which you can visit here) the test itself only lasts a matter minuets. The nurse/doctor will ask you to undress from the waist down and lay down. Next, they will insert an instrument called a spectrum in order to gain access to your cervix (don't worry I've heard from many people that this doesn't hurt at all). Finally a specially designed brush is used to collect cells from the cervix ready to be sent to a lab... And that's it! You're free to get dressed & carry on your day. 

Now for anyone else that hasn't attended a smear test, I'm sure we're all thinking the same thing.. Yes, I imagine this will feel pretty uncomfortable & I wont lie, I'm not particularly looking forward to having a stranger poking around & looking at my lady parts.. but I know it's 100% worth it in order to check my health. At the end of the day, what's a few moments of embarrassment where your well being is involved? 

At the end of the day, these doctors & nurses have seen thousands of different private areas and I highly doubt they're even phased by yours or mine in the slightest! 

Other methods of prevention.

If you're too young for the smear test but want to do all you can to prevent the disease from forming, contact your doctor about the HPV vaccine. According to the NHS the vaccine can save at least 400 lives each year. This is something that I was lucky enough to be offered when I was in sixth form.. Plus as I was over 15 I had to have the set of 3 injections. However besides the slight sting of the injection - and a slightly dead arm the days after each shot - it really didn't hurt at all (& I'm a massive wimp!). If you want to know more click here to be taken to the NHS website. 

One last thing I want to point out in this - pretty long - blog post is symptoms that could indicate cervical cancer. This was something I personally wasn't aware of so think it's so important for other people to be aware. 

Symptoms:

* Abnormal bleeding - e.g. during/after sex or between periods 

* Unusual/unpleasant discharge
*Discomfort/pain during sex
*Lower back pain 

*Note*
These symptoms do  not mean you definitely have cancer - if you experience anything abnormal, book an appointment with your local GP. It could be nothing, but it's better to be sure. 

So come on girls (& any guys) - get involved with the #SmearForSmear campaign this week. Find more information by clicking here then Smudge that lipstick & text CCPW01 followed by the amount to 70070 and raise awareness for Cervical Cancer! 

If anyone has taken part in this campaign let me know, I'd love to see your photos!

xxx

New Look Shoe Collection Wishlist

New Look is one of my favourite high-street stores for shoes. It's so affordable & I find the shoes are pretty good quality. So when I noticed that the spring/summer items have started to emerge online/in store I couldn't help but have a browse of their new shoes in stock.

I've picked out a few of my favourite flats, which I may just have to purchase after pay day, and added them to my shoe wishlist (which is a pretty long list.. oops).

1. Black Fringe Brogues - £29.99 [x]

2. Lilac Ankle Strap Pumps - £17.99 [x]

3. Burgundy Loafers - £17.99 [x]

4. Mint Green Pumps - £19.99 [x]

5. Nude Ankle Strap Pumps - £17,99 [x]

6. Black Faux Suede Loafers - £17.99 [x]

7. Nude Mary Jane Pumps - £19.99 [x]

8. Black T Bar's - £19.99 [x]

9. Coral Faux Suede Pumps - £12.99 [x]

 I think each of these pairs of shoes are so cute, and I love how you can wear them for both work, for example and casual days out. You could easily pair each of these with jeans, skirts or dresses.

xxx

The British Tag

I've seen this Tag floating around the Youtube and Blogging world for a few months now and - seeing as I'm British - thought it would a fun thing to take part in.

So here we go... 

1. How many cups of tea do you have a day and how many sugars?

Oh dear. This isn't a good question to start off with. I know I'm going to sound like the worst British person ever... but I just don't like tea. *queue everyone gasping in horror and disbelief* I know, I know. It's such a British stereotype and I wish I could drink it but I just don't like the taste. Maybe I'll try some different fruit teas and then I can half jump on the tea bandwagon? If not, pass me the hot chocoalte! 

 2. Favourite part of your roast?

It's either got to be Yorkshire Puddings or Pigs In Blankets... Pigs In Blankets are generally only a Christmas thing, I'd say they're my ultimate favourite as it's always something to look forward to (as if there wasn't enough to be excited about at Christmas). But for every other month throughout the year, it's got to be Yorkshire Puddings with lots & lots of gravy! 

 3. Favourite dunking biscuit?

Now this might sound odd, but ever since I was little I've always loved dunking ginger biscuits into milk... I could easily work my way through half a packet (who am I kidding, whole packet) of these biscuits if there's a glass or two of milk to go with them. 

4. Favourite quintessentially British pass time?

Going for lunch in a countryside pub. Despite living in a city now, I'm a country girl through and through. So there's nothing I love more than going to a traditional British Pub for lunch and a drink. Especially if it's during the summer and I can sit outside, enjoy my drink (probably cider.. keeping with the Britishness) and soak up the limited amount of sun we see here.  

 5. Favourite British word?

Hmm this is a tough one. Trying to think of all the things I say & what words are British is actually quite hard. One word that I think does sound very British though is the work Bloody. Not in the sense of the red stuff that flows through our veins.. but used to exaggerate something. Examples include; "That's Bloody Brilliant"... "Oh Bloody Hell"... I always just imagine it being said in a thick British accent.

 6. Cockney rhyming slang?

Cockney rhyming slag is a London thing.. so as a country girl we it's not something I'd use. However the stereotypical Cockney Rhyming Slang I (& pretty much everyone else) know would be things like; Apple & Pairs - Stairs... Dog & Bone - Phone etc etc. 

 7. Favourite sweet?

Hmm I'm much more of chocolate lover opposed to sweets.. but if there are a few traditional sweets that I'd pick every time. These include childhood favourites like; pear drops, sherbet lemons and dib dabs ... but my favorite is probably rhubarb and custard sweets. Yummmmm. 

 8. What would your pub be called?

Knowing me I'd probably want to call my pub something girly and cute.. but I'm not sure people would come if it was too much.. So I think I'd have to tone it down and call my pub something like.. "The Kitten and String" ... (As you can see I'm not the best with names, it took me long enough to name this blog!) 

 9. No.1 British person?

How can you choose just one?! There have been/are so many great British people across all areas of work.. Winston Churchill, David Attenborough,  J K Rowling, William Shakespeare, Florence Nightingale, David Tenant, Princess Diana, Stephen Hawkins, Emma Watson, Benedict Comberbatch,... and so many more. It's impossible to narrow this down.. As a nation, I think we have some pretty great people! 

 10. Favourite shop/restaurant?

Now I love the traditional British shops like Selfridge's, but if we're talking about a shop that I buy things from regularly, it would have to be the old faithful New Look. I'd have to say a large portion of my cloths/shoes/accessories come from New Look as it's a brand that rarely lets me down. My favourite British restaurant would have to be either Miller and Carter (a gorgeous stake house) or, a restaurant I'm loving right now,  The Slug and Lettuce - a chain of bars across the UK that serve the yummiest burgers (they also serve 2 for 1 cocktails on Fridays.. Don't mind if I do). Otherwise, as I said earlier, it's got to be either a good old pub lunch or fish and chips. 

 11. What British song pops into your head?

Hmm the first two British song that pop straight to my head would have to be "All you need is love" by the Beatles and Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody. I don't think you can really get more traditionally British than the Beatles and Queen. However more modern British songs that pop to mind include, Mumford & Sons - Little Lion Man, Ellie Goulding - Burn and Oasis - Wonderwall. 

 12. Marmite?

Nope. Nope. Nope. It's not that I hate Marmite (I know, I know - "You either, love it or you hate it) but I just think there's something weird about the taste... and weird taste isn't usually something I look for in a food. 

(Sources: x x x x x x x x x)

Hope you enjoyed this post.. It definitely made me feel pretty patriotic and proud to be British.

xxx

January Sales Wishlist

I love a good sale! It's the perfect excuse to pick up a few of those items you've had your eye on for a while but - if you're like me - you just couldn't justify buying them at full price.

However as much as I love the bargains that come with sales, the majority of the time I really can't be bothered to rummage through messy clothes racks to find an item.. and I'm 100% not going to push and shove my way through a crowd ... (at only 5ft 2" I'm sure I'd end up squashed on the floor somewhere).

For me, the perfect sale shopping involves being sat at home, in my pyjamas with a good film on in the background. Preferably with a big bar of chocolate (for shopping energy, obviously).

Now that we're a few weeks into January, and the sales are continuing to run online I thought I'd put together a little wishlist of some of the items that I've got my eye on.

1. Crosshatch Shopper Bag - Ted Baker -  £149 reduced to £104 [x]

2. Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette - Feel Unique - £37 reduced to £33.30 [x]

3. Formal Joggers - Missguided - £19.00 reduced to £10.00 [x]

4. Oversized Scarf - New Look - £9.99 reduced to £6.50 [x]

5. Sequin Dress - New Look - £34.99 reduced to £12.00 [x]

6. Hunter Wellies - Hunter - £99.00 reduced to £65.00 [x]
7. Faux Fur Headband - New Look - £7.99 reduced to £3.00 [x]

8. Flower Necklace - New Look - £7.99 reduced to £4.00 [x]

9. Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Perfume (50ml) - Feel Unique - £62.00 reduced to £52.65 [x]

I love each of these items, especially the Ted Baker handbag (which I'm a little bit in love with) and the faux fur headband, which I think is a complete bargain! 

I know for a fact I'll be keeping my eyes peeled throughout the rest of this month, so if anyone knows of any good deals, I'd love to know! 

xxx

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

Throughout the blogging and Youtube community I've heard a lot of good things about the Liz Earle brand, and although I was intrigued, it was never something I really looked into.  

However during my trip back to my home-town for Christmas, I noticed a bottle of the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser sitting on the bathroom shelf. So I decided to find out what my Mum thought of it. 

Now my mum is the type of person who has always told me honestly what she thinks of something...be it a product, item of clothing, or even the dreaded "do I look like I've put on weight?" question - which (despite the sometimes straight-to-the-point delivery) I've always appreciated. How else would you really know if something looks good or is worth buying?! 

So when my Mum told me how highly she thought of Liz Earle, I knew it must be something that's at least worth a try. 

Two bottles of the Cleanse & polish cleanser and a muslin cloth

Now I wouldn't ever want to sugar-coat a product that I write about on here, so I want to say out right that the Liz Earle brand is not cheap. For a 100ml bottle of the hot cloth cleanser, you'd be looking at paying around the £15 mark. However I decided that if this was a product that would help keep my skin in great condition - and also help banish those pesky spots that like to pop up at the worst possible times - then it would be worth the money. 

I'm usually a Simple or Nivea girl when it comes to cleansers/face washes, and both brands have never let me down.. But I felt that it was time to mix things up a little and maybe splash out on a little treat for my skin. 

I haven't tried this products out yet as it only arrived in the post today, but I'm very excited to try them out tonight (is that a little sad? Probably but oh well). 

Once I've used this for a while I definitely plan on writing a review on whether it's really worth the price tag, so if you're interested or are on the fence about splashing out that bit extra on face products, watch this space! 

Find the range of Liz Earle products by clicking here. 

If anyone has previously used Liz Earle, or has any other recommendations, let me know! 

xxx

New Years Eve - OOTD

Happy New Year! 

I cannot believe we have just entered 2015... Where did 2014 go?! 

It has been far to long since I last wrote a post! I've been saying to myself for the past couple of weeks that I really needed (and wanted) to write something, but I just seemed to get so wrapped up in Christmas (accidental pun there.. teehee) that I couldn't find the time to actually sit and write something!

But I'm very happy to be back and paying some much needed TLC to my little blog. 

To start the year, I thought I'd write about my New Years Eve OOTD (or outfit of the night I suppose). 

I saw in the New Year in a bar sipping on cocktails with my boyfriend and as the temperature is definitely on the chilly side, I decided to go against the usual dress/skirt and instead went for black disco pants in a hope that it would keep my legs a little warmer (which I'm so happy I decided to do!). 

I teamed this with a black cami top for a simple look then added my black floral kimono, which I think dresses the outfit up a little. Finally to complete the look I added my trusty black wedges (I honestly don't think I can walk in normal heels any more!), a floral necklace from New Look - which unfortunately is slightly hidden under my mane of hair - and a small black handbag. 

For my hair, I decided to add some loose curls/waves just to glam it up a little and then I added the Rimmel  Apocolips lip gloss in shade "501 Stellar" which - even though it doesn't show as much in the photo - is the most amazing bright pink colour. 

Unfortunately I got a few items I wore quite a while back or in a sale so I can't find them any more, however I have linked the shop I purchased them at, as I'm sure they'll have an updated version available! Click on the little "x" if you want to take a look! 

Kimono - New Look [x]

Cami Top - Boohoo [x]

Disco Pants - Boohoo [x]

Necklace - New Look [x]

Wedge Shoes - New Look [x]

Handbag - Primark 

I hope everyone had an amazing Christmas and however New Year's Eve was celebrated, that it was a great night. I for one, definitely drank a few cocktails too many! 

xxx