Friday, 5 October 2018

Autumn Hairstyles: The Short Hair Edition
DAY FIVE
Hey lovelies!!

When I first cut my hair, I had no clue how to style it or what to do with it other than wash it and let it air dry! Thankfully, since then, I have found a few ways to style my hair that means it's out of my face but still looks cute for Autumn! Short hair is a dream but I have often found myself thinking that I don't have enough hair, length wise, to do anything extravagant or technical like those lovely braids you see on Pinterest. I hope to change that perception in this post and show you that you can do more with your hair other than leave it down or use heat tools on it!

So without further ado, here are three of my favourite go-to looks fo this season along with my very own personalised names for them...

1 // THE "BANDANA ME UP" BUN


I don't think that I have ever felt cuter in my life and I know that sounds really self-centred but this look makes me feel so adorable but in a sweet way hahaha! I picked this bandana up from a wine festival that I attended a few months ago where they had so many lovely little stalls inside to peruse! My sister and I had wanted one for such a long time and decided that we were ready to brave the country girl chic look and embrace a whole different side to us! By the way, shoutout to my sister for managing to tie this bandana around my head because I had a moment there where I didn't think it was going to make its way round my head, let alone stay in place.

This hairstyle is so easy to recreate, all you have to do is tie your hair up in a high bun, wrap the bandana round your head and tie it at the top! The way that you choose to tie it is completely up to you but I found that the looser knot left more material for me to play around with or to simply leave poking out! Feel free to change up the angle of your bandana by experimenting with where you want the knot to be on your head and you're all done!


2 // THE HALF-UP, HALF-DOWN "TELETUBBY"


Do I remind you of a childhood TV show character?! Honestly, one of the main issues I have found with having my type of hair is trying to do the half-up, half-down look. I don't have the thickest of hair and when you combine that with a reduced hair length, trying to create a top knot for the half-up portion of this look is a little difficult. Judging from the pictures, I just end up with the tiniest bun sitting at the top of my head that makes me look more like a Teletubby with their antenna than a cool girl that's trying to give you legitimate hair tips!

This look is also so easy to recreate because you only need to mess around with the upper section of your hair. The way I do it involves using my fingers to portion off the hair an inch or two above my ears, twirling it around in my fingers and winding it round to make a small bun. I would recommend, if you haven't got a lot of hair to work with here, to secure your bun with those tiny elastics that usually come in a pack of 100+ and come in a clear colour as well as black. This will stop the hairband from looking too obvious and chunky to the point where it consumes your bun. I love for it to look as seamless as possible!


3 // THE SOPHISTICATED "FACE LIFT" PONY


If you're looking for a sleek, sophisticated look for interviews then I've got you covered! This takes me around 2-3 minutes to do and that's including everything from brushing my hair to tying it back and securing it with hairspray. I personally love this look for third or fourth day hair when you either haven't had a chance to wash it and it's no longer acceptable to walk around with super greasy hair that looks like spaghetti (we've all been there I'm sure) or you're rushing out the door and need a quick hair fix or what's worse, it's a windy day...awful weather right?!

To complete this look all you need to do is: create a parting in your hair (whatever side you like), sleek you hair back with a comb paying particular attention to the crown of your head where it needs to be smoothed down, tie your hair with a hairband just above the nape of your neck, hairspray it all to keep it in place and then you're good to go! This hairstyle has saved me so many times, especially when it comes to getting ready because it's quick and hassle-free, plus it really helps to pull your overall look together and streamline your face, you can thank me later!


XOXO
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Thursday, 4 October 2018

Top 5 Instagram Accounts: Autumn Edition
DAY FOUR
Hey lovelies!

Instagram can be one of the most wonderful, incredible, magical yet annoying social media platforms out there (remember the algorithm?). Frustratingly it's like that all at the same time! The best thing about it though is that it is truly inspiring because it holds the accounts of some of my very favourite bloggers and influencers around the world today!

I have realised that this is actually quite a popular post on my blog as it is always highly requested by some of you! I can definitely understand why though because finding new people to follow on Instagram is often the key for drawing out that inner motivation that inspires us to create our own beautiful photos, witty captions and unique personal image online!

In light of all this, I have put together a post consisting of five of my favourite Instagrammers for this Autumn season! I hope that you are able to get into the cosy, crisp feel that is strongly manifesting itself this month and maybe gain an idea or two from these beauties on how you can make Autumn your best season yet!

 So without further ado, here are my preferred Queens of Autumn...

KALYN NICHOLSON
Instagram: @kalynnicholson13
The original Queen of Autumn and all things cosy or mystical has finally landed on my blog! This Canadian is not only beautiful on the outside but on the inside too and I can always rely on her to provide me with tips and tricks on how to immerse myself into any situation that requires a little more Autumn spirit than usual! Thankfully with the help of her annual Youtober series on her YouTube channel, you can join in on the fun too, so go ahead and catch up on her goodness before it's too late!

ALEX CENTOMO
Instagram: @alexcentomo
I've got to thinking that Canadians might actually be doing this season right with their constant apple-picking, pumpkin carving, cosy blanket wearing ways...they may be on to something me thinks! Alex Centomo is clearly obsessed with pumpkins and I don't blame her one bit because not only do they allow for an orange hue obsessed feed but plenty of cute photos too! Also, what's better than a wedding in Autumn with fallen leaves and a wooded forest because you'll be seeing some amazing wedding photos from Alex in just one day's time, oh I am so ready!

JULIA ENGEL
Instagram: @juliahengel (Gal Meets Glam)
Julia Engel is the sweetest thing! You will definitely be finding your inspo for table decorations on this girl's page because she has that gorgeous farmhouse feel for sure! She is one classy lady and satisfies all of my fashion needs without even trying: heritage trend ✔, animal print ✔, nude/brown colour palette ✔, her own fashion collection ✔✔✔✔ - I'm sorted! I cannot wait for what else she has to offer but I'm looking forward to seeing more of her preppy, classic looks on her Instagram over the next few weeks!

STEPHANIE LEDDA
Instagram: @smlx0
Here I give you another pumpkin obsessed beauty; they are quite literally coming out of the woodwork this season and I am not complaining one bit! You will definitely be finding yourself relying on this girl to find you the best, the cutest, the most awesome Autumn home decor right now and even if you can't get your hands on the exact items, you'll be in for a real feast for your eyes. What's more, if you're looking for some simple or glam Autumn inspired makeup looks then Stephanie has got you covered...well technically we both do!

CRISTINA MONTI
Instagram: @cristinamonti (The Boho Flow)
Cristina Monti is an absolute gem when it comes to fashion, especially Autumn fashion because living in Canada seems to be the greatest thing for this blogger seeing as she always has the most perfect photoshoot locations! She is a must to follow if you want to pick up some tips or ideas on how to get the best street style looks this season, plus she rocks animal print like no other - if you don't believe me then go and check her out!

XOXO

*All images used are from the individual Instagram accounts referred to in this blog post *
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Wednesday, 3 October 2018

How To Highlight This Autumn!
DAY THREE
Hey lovelies!

Some of you may be sitting there wondering what a weird post this is and thinking how I could possibly have thought this would be a good idea. My reasoning behind this post, however, focuses on the idea that we may experiment with makeup all year round, but there are always those specific shades that we use each season, for example: in Autumn we tend to wear colours like brown, burnt orange and burgundy - to name but a few!

Without Highlight (Above)
This got me thinking, it's all mapped out for us when it comes to makeup! Everything from the type of contour we have to the thickness of our brows and the lengths of our lashes is all decided for us but with highlight, I often feel a little clueless. Should I be wearing more highlight in Autumn because the trend is to have matte skin so I have to get my own glow on? Or am I meant to wear less highlight in Autumn and more in Summer to amp up my already glowy face? These are the real questions people!!


I am in no way an excessive highlight-erer (so not a word but I'm going with it haha) but I do love to have that beautiful shimmer that helps to accentuate the cheek bones and give you that radiant glow without having to sweat your face off! I feel that applying highlight is a treat for me, it's not one of my basic steps in my makeup routine nor is it an excuse for me to look like a glitterball to outshine everybody else...see what I did there? I'm totally making myself laugh but oh well!

With Highlight (Above)
We're always told to highlight in the areas where the sun would hit our face but seeing as there's less sunshine in Autumn and more of an overcast glare from the skies above, I'm left confused by the fact that I am left to my own devices to decide the fate of my artificial facial shine. I mean, you can see in the photo above that I have personally decided to highlight the bridge and tip of my nose, my cheekbones, browbone, the inner corners of my eyes, and my cupid's bow and a tiny bit above my brows (imagine a curved arc motion).


I can understand that listing all of that does sound excessive when you put it all together but I think there is a difference between putting it on a lot of areas and applying a lot of it. I hope you're following! My thought here lies solely on the idea that I could apply my highlight in all the same places but really paint it on like I'm going to town to the point where it looks heavy and over-the-top compared to if I was to apply a light layer of it which would appear more subtle.


I must admit though that I do adore highlighter! I feel as if it can make any look work and puts you in a better mood, especially if you think your makeup is looking a little bit boring or "meh" as I like to say. Personally, highlighting for me this season will definitely consist of a more amped up glow than the one I had in Summer because, as many of you know, sweating in a hot country on holiday can give you enough shine to last for a month so highlight is not strictly necessary!

Let me know your highlight routine in the comment section down below! Do you go to town with the glow or like to leave it natural looking? I want to hear your thoughts and ideas!

XOXO
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Tuesday, 2 October 2018

Review: 30 Day Self Care Challenge by Balanced Fit Mama Bird
DAY TWO
Hey lovelies!

If there is one thing I know, it's that I love myself a good ole' challenge! I'm always on Pinterest trying to look for the most interesting challenge whether that be self-care related, de-cluttering related, fitness related and so on, but there always seems to be a consistent problem with trying out these challenges almost every single time...

I tried to complete the 30 Day Self-Care Challenge by the lovely and super sweet Balanced Fit Mama Bird but ran into some problems along the way. Now, I love that the rules are pretty lenient and allow for a bit of leeway in terms of the order in which to tick off the listed self-care treats, but the weird thing for me was that I found myself worrying about how many times I was wanting to complete some of the same treats (e.g. a face mask, calling someone I loved, etc), just to say that I had done something for myself each day.

There is no doubt that you're going to have a hiccup or two when trying to finish any challenge but it was the fact that this particular one involved looking after myself and failing to do so past the halfway mark left me feeling kind of useless. I mean, some of us are not the greatest at adulting at the best of times but when it comes to doing things that could potentially help yourself then I'm afraid that I get a tad worried. If there's one thing that I hate most, it's failing and whilst I know that it's a part of life, it genuinely sucks! I guess they call them challenges for a reason then hahaha!

The most important thing for me to remember from this is: life goes on. You're never going to have an easy time of it but it's what you make of the tough times that matters most. Writing this now, I feel as if channeling those Blogtober vibes and challenging myself to blog on a daily basis is what I need right now - not only will it further improve my self-discipline and hone my motivation but it will be my creative outlet that enables me to grow as a person. The days that I was able to do something to make myself feel better or to help myself in some way throughout this challenge, were days that made me feel positive and accomplished. Looking back now, I am so glad that I gave myself room to do things like a 20 minute yoga video or to watch my favourite movie or listen to new music or de-clutter my room because it helped me to get through the day instead of burning myself out and not giving my body and mind the time to relax and refresh itself!

If you're wanting some more self-care in your life and need a reason to get started then I challenge you to complete Balanced Fit Mama Bird's 30 Day Challenge (below). Who knows, you may find yourself incorporating some extra treats that aren't listed! Just remember to have fun with it and try not to get too down on yourself because as long as you're having a bit of "you time" every day then you've succeeded in my eyes!

Be sure to let me know in the comment section down below if you're trying to complete any challenges over the next few months! Are you making good progress? Let's chat!


XOXO
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Monday, 1 October 2018

Welcome to Blogtober!
DAY ONE
Hey lovelies!!

It's finally Blogtober!!!!! Never did I think that I would be doing this kind of thing...daily blogging? Huh, now that is a challenge! I thought that for the very first day, I would ease myself into it by simply giving you a run-down of what to expect from me throughout Blogtober - fingers crossed that I can publish a post every single day for 31 days, otherwise that will be highly disappointing for you all haha!

Now, as you know, the month of October is certainly a fun-filled one. I love that this month feels like an overwhelmingly creative ride that enables us to explore new interests, join in with all the festivities (Halloween included) as well as enjoy the fact that October marks the time of year where we are well and truly in the midst of the Autumn season!

 First things first though, my intention for this Blogtober is to create content that is fresh and different but also still fits in with the type of blogger that I am and the type of content that I enjoy posting on Not Vicarious. I guess that, in some respects, my series of Blogtober posts may attempt to be a form of tribute to the Queen of October content herself, the one and only Kalyn Nicholson! The beautiful Canadian Youtuber prides herself in creating the very best videos for Youtober and if I can create some of the very best blog posts for Blogtober then I'll know that I'm taking a step in the right direction!

 If you're still wondering whether you should join me on this journey of seeing October out with daily Autumn-filled posts, then I am here as a reminder of the power this season has and how the content produced can act as a way of transforming the darkest mornings and the quietest of evenings into something special. So wherever you are in the world and whatever time it is right now, I would love if you took just a little break from your day, each day, to read these posts - who knows, you might even learn something new!

Get ready for a series covering everything from makeup, to fashion, to inspirational lifestyle posts and watch me make the most of this beautiful season, even if it means going overboard with those preconceived ideas of how we imagine Autumn to be like!

👻 Let me know in the comment section down below if you're taking on the challenge that is Blogtober or if you're on the receiving end and soaking up all the Autumn goodness on offer to you! 👻

XOXO
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Friday, 14 September 2018

Autumn Favourites


Hey lovelies!

Have you ever had a shopping trip that was so perfect that it felt like everything just clicked into place? I had that when I was Greece and you're probably thinking: "will she ever stop talking about her holiday?!", but I can redeem myself by telling you that everything I picked up was simply for the Autumn season that we've entered! I was honestly so happy every single moment that I was walking around my newfound love, Stradivarius, a store that we found in a huge mall in the suburbs of Athens. I can definitely see a few more shopping trips taking place in the future now that I know that there is a Stradivarius in London, eeeek I'm thanking the universe for that one, I am beyond ecstatic!

Before I let you peruse my Autumn favourites, be sure to head to the comment section down below and tell me your favourites for this beautifully crisp season! Will you be picking up any of mine? I want to know!
_____________________________ 
THE STRADIVARIUS BAG
Actual Bag: (Unavailable Online) (Similar)
Never have I found a bag so perfect, so easily! I fell in love with this the moment I saw it, literal love at first sight! I have been trying to change up my style recently and wanted to find some new items that are more in keeping with the vibe that I'm trying to go for and I think that this is perfect for me!! The silver detailing is beautiful and the leopard print scarf accessory keeps me on trend and plus it's a little bit fancy too! Honestly, no amount of exclamation marks will convey my true emotions for this bag, so instead I will let you stare in awe at this photo just as I'm doing now haha, enjoy my loves...

COWBOY BUCKLE BELT
Actual Belt: (Unavailable Online) (Similar)
...and we're back in the room! I have wanted this type of buckle belt for so long that buying this one should be classified as an overdue purchase! I first saw this style of belt on Tess Christine and instantly fell in love with the way that she paired it with her mom jeans and high-waisted jeans too so instead of living vicariously through her fashion and her photos, I got myself my own one to live out my dream of donning the Western style buckle belt, howdy!
DOUBLE RING BUCKLE BELT
Actual Belt: (Link)
I think that I have always liked the idea of the minimalist look or a capsule wardrobe and I feel that this belt would definitely have to be included in that category seeing as it goes perfectly with almost every type of outfit. I love the simplistic double ring buckle that slots well into the holes in the belt strap, giving you a cleaner look and an interesting twist on securing your chosen item of clothing!

BLACK HEELED ANKLE BOOTS
Actual Boots: (Link)
The most gorgeous pair of boots for the Autumn season! Simple, classy and sleek is how I would describe these black suede ankle boots, I just need to make sure that I'm not caught in the rain wearing them otherwise they'll be ruined for life haha! Hopefully I can get a few fashion posts done with these babies in time for Blogtober or, if worse comes to worst, I'll just talk about them endlessly on my Instagram and Twitter!
LEOPARD PRINT PLANNER
Actual Planner: (Link)
Oh I do love myself a pretty planner! The most perfect part of all is, with this particular planner, I can be super organised and so on trend with the leopard print pattern all at the same time! This was actually the last thing that I picked up the first time I went to Stradivarius. I remember standing in line to pay thinking "hmm I have a certain amount of money that I can spend here on holiday so what else can I buy to make up the value?" and then *bam!* there the planners were, leopard print and all, and as they say, the rest was history!
PRESS-ON NAILS

 Jumbo. A store in Greece that sells practically everything - from house ornaments, to garden furniture, from clothing to beauty products, this store has it all, including these gorgeous press-on nails that sell for 99 cents each! I wish they were that cheap in the drugstores we have back here in England but unfortunately they are a bit on the pricier side. You see, I rarely choose to paint my own nails because of how quickly they chip so I have been wanting to get my nails done for a while now but don't necessarily have the money...queue the press-on nail life! I believe that they are the perfect option for a good-looking manicure if you can't afford to get one done professionally. Please feel free to leave me some recommendations for fake nails that I can purchase in my local drugstore, I'm craving more now!
XOXO
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