If you asked any of my friends who I have been obsessed with over the past eight years, they would straight away say Harry Styles. I loved him throughout One Direction, and ended up absolutely loving his solo music too. So, of course, I was going to get tickets to his tour, at my nearest location of Manchester!

I was so pleased, after I hadn't managed to get tickets for his first, smaller tour, that he added more dates in 2018, including Manchester Arena, rather than the much smaller apollo of the first tour, meaning I managed to get tickets this time - in block 114, somewhere I had always wanted to sit in the arena, as I've always figured the view would be good of both the stage and if an artist has a B-Stage.

Heading straight to the merch stand, I picked up his photobook, full of lovely polaroids from while he has been on tour and behind the scenes of the Kiwi video, and the Treat People With Kindness hair ties. I had to pick these up as I thought it was so lovely that all the profits of them went to a local charity - you can find where for each location here - and I have been wearing them as wristbands everyday since.


Being a Monday night, I wasn't sure if the arena would fill up quite as much as it would on, say a Saturday, but why did I doubt the fact it would be completely full. It's HARRY STYLES. The arena was pretty much full by the time the support act Mabel came on at 8pm. Every time she would mention Harry Styles was coming up next I would almost be in tears, having that realisation that I was finally seeing him live. The last time I saw him was in October 2015, on One Direction's last tour, and it had been a long wait to see him again.

Harry came onto the stage at just after 9pm, after a little cartoon of him playing with a Rubiks cube played on the screens (I still haven't quite figured out the significance of this). He began the setlist with Only Angel, in my opinion the perfect way to begin with its intro I can only describe as 'heavenly'. As the screen lifted up to reveal Harry and his band on the stage, I was definitely crying as I was shouting WE GOT PINK! HE'S WEARING A PINK SUIT! in absolute joy. Wondering what sort of suit he would be wearing was definitely part of the fun, and I was overjoyed at the fact he chose pink for Manchester.

*possibly my personal favourite photo I took...

Of course he played all the songs off the album, including my personal favourite Carolina. I also loved watching him play guitar for more accoustic tracks, including those he sang on the B-Stage, Sweet Creature and One Direction track If I Could Fly. I love that he brought back some One Direction classics, Stockholm Syndrome has always been an all time favourite of mine so I was super excited about that and you can't go wrong with a bit of What Makes You Beautiful!


He also performed a couple of new songs, Medicine and Anna, which were amazing - I can tell his next solo album is going to be just as amazing. An emotional moment was his cover of Ariana Grande's Just A Little Bit Of Your Heart, which he actually wrote, and felt really poignant being in Manchester arena. A bunch of fans held up signs in tribute which was really heart-warming and emotional.


He performed the masterpiece Sign Of The Times before going off to prepare for the encore, which sadly meant we were heading to the end of the show. I really think he did save the best until last, as the last song, Kiwi was actually the highlight of my whole night. I had always thought it would be amazing live from my very first listen, and still exceeded all my expectations. The people stood next to me left right at the beginning leaving me with loads of room, so I jumped and danced around as crazy as I could the whole time, singing from the top of my lungs, having the time of my life. It was a truly incredible moment and I never wanted it to end.


It was definitely one of my favourite concerts ever and I can't wait to see Harry Styles again on his next tour. And the one after that. And you'll definitely find me at the one after that, too.
 

It's no secret I am a huge fan of Friends, and something I have always found so interesting about the show is how although the early seasons are set in the height of the nineties, the outfits of characters such as Rachel and Monica have seemed to come back into style over 20 years later! I thought I would round up some of their best looks in terms of items you might actually see something similar of in the high street today!

Rachel Green, being the queen of fashion herself in the show, going on to work at Ralph Lauren, would be an obvious choice to start with. Her brown trousers look is one of my favourites, and these ones sold in H&M are almost identical! She also wears them with a little white cropped t-shirt which I think is a wardrobe essential - they're as cheap as a fiver over on Boohoo!





One of my all-time favourite Rachel looks is her little tartan skirt from The One Where The Monkey gets away back in season 1. Topshop actually stocks a whole bunch of tartan skirts in, in a bunch of different colours, this one being one of my favourites! I could definitely imagine Rachel wearing that, paired with her super cute matching long socks.


Even though Monica isn't known for her style, she has some amazing looks too throughout the show's run. Her black crop top and stripy trousers look are easily one I think anyone could wear, while looking and feeling amazing, in 2018. I'm obsessed with the patterned trousers trend that seems to have reemerged this year, shops like New Look are absolutely bursting full of the style at the moment. These striped trousers will bring out your inner Monica, while pairing it with a black t-shirt like this one at ASOS will help create the full look.


Sticking with Monica, she rocks some amazing denim looks, especially the ripped jeans with a simple tank top and trainers in The One With The Flashback. Topshop's ripped mom jeans are so similar to those that Monica wears, and I feel like Mom jeans have become a real trend again the past couple of years.  Even the double denim look in season 3 would totally fly today, while looking effortlessly put together. The light wash of this Dorothy Perkins shirt reminds me of the one Monica pairs with jeans in The One With The Beach.


Phoebe definitely has the most eccentric outfit taste, but there are some outfits I feel still fit with today's trends - though Phoebe was definitely not the sort to pay attention to fashion trends, much preferring her own unique style! Her spotty dress from season 2 is a favourite of mine, and this one from ASOS is a very similar style, while the mixed spot prints tie in with that unique Phoebe-charm.

Now I'm at college, the high school 'no nail polish' rule finally doesn't apply to me anymore, so I wear nail polish all the time - it feels very strange when I have bare nails! Therefore I'm always after a new nail polish to add to my ever-growing collection, and Barry M's new Under The Sea collection certainly caught my eye.


I mean, a two-toned formula that looks so majestic as it seems to change colour in different lights, in a variety of shades? Yes, please! I picked up two of the four shades, so far anyway! The first being Angelfish, a light pink sheen that I have worn constantly for at least a month now, I just couldn't get enough of it! Then recently, while taking advantage of Superdrug's current 3 for 2 across all cosmetics offer, I picked up the blue shade, Butterflyfish.


Believe it or not, before these nail polishes, I had never really tried Barry M's selection; crazy I know! So I was, of course, intrigued to see how their formula compares to other brands. At only £3.99 these nail polishes are easily affordable, especially for their unique shades, but I couldn't be sure how good the quality would be. I'm very glad to say they apply so easily - the brush with them makes it really easy to apply the polish precisely, while they do dry fairly fast so I don't have to wait forever for them to dry. I generally apply them in three coats, while also using a base coat and a top coat and that seems to do the job just fine.


What I was most impressed by, however, was how long they lasted on my nails! I mentioned before I had the shade Angelfish on my nails consistently for over a month, and it's probably because I'm not having to apply it all the time. Most of my nail polishes, even the more expensive Essie shades, usually last a week before they have badly chipped off, but with the Barry M selection, they have lasted at least two before I need to reapply. I am so excited about this because I hardly ever have time to paint my nails, so they make it a lot easier!


The shades themselves are absolutely gorgeous, obviously, the main thing that stood out to me, and they look just as pretty on the nails as they do in the bottle. I love how unique they are and the fact they do four shades in the formula means there's at least one to suit everyone. I would love to try the purple shade too, but I have never found it in my local Superdrug, and the fourth shade is a bright pink which can be a bit bright, especially with its yellow undertones.


I love the idea of two-toned polish, the lighter shade Angelfish is mostly light pink with a light blue tone, while Butterflyfish is a blue with a bit of pink in it. They're honestly so gorgeous and I love how shimmery they are too! Have you tried Barry M's nail polishes before - I would love some more shade suggestions to try!

When I think about the beginning of March, it feels like years ago, instead of only a month ago! It's weird how each month can feel really different - for me, January seemed to drag, February flashed by and now March seems a lifetime ago? So far I have actually been really liking reviewing my months as they go by; although I'm always worried 'favourites' style posts are a little predictable, I love looking back at them a few months, or a year, later and seeing what I was loving at that time. So, on with March!

B E A U T Y //

As I mentioned in my Sephora first impressions post, I finally got the chance to visit a couple of Sephora stores in France and it was such an amazing experience. Since then I have used my Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz that I picked up then every single day and I am in love with it! I think I paid about €25 for it and it was totally worth it - there are a few dupes on the high street but I don't think anything can compare to the original. It makes filling in brows so easy but most importantly, really natural and the shade range is really good.




My other beauty favourite you can't actually pick up right now... but when I went to France I took my little Lush Snow Fairy shower gel I got in a gift set for Christmas, and I'm not exaggerating when I say it is definitely the best thing I have ever smelt! It is so incredible and pretty with its pink colour, I am so glad I picked up a full sized bottle on sale, waiting for me once I finish my Soap & Glory Clean On Me - my other favourite shower gel out there! Unfortunately, as Snow Fairy is one of Lush's Christmas products it is unavailable right now but get ready for autumn when it will come back again!

 

M U S I C // 

I'm sure I mentioned 5 Seconds Of Summer's new single Want You Back in my February review post when it had just been released - no surprise I am still absolutely obsessed with it! I've gone back and listened to their old stuff while I've been loving their new single, remembering how amazing it is. I really cannot wait for their new album!


I have also been loving Shawn Mendes' new singles, my favourite being In My Blood. It's a daily debate between me and my best friend about which one is better - she prefers his other single, Lost In Japan, which I think has a bit of a Justin Timberlake vibe to it, I just prefer In My Blood because it feels like it has so much emotion and meaning. It's so relatable with a really positive message so I definitely recommend a listen, I was blown away by it.

I have also been loving the band HAIM, I have both their albums saved on Spotify so I'm working through them and loving every track so far! A couple of my favourites are 'Falling' and 'Want You Back', they're really catchy and I just love their sound so much.

T V //

Crazily I haven't been watching that many shows this month, apart from the usual Friends - which I, of course, watched loads of again when I got tickets to Friends Fest for the summer to get me excited! I've also started watching the second season of Riverdale - I managed about 3 when it came out and got a little disinterested but I was recommended by my friend to continue watching so here's to hoping it gets a bit better! 

L I F E //

The biggest thing that happened this month was that I went to France on our college's French Exchange, which honestly feels like it was years ago somehow not just a few weeks! I saw some amazing places such as Lyon and the most amazing chocolate factory so it was a really good trip.

I am often asked how exactly I manage my time, what with currently studying 4 A-Levels at college (and art, a typically time-consuming subject, being one of them), and having a blog too. As a hobby, blogging can definitely be a time consuming one, a lot more so than people may realise. So I thought I would compile some tips as to how to balance your time between blogging and studying, or work, because it is so important to find the right balance if you want to make blogging work for you!

Have a schedule:

Although it may decrease your flexibility, having a schedule is so important because you get into a routine of posting on certain days. Personally, I post on a Wednesday and a Saturday, and I picked these because they are the most manageable days for me that work with my timetable. Whether you post once, twice, or several times a week, if you have specific days to stick to, you will actually be motivated to get something up for that day. However...

Don't put too much pressure on yourself:

If you miss publishing a post on a certain day, don't beat yourself up about it too much! For whatever reason, you may not get a post up and that's okay! Occasionally I have missed by Wednesday upload and ended up posting it a day late, or even not at all. It's more important to post content you're happy with rather than one you have rushed for the sake of posting, and your readers will understand that.

Schedule Time To Take Blog Photos:

I mentioned in my recent post about taking the perfect flatlay that I like to take blog photos in bulk, taking about two weeks worth in one go, and I seriously recommend this! Schedule some time one Sunday afternoon after you've got work done and then you're prepared - it always feels like the post is half done when I've got the photos already taken and edited!

Put Your Work First When Necessary:

Things such as revising for exams are understandably a priority - blogging shouldn't come in the way of that! If you need to take a week, or a few, off blogging while you revise for or take your exams, I really recommend it. Don't feel bad for neglecting your blog when you have something so important going on - there will be plenty of time to update your readers once you're done!

Write To Do Lists:

In general, to make sure I have enough time to do both my homework and any blogging I have to do on a weekend, I write up a To-Do list so I can clearly see everything that needs to be done. It can make everything a little less overwhelming so it gets done and dusted without all that crazy procrastination I inevitably seem to do.

Use Blogging As A Break From Studying:

It can be so easy when you're at times of the year when revision is important, to end up devoting your whole life to it, but blogging can be a distraction and stop you from overworking yourself. Of course, this is in moderation, of course, as I mentioned earlier - don't neglect all your work for blogging, but when you're on a half-term break like I am now, it's a good idea to catch up your blog while taking a break from the masses of homework you somehow have.

When it comes to lipsticks, I really am a high-end girl. At the end of the day, if I am on the hunt for an amazing new lipstick, I know I can count on the likes of MAC, Too Faced and Urban Decay while feeling luxurious and treated with my new lipstick find.

I actually couldn't think of the last time I bought a drugstore lipstick, apart from a liquid formula when all the drugstore brands started banging them out - and that was probably about a year ago now. It was only when I was browsing the NYX counter lately that my friend and I noticed their £4 Extra Creamy collection, thought 'why not?' and opted for the shade 'Thalia'.


Again, not only am I a high-end lover, I also love a good matte, so it is surprising I would end up picking an 'extra creamy' lipstick up. I definitely think every once in a while you need a break from a matte, and although I was unsure I really like the change of formula. Speaking of the formula, I was really impressed - the lipstick is really pigmented for a creamy shade and feels really nice on the lips, I certainly can't complain about drying which is something I like about a cream formula!


Of course, it isn't the longest lasting of lipsticks in the world, but that is to be expected with its creamy formula. I don't think it matters too much though, as it's affordable so I don't mind chucking it in my bag so I can reapply it throughout the day.  

The packaging isn't the most exciting in the world, but it's sleek and durable so for an affordable lipstick I think that is all that matters! The shape of the bullet makes it super easy to apply, too, which is always a plus.


Something I was really impressed by is the amount of shades there were in this range, I was certainly spoilt for choice! The shade 'Thalia' I picked up is a pinky nude I knew I could rely on, but their range is incredible, from every sort of nude you can think of to the boldest purples and reds. An unfiltered swatch of my shade is below.