Christmas is well and truely on its way, and for some of us that haven't started our christmas shopping yet (oops...!) It may strike panic, but fear not! I have a great christmas guide right here for all of those people in your life that you may (or may not...) struggle buying for, for all sorts of budgets!

After all, Christmas is supposed to be a fab time of year!

So, where do I start? Lets start with your typical young ladies! (typically aged 18-25 maybe?)

Makeup I could (probably) guarantee is going to be winner on most occasions!

These are the 'Naked' Eyeshadow Palettes from Urban Decay which over the course of 2015 a lot of ladies have been raving about, I myself have Naked 2, which I ADORE, as its perfect a nude or smoky eye, which FYI, they also have a 'Naked - Smokey' in the range too, but at £38.00 a pop, it's not exactly the cheapest, so what other options are there?

This next option isn't also the cheapest but having recieved it as a gift in the past, I can definitely recommend it!
MAC Cosmetics offer a voucher for different amounts (£30, £50 and £100).
In which you get a free makeup lesson and then have the value of the voucher to spend on cosmetics from the entire MAC range. - As tried and tested, I can't recommend this enough as you get to see how it really looks and see what works before you, 'Try before you buy" if you like! - These are bookable appointments only and are only available in department stores which have a makeover area within the counter (Debenhams in Meadowhall is a fab example and where I had mine done!).

Ok, there's two suggestions with a slightly higher price tag, but for those with a smaller budget, look below!

Boots is an absolute saviour for all things beauty when it comes to christmas with their fab 3 for 2 (cheapest item free) offer which includes gift sets, make up and more.
So fellas, if you're struggling for your sister, mum or even your nan, venture into boots, you could probably get all 3 done within a few minutes, they have brands ranging from Soap and Glory to Jack Wills in this year and you'll be sure to find something just right!

Great example is this Jack Wills Weekend Essentials Backpack! And until Thursday 26th November it's half price! Order it here - Jack Wills Weekend Essentials Backpack

Boots also offer these fab sets for him and her! (Links below the photo).

Champney's Essential Grooming Set For Men

Smirnoff Barware Set 

 

 

 Mary Berry's Simple Cakes Cookbook

 

There is so much more inspiration for him, her and the kids at the Boots website, take a look!


So, the next bit I'm going to cover is Secret Santa, most of the time the budget is £5-£10, but there is always the fear that you may or may not just draw the one person out of the office that you can't stand...

 

No fear, whether you like the person (or not...) here's some great sites and stores with gifts for under £10!

 

Not on the high street.com is the perfect stop for personalised and unique gifts that you may not find on the highstreet, think cufflinks, quirky notebooks and even homeware, if you're looking for something unique, Not on the highstreet.com might be a good stop for your secret santa present! (Or for general gifts!).

 

 A popular choice for ladies, could be a bathbomb from Lush, I think the majority (if not all) are under £5 and are the perfect addition to a relaxing bath! If you have a budget of £10, you can stretch to a bubblebar too or even one of the many gift sets they have on offer! but from bathbombs to facemasks and moisturisers, check out their range! Lush.

 Prezzybox.com actually have a secret santa section with both £10 and £5 budgets! There is definitely the perfect joke/novelty present for all!
This includes "How to be the perfect husband/wife" books, coffee stencil sets, homeware bits and pieces, even a hangover kit and a LED Wine glass!

Check out their entire Secret Santa range here.

Dotcomgiftshop has gifts under £5 and seems to be based heavily on kitchen and homeware products, including oven mitts, Kitchen and Home signs (e.g "It's all about the wine"), Mugs, small toys and more! Check out the range here.

There of course is so many more ideas to be told, keep an eye out for my next christmas gift guide coming early December for you last minute shoppers, from both myself and other bloggers! To help you find that perfect gift! From the perspective of both male and female bloggers! (If you're interested in taking part, tweet me!).

@hayley_grice

Good luck in the christmas shopping and have a fantastic christmas all!

 

 Until next time,

Get to know me - Beauty Blogger Tag!

Evening all! Since I'm not doing anything tonight (which is how most of my saturday nights are, wild.) I thought I'd do my 'Get to know me - Beauty Bloggers' tag nomination from Rebecca at Northern Soul Beauty! Thanks for the tag lovely, be sure to check out her blog all, it's fab! 

So, here we go!

1. Is your hair naturally curly or straight?

It's supposed to be straight, but it has this daft frizz wave thing in it if I don't do anything with it!

(Ok, maybe it's not THAT bad... but you get the picture.)

2. Do you dye it yourself or go to a salon?

I've dyed my hair by myself previously but now I'll go to a salon.

3. Do you wear the same style everyday, or do you change it?

It tends to be straightened most days, I tend to do half up half down most of the time.

4. How long does it take for you to put on makeup?

It all depends on where I'm going or what I'm doing, but it can vary between 20 minutes and an hour, daily makeup takes about 20 mins (normally!) but if I'm going out or off to a party it can take up to an hour with eyeshadow, lashes, brows, the whole lot!

5. What do you do first? Face or eyes?

Again, it depends where I'm going or what i'm doing, if it involves eyeshadow, it's always eyes first, but I do mix a bit of foundation and primer on to put on as a base before the eyeshadow!

6. Do you collect makeup or just buy what you need when you need it?

I'm a bit of both, I buy it when I need it of course but of course I've bought it when I've wanted it haha (like the Naked 2 Palette from Urban Decay, but I use it most days so!)

7. How often do you wear false eyelashes?

I used to wear them all the time but now I hardly ever do unless it's a special occasion! I kind of want to buy some now haha!

8. What are your current everyday staples?

My Velvet Teddy Mac Lipstick is my absolute favourite.

9. Do you wear makeup when you're home alone or with family?

If I've already been out then probably but if I'm not going out anywhere then probably not, it's more than likely a facemask if i'm on my own.

10. How many high-end products do you have?

Smashbox foundation and contour, Mac Lipsticks and eyeshadows, Urban Decay Eyeshadow Naked 2 Palette, Benefit Concealer and Mascara.
Expensive? Yes, but I work hard for my money and I would much rather spend my money on decent products that are going to last me longer!

11. Do you plan your OOTD every night or decide when you're getting dressed?

I'm terrible at planning what I'm going to wear, I'm very last minute with stuff like this, however, if I buy an outfit for a specific occasion, then its different.

12. How often do you change your handbag?

Admittedy very often, but I have 3 that I tend to use often, A blue/black one (my main handbag), a pink one and a small ted baker one.

13. How often or when do you workout?

I do when I can, I aim for at least twice a week which most weeks I achieve, but because I work a lot I don't have an awful lot of time, I've managed 3 times this week so that's always a positive!

14. Left handed or right handed?

Right handed.

15. How tall are you?

5"7? I think? Something like that.

16. Do you speak any foreign languages?

I know a tiny bit of French and German but it's incredibly basic and it's just stuff I learnt whilst at school, I can't remember most of it!

17. Sweet or savoury?

Both! I love cake as much as the next person but I like crisps and stuff like that a fair bit too haha oops.

18. What's your favourite perfume?

Ghost - Sweetheart is my favourite to this day.

19. How many pets do you have?

A dog called Alfie, the best dog ever.

20. Do you read comments posted on blogs?

Of course! I love getting comments and reply when I can :)

21. Do you keep a list of products to try as you see other posts?

Sometimes, but not always!

22. How did you come up with your blog name?

I wanted (and still do) to lose weight and I'm known for my big booty, so "Shift my booty" was born... HA

23. What kind of camera do you use for your photographs?

At the moment, my iPhone 5s! I'm pretty happy with that at the moment.

24. What's your favorite color?

Blue!

25. Do you swear?

Sometimes... but doesn't everyone?

26. What are you doing with the rest of your day?

Sleeping... it's 11pm on a Saturday hahaha.

That's my tag! I nominate these fab ladies, check out their blogs!

Grace at Grace Blogs Life

Saira at Through the Glitter Glass

Hannah at Hannah Hawes 

Libby at Never Wears White

Molli at Along Came Molli 

Rosie at Love Rosie 

Can't wait to read your posts!

That's all for now, until next time, 

Today's post is a little bit different.

As well as an update on my measurements (spoiler, it's not bad!) - I've evaluated both some short and long term goals that I'd like to achieve within the next couple of years.

So, what are my future goals?

The three bottom steps for me have already happened, I've finished and graduated university and have a foundation and BSc Honours Degree in Events Management.
I have 2 jobs. - both part time, which is giving me valuable experience to reach a "dream job" if you like.

The ultimate goal for me, career wise is this:

To answer the dreaded question, "where do you see yourself in 5 years?" is this, I hope to be in job I have worked hard for, knocking back obstacles and challenges along my way, to be a better version of myself now, showing my potential and continuing to improve physically and mentally! - Just to simply be the best I can be.

Of course it's not just about my career, as much that is a big part of my future.
Of course another big part of my life I would like to improve is my appearance.

The whole reason I started this blog in the first place!
I understand that everyone has their downers about their body and appearance and unless you're perfect (which lets be honest, perfect doesn't exist!) it's likely you'll always dislike something, it's just the way we function!

I want to be body postive, I know it will take a while and I am going in the right direction, one step at a time. I'm not putting a weight goal or anything on it, I just want to be (ideally) slim, curvy and toned, which will be possible if I keep at it! It'll be a long, exhausting and probably painful to a certain extent, but you know what they say:

Watch this space to see if I see out my fitness goals.

This next one could potentially be a long term goal.
I want to move out and spread my wings and BE HAPPY.
The reason being is this past year I've come to the terms with struggling with different bounds of depression and anxiety, especially social anxiety.

However, I'm improving and learning to love myself bit by bit each day, and if I'm happy on my own or wherever I end up when I spread my wings and finally leave home, I know I will have succeeded!

(That house is ridiculously cute)

One final goal, is I hope to have the very best people around me, this year has been a year that's proved to me who my real friends are and I can only hope that the small circle I currently have will be here to stay for a long time. (You all know who you are!).

 Of course there are more of you! So don't worry if you're not on this^ I couldn't find photos of me and all the people together that I wanted to include!

One final positive note to end what I hope is a post that will motivate me for time to come!
This maybe slacking but I haven't actually been measured since July, this may look like somewhat an excuse, but general life has got in the way and this morning I jumped at the chance to see any progress.

So here are my measurements from July:

Left Top Arm: 41cm
Right Top Arm: 41cm
Right Lower Arm: 29.5cm
Left Lower Arm: 29.5cm
Chest/Bust: 102cm
Waist: 88cm
Stomach: 96cm
Hips/Bum: 123.5cm
Left Thigh: 75.5cm
Right Thigh: 77.5cm
Left Knee: 52cm
Right Knee: 52cm
Left Calf: 49cm
Right Calf: 49cm

Now, my measurements from this morning:

Left Top Arm: 40cm
Right Top Arm: 40cm
Right Lower Arm: 29cm
Left Lower Arm: 30cm
Chest/Bust: 102cm
Waist: 86cm
Stomach: 94cm
Hips/Bum: 125cm
Left Thigh: 73.5cm
Right Thigh: 73.5cm
Left Knee: 53cm
Right Knee: 52cm
Left Calf: 48.5cm
Right Calf: 49cm

In some places I've gained cm's, in some I've stayed the same but overall I'm still losing cms! Altogther this time, I've lost 13cm's all over my body, which means I'm still heading in the right direction! I hope to do another towards the end of the year or beginning of next year in the hope I lose some more, so watch this space.

After all, like I said earlier no pain, no gain!

That's all for today, I would love to here your future goals too!
Until next time:

Happy Friday everyone!


I've been soooo busy lately! which is both good and bad, good because I'm always doing something, but bad because my blogging game has become a bit weak, I am working on this to fit it into my schedule but I have a lot of plans and posts I hope to feature in the near future, so watch this space everyone!

So, lets rewind to Saturday last week, I was invited to my first event as a blogger and it was a store opening!

 Trending cosmetics in Doncaster Frenchgate Centre! It's located on the ground floor opposite WHSmith practically! 

It sells a variety of accessories and cosmetics, mainly focusing on the 2True Cosmetic brand, which I think is a great range! 

 

 Not only this, everything is affordable! their range of accessories from eyelash curlers to eyelashes and nails was brilliant and there was plenty on offer and all set out in a great way, it was clear what type of product was what along with the pricing!

 

 Not only that, something I found really unique is that there is a "Test and Play" area where you can either have your makeup done or play with the products yourself to see what suits you, a brilliant edition to the store, which also gives any potential customers the chance to try before they buy!

 I even had a cheeky pose with their instagram frame, a nice touch!
Check them out on instagram with their hashtag #AlwaysTrending and on their actual profile @trendingcosmetics ! check them out and give them a follow!

 One thing I really admired about the store was the way it was set out and decorated, it was colourful, inviting and modern without being too in your face and even better, the staff were incredibly friendly too! which is a win win situation in my eyes.

 The store was busy when I arrived, everyone was having a nosey at the different range of products on offer!

This is just a great example of how I love the set up of the makeup, One of my favourite bits of makeup is eye makeup, this display is ridiculously easy to see what's what, from mascara to eyeliner and eyeshadow, you could see all the great products they had to show in one dedicated area, which I think is something that can be lacking in other cosmetic stores.

One final feature which I thought was a great touch, is that Britains Next Top Model 2011 winner Jade Thompson was in store too! which is always an upside, I didn't get a photo with her because I was time concious with getting to work, but she was lovely!

Jade got her makeup done using all 2True products too, and it looked fab!

On top of that, I got a free goodby bag with a fab variety of 2True products, it's always nice to seal it with a freebie and I hope to visit Trending again soon!

Follow them on Twitter:

Trending - @trendingcos

2True - @2TrueUK

That's all for now, I hope to post more content soon!