This weeks likes & dislikes

Hello everyone!!!

I am going to hopefully put out a few posts this week on various things, as hopefully I will have plenty of time to just chill this week. Today I am doing a likes & dislikes as it has been long since the last one!

There are alot of things that I am liking at the moment, & a few not so much! So without further ado, here they are :)

Like #1: Music- music is a huge part of my life. There is a song for every mood, every moment & I often wonder how different the world would be if music didn't exist. It has gotten me through the good & bad times, & there have been so many moments when a specific song has just completely summed up how I feel. One particular song that I just love is "Beneath your beautiful" by Labrinth & Emeli Sande. Labrinth's voice especially is incredible (the raspiness literally gives me chills) & the song meaning is fantastic- about being able to see what is really inside. Love it!

Like #2: Hot chocolate- Can't believe summer is over already! The days are getting colder (& wetter!) & already some shops are starting to advertise Christmas stuff! Mental! But seriously, I love hot chocolate. There is nothing better than sitting in front of the telly when it's cold outside, you've got a fluffy onesie on, something good to watch, & a big mug of hot chocolate with cream & marshmallows (calories, yes. But oh-so-yummy). Bliss.

Like #3: Chunky knit jumpers- Again, on an autumny/wintery theme, chunky knitted jumpers are an essential for me. I hate cold weather- I am one of these people who starts shivering at the slightest draught, & the cold affects my joints badly. This year I got a head start & bought myself some really cute, cosy knits. Not only will they keep me warm, they are also bang on-trend (think I'll do a haul post/video on this!) & I have one for every occasion.  My favourite is definitely a long, cream-coloured cable knit jumper-dress that I got on Amazon for the bargain price of £6.99!

Like #4: Home-made goodies- Nothing is more enjoyable than something home-made that you have put the effort into making, & it turning out even better than expected. A few weeks ago I made some preserved lemon & lime wedges (Everything tastes better with a bit of citrus!) & they turned out fantastic. I love putting them on fish, in pasta dishes or even just eaten on their own when you have those middle-of-the-night, only-salty/savoury-will-do cravings!

Like #5: Loom bands- I have become hooked on the latest craze now. For a few quid, there are hours of fun to be had & the colour combinations are endless. One thing I like about this craze is that it is just simple, cheap, creative fun for all ages & you don't have to bust the bank or be a super-creative, Pintrest-worthy genius to make some really pretty creations. I've got loads of colours now & just enjoy sitting & making them when I have a spare moment.

Dislike #1: The current obsession with zombies, apocalypses & the world ending- It's getting to the point where you can't even switch on the TV without there being something zombie/apocalypse/world-ending related. It's doing my head in. Why is everyone so obsessed with miserable, morbid things nowadays?

Dislike #2: The soap storylines- On another TV theme, I have completely stopped watching the soaps. Some of the storylines are just so far fetched & they drag on to the point of being completely unrealistic. Also, why is everyone always so miserable in soapland? No wonder the ratings are dropping.

Dislike #3: Dirty people- There is nothing worse than being on a bus or out in public & being near someone who doesn't wash. I ended up leaving a queue in the supermarket & moving to a different one due to one such person stood in front of me. Also, it really bothers me when you see someone happily coughing & sneezing everywhere without covering their mouth & nose. Yuck!

Dislike #4: Warm, damp weather- I don't know why but lately it seems that the air is constantly all horribly hot & sticky. We haven't had alot of rain so that may be why, but either way it's horrible.

Dislike #5: Judgemental people- This one is based on an incident that happened this week. Not going into detail but someone rather upset me this week. They very rudely said "Oi, you can't use that, it's for disabled people, not just anyone..." whilst I was holding my rather annoyed fiance back (annoyed is an understatement) I politely informed them that in fact I was disabled. Then they turned round & said "Well what's wrong with you? You're not in a wheelchair". So I simply told them that 1) Not all disabled people are in wheelchairs & 2) That I didn't have to justify myself to them or owe them an explanation.  An old man who was watching this turned round to this person & said "I suggest you stop being such an interfering nosy parker & go home & educate yourself. Just because you can't see what's wrong doesn't give you the right to judge". The person needless to say walked very quickly away with a red face & their tail between their legs. I thanked the man & he told me "Don't worry love, some people are just morons". This incident upset me though- it just goes to show how ignorant some people are, & they need to think more before they speak.

So there you have it. Hope you all enjoyed reading. Does anyone have any likes or dislikes they want to share? Post in the comments below :) Have a lovely week :) xxx
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For questions, suggestions, opinions & comments, feel free to post below or email me at:
dollytrolley1994@gmail.com

Loving at the moment

Hello everyone!

Todays post is going to be about products & items that I am loving at the moment. I did something similar to this not long ago & thought I would do another. I love to try out different products, whether it's hair & makeup related, clothing, food or general & I hope this will inspire you to try them too! Enjoy :)

1. Tea tree oil (£7.00 The Body Shop) this stuff is amazing. It's really great for acne-prone skin as it treats blemishes, soothes & acts as an antibacterial to treat spots (also great on cuts & grazes!) I use it after I wash my face- simply dilute 2 drops in 1 teaspoon of warm water, soak a cotton wool ball in the solution & gently apply to your face. It doesn't irritate or dry out your skin either!

2. adidas originals Adi Rise 2.0 juniors hi-top trainers (£35-£40 JD Sports) these are possibly the most comfy shoes I have ever had (not ashamed to admit that I own two pairs!) Hi-tops are very on-trend at the moment but are also a more timeless item meaning they won't go out of fashion. I got my first pair for christmas in black, sky blue & white & loved them so much that my lovely man surprised me with some black & red ones yesterday!

3. The Body Shop All-in-one Instablur (£14) & All-in-one BB Cream (£12) I mentioned these in one of my previous posts (News, chatter, likes & dislikes) I got these a couple of weeks ago in a little set that included an amazing foundation brush too (the set was worth £45 & I got it for the special price of £20!) It's incredible- use the instablur as a primer- it literally blurs the imperfections, then apply the BB cream. You would get away without foundation over the top as these give fantastic coverage & just conceal any blemishes. I went back to The Body Shop the other day & apparently it has been so popular that everywhere has completely sold out!

4. Muller Crunch Corner Toffee Hoops (69p Sainsburys) these make a really tasty treat when you've got sweet cravings- one of my favourite snacks!

5. Montagne Jeunesse face masques (90p-£1.50 each, available at all leading supermarkets, Boots, Superdrug & Primark) these come in a variety of fruity, chocolatey or generally good smelling peel-off, mud, clay, warming, exfoliating & fabric face masques. Great for an evening of pampering & helps your skin feel gorgeously clean & soft.

6. My brand new Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0- this was a present from my lovely man today (I burst into tears when he gave it to me) my laptop broke a while back & I'd said I was going to get a tablet instead. The cheapest place I have found it is either Currys PC World or Asda for £139. It's amazing!

So there you have it. Hope this has inspired you to try some new products & would love to hear what you think! Thanks for reading! :)
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For questions, suggestions, opinions & comments, email me at:
dollytrolley1994@gmail.com or post a comment below :)

Saving money

Hello everyone!

Today I've got some tips for you on saving money. Nowadays, life is expensive & we often find that payday can't come fast enough. At the beginning of this financial year (6th April) I decided I was going to see how much money I could save up in a year. So far it's going brilliant! I am nowhere near a pinchpenny or one of these "Super-Scrimpers" you see on telly, but I am pretty aware of my spending. So here are my ways that I have devised for saving up for a rainy day.

1. Budget. Work out what you NEED to spend every month & set it aside. Have some emergency money too for the unexpected, then the rest can go on what you want. We often make the mistake of "Impulse Buying" & find ourselves thinking that the £50 we've just spent on that super-cute, wear once & never to be seen again pair of shoes should have been spent on fuel. Treats are ok- just in moderation.

2. Look after the pennies... We are all guilty of going into a shop, buying something then just chucking the change in the charity tin. Obviously giving to charity is good (Help For Heroes, The Poppy Appeal & Cancer Reasearch are particular ones to me) But think about setting up a change pot. Every day, fish out the pennies from your pocket & put them in- it very quickly adds up. Since the 6th of April I've saved a shockingly large amount in change (I won't tell you how much- that will come in a years time). It's money you never knew you had- it might be a mess around but when you've got a large amount, count it up, bag it, take it to the bank & treat yourself!

3. Shop around. In one of my posts a couple of days ago I wrote that I was hacked off after discovering ways that supermarkets are ripping us off. Obviously supermarkets are convenient, but often you get alot less, not as good quality & more expensive than local businesses such as the butchers sell. So support your local businesses- it's better.

4. Do you really need it? Don't impulse buy- think about what you are buying before you hand over the cash. Unless you know you can afford it & you really want it then save your money- you'll be glad you did!

So there we go! Some top tips for saving money. Hope you all found this useful & I would love to know what you all think! Thanks for reading :)!
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For questions, suggestions, opinions & comments, email me at:
dollytrolley1994@gmail.com

News, chatter, likes & dislikes

Hello everyone!

Sorry it's been a while- in between hospital visits, being ill & trying to get things done it's been a mad few weeks. At the moment I'm a little better than I was- still in alot of pain but been able to get out a bit more which is good. I've been told I need to see the surgery team next week because I haven't recovered as well as hoped & another lot of (more serious) surgery is on the cards.

This isn't what I hoped for but I know it has to be done so I've just got to pack up my troubles in my hospital bag & smile smile smile...lol. I've been making the most of the nice weather when it's been nice & on my good days I've had some shopping sprees! I've got a whole new wardrobe as I had loads of money that I had saved for ages to get myself some lovely new clothes (plus some lovely treats from my other half).

I had planned on doing a few haul videos but I've decided to leave that for a while yet until I have the time. However I will say this- get yourselves to the high street! There are some gorgeous trends at the moment & alot of them are at bargain prices:

-Debenhams have some huge sales on at the moment, I've bought some gorgeous pieces from Miss Selfridge & Quiz. My local Debenhams have had a 20% off event & loads of discounts & I've bought about £300 worth of clothes for £150!!!

-Bodyshop have bought out an amazing new product called Instablur. You use it as a primer & it literally blurs skin imperfections & blemishes. I use it with their new BB cream (they are on offer at the moment- £20 for both, worth £45!!!) And they are amazing. I've also treated myself to some new makeup brushes & other stuff too- all on amazing offers!

-Primark are doing some great stuff at the moment. I've bought myself loads of summer clothes as well as some great sale items. They've also got loads of pug-related stuff (I adore pugs!) So go & have a look!

-River Island, Dorothy Perkins, New Look & Peacocks. All have some lovely stuff at the moment & bang on trend!

- Superdrug & Boots have a 3 for 2 offer across all beauty products at the moment- I've been stocking up on Barry M & all of my other favourite brands. I also bought myself a new Tresemme hair dryer which is amazing!

-Beales Department Store- I've got a couple of gorgeous new dresses from here (the green & white flower dress from Apricot- £34) as well as some gorgeous black & gold heels from Miss Selfridge!

What I'm loving:
- Animal motif jumpers. I have been stocking up on some new jumpers (It will be winter again before we know it lol) & online stores such as Amazon & Karma Clothing have some really cute styles. I'm also loving quilted jumpers- I've got 3 in black, grey & white.

- Tiger Balm Red: possibly the most incredible stuff for joint & muscle pain. I'm on alot of medication at the moment & thought I'd try this as a more natural way- & it's amazing.

- Fresh fruit from the markets & grocers. It's the season for strawberries, raspberries, apricots, cherries & peaches- all of wich I've been snacking on (healthy comfort food). I refuse to buy them from the supermarket as not only are they so much cheaper from the greengrocers, you get so much more & they are better quality too.


What I'm disliking:
-The illusion that food is cheaper in the supermarkets. In my local town we have THREE giant supermarkets (it's absolutely rediculous) plus loads of smaller ones. Alot of my fresh foods I now buy from the local farmshops, market stalls, butchers & greengrocers- not onlyis it better quality, it's cheaper & it supports the little businesses which sadly are getting fewer.

- Rude, arrogant & ignorant people. Some people are just plain rude- they'll push past you, nearly knock you over & either ignore it or look at you like it's your fault.

- Benefit cheats. These people are disgraceful- they are proud to let the taxpayer fund their lifestyles & have no shame or remorse. There are people in genuine need who can't get the help they need because of people like this & there needs to be changes.


So there you go. Hope you enjoyed reading & keep checking for more coming soon. Thanks for reading :) xx

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For questions, suggestions, opinions & comments, email me at:
dollytrolley1994@gmail.com

How to have a good shopping trip

Hello everyone!

This post is going to be on how to have a good shopping trip. It might seem a bit silly- tips on going on a shopping spree, but you'd be surprised. Lots of people go out with the intention of having a fun day of shopping but the reality is that they end up getting bored, tired or fed up quickly & end up not getting done what they went shopping for. But here are some tips on how you can have a fun & relaxed shopping spree.

1. Plan your day. I don't mean an exact schedule of every movement you make. Give yourself plenty of time for getting there & parking (or if using public transport plan which bus or train you're going to get). Decide which shops are priority or things you need to get most. If you're on a time limit then do what you need to get done first.

2. Decide what you're going to wear. You want to look good but be comfy at the same time. If you're going to be trying clothes on then wear stuff you can easily remove & put back on. Consider wearing your hair up too if this is the case or you might start to look a bit like a dandelion after trying loads of tops on! Limit your makeup too- you don't want to stain the garments.

3. Set a budget. Decide what you really need & make it a priority. Try not to buy things that are similar to stuff you already have. Shop around- don't just buy the first thing you see or you might see something else later but not have enough cash. Try the cheaper shops too- many shops such as Primark & New Look stock the latest trends without the designer pricetag.

4. Pack a bag to take- make sure you have your money, cards, phone, a bottled drink & maybe a hairbrush & other handbag essentials (See my 'Handbag essentials' blog) keep your bag secure & close at all times.

5. Have regular breaks. You don't enjoy shopping if you're tired & have sore feet. Have a sit down every so often & stay hydrated. Also allow time for eating.

6. Take a friend. If you're going clothes shopping then it's always good to have a second opinion- take someone who's honest & who you trust. It also makes it more fun to have someone to talk to- & safer than being out on your own!

7. Don't buy for the sake of it. If you don't spend all of your money on the spree then don't just blow it on stuff you don't need- save it for next time.

8. Try to avoid the crowds. If you can it's always better to shop during the week or later on in the day- that way you're not battling the crowds & wasting hours in the queues at the tills.

9. Look out for sales & offers. The sale racks are often the best- you can find some really cute stuff for a cheaper price. Often in shops like Boots or Superdrug beauty, health & hair products will have offers such as 3 for 2- cheapest item free. Don't forget your Advantage Cards too!

10. Don't buy more than you can carry. This is especially important if using public transport as struggling home on a bus with about 50 bags is not fun! If you have a car then you can just pop back & leave your shopping in there & carry on- but be careful as it could be a target for thieves!

So there you have it. I hope you found these tips useful & I would love to know what you think. Thanks for reading :)
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For questions, suggestions, comments & opinions, email me at:
dollytrolley1994@gmail.com

Introduction

Hi!
So this is my first ever post as I am new to blogging (please excuse any spelling errors and nervous rambling lol). My blog is going to be about loads of different things: food & recipies, makeup and beauty product reveiws, fashion (look out for my hauls that I am going to be doing), hair and makeup tips, TV, and music and film related reveiws. Also I want to cover things like money saving and good ways to save cash

I am also going to be discussing some more serious topics. I am disabled and have lived with illnesses for a number of years. I am going to be giving advice on for people who suffer with the same things; as well as tips on coping and how to still lead a good life.

Other serious subjects I may cover are things like bullying, abuse and stress. All of these things I have experienced and I want to be able to help others who may be going through the same.

Anyway, on a less morbid note I really hope that this can be a success and that people will read, enjoy, laugh and gain something from this. There are several successful youtubers and well-known bloggers who I have gained inspiration from to be able to do this. I am always happy to answer questions and suggestions, and if all goes well I will be doing some vlogs on youtube so let me know.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy :)

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For suggestions, questions and general feedback, email me at:

dollytrolley1994@gmail.com