2015 Favourites Round Up

Welcoming 2016 wasn't really something I was prepared for. Well, in my mind it was. I felt so ready to just get stuck in and start making things happen, until reality came barging in at full force to remind me that I was still in exactly the same position as I was last year. Of course I'm not going to be able to achieve a years worth of goals in just a few weeks, no-one could, that would be virtually impossible (Unless you have some super powers obvs) I think I'd be bluffing if I said that's never crossed anyone's mind. Isn't it strange how 4 numbers can define your whole thought process?!

Having said that, 2015 has left me with a lot of incredible memories which will last an absolute lifetime - along with some things I'd rather leave behind. I've tried loads of new things, met loads of new people and had some amazing opportunities. I know this post is slightly later than the rest, purely because January has been so busy and overwhelming. I still really wanted to share with you some of my highlights and things I loved throughout last year, so here they are (even if it is a little later than expected!)

My mind is bursting with new ideas that are just waiting to be put into words, so I can't wait to share those with you all!

Beauty Products

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara I love this mascara more than life itself! No seriously. The applicator is perfectly shaped to coat your lashes in such a way that you create both volume and length at the same time. As it's a high end mascara, it is on the pricier side at £19, but it is so worth splashing out for!

Bath And Body Works Watermelon Lemonade Hand Cream Hand cream & scent of the year award goes to Bath & Body Works! It is incredibly moisturising, nourishing and smells ridiculously heavenly. There is a serious lack of Watermelon scented things in the UK!

Lush Rose Jam Shower Gel & Bubbleroon After the departure of Dorothy Bubble Bar, this is my absolute favourite Lush scent! I am literally OBSESSED with it. I'm so upset the shower gel was limited edition just for the Christmas period! Thankfully, I did get my hands on it and the bubbleroon is still around *claps excitedly* I will be using the shower gel like gold dust until December!

Make Up Revolution Flawless Palette Rose Gold packaging? Yes please. I'd been looking around everywhere for a palette with gold, bronze and burgundy colours for ages and this absolutely made the cut. Although I only got it for Christmas, this has easily become my favourite palette of the year! Their shadows are a mixture of shimmer and matte and they are really well pigmented! Makeup Revolution will definitely be a firm staple in my collection for years to come!

Food & Drink

image:Google

Fajitas & Nachos These have easily been my favourite meals this year. Healthy, I know. I think I've been channelling my inner mexican, but if that works then I'm ok with that!

Fruit Tea - I am still not a fan of Breakfast tea (eek) but I have taken a great liking to Peppermint and Strawberry tea throughout this year. I am mainly a coffee lover but I can never ever finish a cup, so it's nice to spice it up a bit with something different now and again!

Elderflower Fizz - I love the cordial, but the fizz version is so much better! I don't always have it, it's normally a non-alcoholic alternative if I'm driving and I still want to treat my tastebuds!

Holidays

Paris | January 2015

I was lucky enough to be taken to Paris by my fab boyfriend for my 21st Birthday last year. It was just for a weekend but nothing short of it was amazing! We crammed everything into a short space of time and saw all the sights we wanted to see, not forgetting the tourist hotspots! I couldn't have asked for a better Birthday! I did a huge in detail post about it here if you'd like to read more (prepare for a photo heavy post!)

Florida | Miami & Orlando | April-May 2015

This has to be the holiday of a lifetime. It was the best thing I've ever experienced and I'd definitely do it again. Walt Disney World is just the most amazing place and SO ENORMOUS OMG. I thought if I don't do it now, I never will! It took a whole year of saving and paying off, but never the less worth every penny! 

Miami is great for a beach break and shopping, but I definitely couldn't spend more than a few days there. The party scene there is huge, although we weren't really up on that so I guess that saved some money and hangovers! The sea is just insanely warm there and the beaches are to die for - as long as you have the right weather!

Orlando is a different ball game. There are just endless opportunities of things to do and I wish we had more time, money and energy to finish it all off. I would definitely go back to do it again, especially as my biggest regret was not swimming with dolphins. *cries a little* The shopping malls are insanely big, I could spend hundreds of days and dollars in there and still never be bored! I did a little video montage of it all here if you fancy taking a look! 

Cornwall - August 2015

Me and Jack took a roadtrip down to Cornwall for his birthday in August this year. It seems to be some kind of tradition that we go away on some kind of trip for each others birthdays! Alas, I won't ramble on as I did a full detailed post of the whole trip here if you fancy a read! 

Most listened to albums

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If you're a pop punk/rock fan, didn't this genre drop some absolute corkers last year?! I can't even stress enough how obsessed I have been with these three albums! 

'Automatic' by Don Broco

'Around The World And Back' by State Champs 

  

'Life's Not Out To Get You' by Neck Deep

I have also listened to Fall Out Boy a fair bit this year too. Even though I do prefer their older stuff, I'm always open to their new music aswell. Fave band ever!

Film

image:Google

The Theory Of Everything What a BELTER! My god did that film pull on my heart strings. I couldn't speak for a good five minutes after it had ended, in fear of blurting out a huge cry in front of my friend (and the whole cinema) as we left! Please tell me someone did the same?!

TV Series

images:Google

Teen Mom OG & Teen Mom 2 (I love MTV)- When 16 & Pregnant first ever aired, I did religiously watch it like my life depended on it. Don't worry, I know what you're thinking and nope I don't want kids any time soon! 

Normally, with shows like that I tend to just watch all the episodes and never really follow it up, or watch it again. So when I saw that MTV were creating a follow on series Teen Mom & Teen Mom 2, I actually got quite excited to see the girls in a more 'what happened next' based sense. Despite the kids aspect, some of the girls I can really relate to as people and I've really grown have a lot of respect for them! This definitely won't be everyone's cup of tea, but if you quite like American reality shows with lots of drama and shenanigans - this will probably be your thing!

Once Upon A Time That is the name of the show! My boyfriend and I discovered this back in April. We couldn't really not notice it with being plastered all over the public transport in Florida. So, once we were home it only seemed right to watch it!

I love that each series has 22 episodes. To me, that basically means you know you're never not going have something to watch.. at least for a while! We are currently near the end of the third series and it's so so good! The story line is based on modern day fairytales, where the characters are trapped between 2 worlds. Some of the characters make my blood boil (Zelena) and others I could dream about all day (Hook) I'm hooked harharhar. I strongly recommend you give this a go if you haven't already! 

The Returned ...The French original, not the american version on Netflix. (I do want to see that too) Now, I have no idea how to speak french besides the odd phrase and believe me, I did not sit there trying to break down all the words into English.. Channel 4 kindly put English subtitles over each episode. 2015 saw the second series of The Returned after the first in 2011 finished with the worlds biggest cliff hanger. It's described as a zombie drama, which I would say probably baffled a few people. If you aren't familiar with it, basically there is a school bus crash on the cliffs somewhere and suddenly 10 years later all of the children who died in the crash start returning like normal people to their families. The stories start to unfold about each family as the series go on and I found myself really into it. The only thing I didn't like was the confusing endings! Did any of you see it?! I'd love to know what sense you made of the last episode!

Concerts

Fall Out Boy - Wembley Arena I think Fall Out Boy have to be my favourite band of all time. I've loved them ever since I got into the Alternative music scene from age 10/11.. Making myself feel super old now!

Slam Dunk Festival | University of Hertfordshire I guess this counts as it only lasts for a day?! I couldn't sing the praise of Slam Dunk enough, if you've ever been you'll know how great it is! We saw all our favourite bands and You Me At Six headlined - which was obviously going to be a huge! They didn't disappoint my drunken boyfriend and I haha!

Game

Cards Against Humanity - because a dry, sick sense of humour can be such lolz. Especially when you Nan & Grandad start getting involved and don't particularly approve of their cards...

Book

Pride Over Pity by Kailyn Lowry. If you watch Teen Mom, you will know who Kail is, I wanted to read the book to get to know her a bit better. I think on TV I misunderstood her a lot but now I have so much respect for her. Any book about someone I am really familiar with always really interests me. After all, I am super nosey. Maybe that's why I like reading blogs!

Restaurant

Wagamama. Hands down! I've definitely got the Chicken Katsu Curry and Duck Gyoza fever. *salivates* <3<3

Bars

Howl At The Moon | Orlando - If you ever get the chance to go, YOU HAVE TO GO. It's a Piano bar on International Drive which holds a different theme, 7 nights a week! When we went, there was a band playing just taking requests and singing cover songs all night long. Their cocktails are served in buckets! It was the best night out in a long time and I wish I could go back! 
  
Sticky Mikes Frog Bar | Brighton

Saturday nights are the one! I spent a good few nights out here in 2015 reliving my youth in Pop Punk classics. Did you guess I like Pop Punk yet? I spent New Years here too indulging in Beer and some great bands, including a Fall Out Boy tribute band <3 BEST NIGHT EVER. 

One thing I never thought I would do

It may not sound like a big deal, but I went to my first blogging event in London hosted by Bloggers Hangout. I went up on my own totally out of my comfort zone and so anxiety ridden I thought I might not make it. Rest assured, I met some lovely people and brands which really gave me the focus to want to keep going with my little corner of the internet :)

Something I will never go back from 

Getting my brows done professionally. In hindsight, I don't know why I waited so long to get them done - I should have taken the plunge a long time ago! It's the little things that make a big difference to your appearance and I don't think I've touched my tweezers since! After all, no-one wants bad brows!

People

My Boyfriend, Jack - I can't express enough how lucky I am to have someone who is my constant rock. This year was really testing for us as he went away for 2 months straight only coming back a few times. We made it though and now we're better than ever! 


We have had so many wonderful outings and adventures together with plenty more to come, I'm sure! I am so lucky to have met someone who I can 100% be myself around and share so many of the same interests. I love him a hell of a lot! :)

Viv - This girl is my shoulder to cry on and basically like a sister to me. The amount of times I have gone running to her for advice and grovelled about my problems is crazy haha (Soz). Her and Joe have looked after me for as long as I can remember and I'm so grateful to have them in my life. I can always rely on Viv to take hundreds of nice (and horrendously ugly selfies), watch Teen Mom and chick flicks, crave nachos and crap food at the same time, as well go on all the adventures that the men wouldn't enjoy! 

We've done so many kid like things this year such as Airhop, PlayZone, a trip to the New Forest and even tried out being adults with some random owl handling haha! I can't wait for the arrival of 'baby Rose' in March! I'm so happy to have her as a friend! Wife lovin'!

What were your highlights of 2015?
I hope you all have an amazing year!! :)

TB x

***Disclaimer: All images used are my own or otherwise stated***