● Laura Thornberry ● Lifestyle Blogger ● London Based ●: 2015

December has been a busy month for me, but I have definitely had products that I have really loved using or products that I would recommend as I've used them for most days this month. I have a whole selection of products from beauty to footwear to TV shows and more, so let's get started!

One Tree Hill

I love a good teen drama, and something that I have been watching religiously this month is One Tree Hill. I remember only watching Season One a long time ago, remembering my love for Lucas Scott and realised I had never carried on watching. Fast forward five seasons and I am hooked that bad that I can watch a good three or four episodes at a time. It's such an easy watch series that even if you aren't a fan of basketball, you will really enjoy watching it.

YSL Black Opium

As a perfume lover, I had been hearing such a hype about this fragrance from a number of beauty lovers, that I needed to get my hands on this and see what all the fuss was about. Since receiving this perfume, I have worn it nearly everyday, I absolutely love it! It's such a deep, sexy, musky scent, I think it really is something any female would love and if you haven't smelt/tried this, I would definitely recommend it! If you want to find out more about what I think about this, you can read my review here.

Nike Roshe Runs

When it comes to shoes, I'm 100% a trainer girl. Don't get me wrong, I love wearing heels and boots for a more smart occasion but I love being comfortable and knowing that I can wear a pair of shoes all day and not have painful feet come evening time. I picked up my Roshe's via ASOS and have been wearing them non stop for the last few months, that I just had to include them in my first monthly favourites, as they are just that amazing, I want them in every colour! Next on my purchase list will be the all black version, navy and burgundy!

ELF 3-in-1 Mascara

As it goes for mascara, I thought my favourite for this month would be the Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless Mascara as this has been a staple in my make up routine for a while. In the hope of finding some more mascaras that I loved just as much, I recently placed an ELF order, and purchased the 3-in-1 Mascara (Lengthen, Define and Volumize) in hope it would be just as good, and I was actually happy with the results after the first application, that it has become a staple for me over the last few weeks. The brush is a little strange and oddly shaped, but that seems to work for me as my lashes look longer, thicker and defined, something I always want in a mascara!

Starbucks Gingerbread Lattes

I love coffee. It's the perfect pick me up for tired mornings and it's just something I couldn't live without. But every year when Starbucks bring out the festive drinks menu, my love for coffee gets even stronger. Usually I'm a Caramel Macchiato/White Chocolate Mocha lover, but when it's Christmas time, I'm all over those Gingerbread Lattes! Just the thought of a sweet and delicately spicy gingerbread latte gets me in the festive mood and makes you feel all warm inside. I will definitely be sad when they're no longer available!

Aussie 3 Miracle Oil

A new addition to my haircare routine is the Aussie 3 Miracle Oil. As a huge fan of Aussie haircare, I was desperate to try the new hair oil they released earlier this year, and so far it blows all my other ones out of the water! With a blend of 3 oils Macademia, Safflower Seed and Coconut, you just know its going to do good things to your locks. First of all, the scent is just incredible. Just like the whole Aussie range, it just smells so sweet and fruity, it's so lovely. And of course the oil itself performs really well, I apply it to the lengths and ends of my hair after washing, and I'm left with shiny, silky, nourished healthy hair! If you haven't tried this yet, and you're a fan of haircare, I would 100% recommend this!

What have been your favourites this month?

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When it comes to beauty, where some people may collect lipsticks or nail polishes, my weakness is definitely perfumes and fragrances. I love trying new scents and seeing how certain smells combine together to make perfumes. My taste in perfumes can differ quite a lot, sometimes due to the time of the year, the weather, if its for a special occasion or even just how I feel on that particular day. My current favourites are Reb'l Fleur by Rihanna, YSL Black Opium and Nicki Minaj MINAJESTY. All of which are completely different scents, but all which I really love, and will continue to repurchase in the future for my perfume stash. To add to this stash, I have quite the list of perfumes that are on my to-try list, but after thinking over them all for a while, I thought that would be way too many! So in the end, I opted for my top 8, that I wish to purchase over the next few months.

ARI by Ariana Grande
"ARI by Ariana Grande is a genuine and intimate statement by Grande through scent, embodying her unique character and style. Hints of unexpected playfulness appear throughout the fragrance story, reminding fans to embrace their flaws and celebrate their differences Playful, timeless and confident, the luscious new fragrance – a Floral Fruity Gourmand - opens with sparkling fruits and an ultra-feminine floralcy, passionately spun with musks, woods, and an addictive hint of marshmallow."

GOLD MAGIC by Little Mix
"Confident, enchanting, energetic and united, words that are inherently linked to the inspirational girl band Little Mix and their intriguing new debut fragrance GOLD MAGIC. The fragrance itself delivers against the bands strong desire to create a scent that never stops surprising the senses. Opening with a burst of playful hints of fruit, the captivating powdery velvet heart, pretty violet tones and more aqueous watermelon are both refreshing and sophisticated. The base is musky and warm but also sweet and hypnotic."

Paco Rabanne Olympēa
"Her fragrance is a unique olfactory adventure, at the crossroads between the sensuality of salty vanilla accord and the freshness of floral notes. A fresh oriental fragrance whose balance of the accords forms a genuine Paco Rabanne signature. The green mandarin, boosted by the floral and aquatic essences of ginger lily and hydroponic jasmine, awakens the senses. The sensual and luminous salty vanilla accord brings carnal and addictive magnetism. The cashmere wood and Ambergris accord magnify the fragrance and form a divine and powerful trail."

Pinkprint by Nicki Minaj
"Bold. Brilliant. PINK A stunning new fragrance statement that reflects Nicki's bold personality and celebrates her brilliance and evolution as an artist. With top notes of Bergamot, Grapefruit and Pink Passionfruit"

Stormflower Noir by Cheryl
"StormFlower Noir EDP introduces a glamorous and charming addition to Cheryl’s collection. It captures the imagination with a tang of rhubarb, lively Mandarin and pear. The floral heart is rich and heady with voluptuous tuberose, orange blossom and a sprinkle of rose petals. The fragrance concludes with irresistible brown sugar, addictive musk and creamy sandalwood. The result is opulent beauty but with the understated simplicity of Cheryl’s approach to fragrance: classic, evocative and elemental."

Diesel Loverdose
"An addictive Floral and Oriental fragrance, with notes of Mandarin, Liquorice, Jasmine and Vanilla with a Gourmand base. Loverdose is the sexy & addictive fragrance from Diesel. It represents a woman who is sexy, playful and irresistible. She receives an overdose of love from those around her, but she wants more. She desires pleasure, adrenaline & passion."

ROGUE by Rihanna
"Capturing the mischievous nature that lies within every modern woman, ROGUE by Rihanna has a bold yet flirty composition. Top notes of flirty Lemon Blossom and Cyclamen are mixed with Bergamot and spiced with Pink Peppercorn. The aroma evolves with Jasmine, Rose and Muguet fused together with Juicy Plum and seductive"

Armani Diamonds Violet
"Diamonds Violet, a Fruity Floral Gourmand is a sweet and addictive eau de parfum. The delicious base notes of Praline, a smooth, tasty chocolate filling with hazelnut and almond tones define the base of this Gourmand fragrance. Diamonds Violet is presented in a striking, vibrant Violet bottle, which beautifully complements the Diamonds for women fragrance collection."

What are your favourite perfumes or fragrances? Which are on your current wishlist?
Have you tried any of the perfumes featured in today's post?

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AD - GIFTED | I absolutely love cooking. I started learning from quite a young age, and love creating new dishes as well as perfecting a few favourites. My lasagne, chicken Thai curries and spaghetti bolognese are quite delicious, if I don't mind saying myself! But when it comes to cooking meals for dinner, sometimes I really struggle to come up with new ideas and always seem to have the same foods over and over again, which can get a little boring when you're a foodie like myself. I love experimenting and trying new cuisines. Sometimes I trail the Internet for new recipe ideas and new ingredients I can use to create new, tasty dishes. A good place to find new recipes is the BBC Food website!

In collaboration with Snapfish, I have chosen to create my very own personalised photo calendar*, where I thought this would make a great addition to my kitchen, where I could actually begin to meal plan for each day, and come up with numerous recipes and dishes I could prepare to save me from cooking the same things over and over again.. For this particular piece, I opted for the Kitchen Calendar (5"x11.5"), which I could share some of my favourite foods and drinks, or just dishes I love to cook, for some culinary inspiration. They also look pretty damn tasty on the calendar!

Snapfish kitchen calendars retail at £9.99, which I think is such great value, especially for the quality and wide selection of design options. I think these would make such great gifts, that you can keep at home or at the office, and personalise them to fit your certain tastes. Whether you want to use this type of calendar for meal planning like me or to include your latest holiday photos, your Instagram snaps or some more personal photos, ordering a personalised photo calendar is a great way to display and remember those memories. If a kitchen calendar is not for you, Snapfish also offer a wall, desk and poster calendar!

Have you used Snapfish before? What are your thoughts on the calendar I have created?

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AD - GIFTED | Everyone's beauty regime should include a face mask, at least once per week. And when it comes to skincare, I think this is my favourite part of my routine, as I love being able to have a nice relaxing evening and pamper myself. I love to try out all different types of face mask, with my favourites being clay masks and self heating masks. During the colder winter months, my skin can sometimes appear to look dull and lifeless, I wanted to attempt to put some radiance and glow back into my skin, which is where I was hoping the InstaNatural Dead Sea Mud Facial Mask* would come to my rescue! With the benefits of the product consisting of being a Skin Cleanser, Pore Reducer & Natural Moisturiser, I couldn't wait to use it!

"100% Natural Remedy that Helps Dry & Oily Skin, Acne, Blemishes Overall Complexion - Also Reduces the Appearance of Fine Lines & Wrinkles for Younger, Healthier Looking Skin"

As to the appearance of this particular product, the mud mask is a dark charcoal grey colour, with a wet, thick gel like consistency, which I actually like. Plus it feels super cooling and non drying on the skin. As for scents, to me this product didn't really have a scent to it, it literally smelt like nothing. As for most face masks, application directions are super easy! To begin, I firstly popped my hair into a ponytail to make sure it was out of my face. After this I washed my face, dried it, and applied a thin layer of the mask while avoiding around the eyes. As the mask began to dry, I watched the change from a dark grey to light, with my skin feeling tighter and firmer as the drying process continued. Kept it on for 10-15 minutes and then wash it off with warm water. How easy is that! Unlike some mud masks, the InstaNatural Dead Sea Mud Facial Mask didn't feel too drying on my skin, and I could see a slight difference after the first use! My skin looked brighter, felt firmer and plumper, and just had an all round greater appearance.

- "Our Dead Sea Mud Mask is made from PURE Dead Sea mud to ensure the highest-quality product. Our mask also includes a nourishing blend of Organic Shea Butter, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Aloe Vera, Organic Calendula Oil, and Hickory Bark Extract that provides unsurpassed moisture to soothe dry and irritated skin. This detoxifier and purifier comes from the renowned and sacred Dead Sea, which is known to contain many minerals beneficial to the skin, such as magnesium, sodium and bromine. These elements work to extract excess oil & dirt from the skin and purge blemishes.Using this facial mask once a week also helps to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Applying the mask will improve your skin so you can achieve a more even skin tone and smoother complexion."

Have you tried this Mud Mask before? What are you favourite face masks?

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When the Autumn/Winter season draws in, I always find myself placing a lovely little lush order, as there is something so cosy and satisfying about a nice, warm bath in the colder months. I've always been impressed with the products I've used before and there is just so many different things to try, from bath bombs and bubble bars to hair and skin care. This time, my order consisted of 8 new products that I hadn't tried before - some I picked myself and others being recommendations from Melody. So let's take a peak at what I purchased!

Stardust Bath Bomb £2.95

"Follow yonder star all the way to the bathroom; it will bear exotic gifts of Fair Trade Ugandan vanilla from the Mountains of the Moon and precious rosewood from the depths of the Peruvian rainforest. A twinkly dip in its starlit waters gives a bergamot-powered boost to the mind and body - ideal for a little post-party recovery. Note: wise men not included."

Damaged Hot Oil Hair Treatment £6.50

"If your hair feels like damaged goods, stir up your routine with this hot oil treatment on a stick. Packed full of extra virgin olive, shine-enhancing almond and avocado oils to replenish deeply and rehydrate thirsty locks."

Golden Wonder Bath Bomb £3.95

"Shake it! You'll hear hidden contents as this present-shaped fizzer reveals glittering golden lustre and a sparkling turquoise explosion. Zesty lime oil and tangy sweet orange start a party of mood-brightening scents. This is one treat you don't have to wait until Christmas morning to unwrap."

Sparkly Pumpkin Bubble Bar £3.65

(Limited Edition Seasonal Product)

Rose Jam Bubbleroon Bar £3.75

"Pep up your spirits in a bath filled with Rose Jam: lemon, rose and geranium oil will help perk you up, while Fair Trade cocoa and shea butter leave you feeling gorgeous. You’ll end up feeling as cheered as though you'd been been given a bunch of flowers. Rose oil and rose absolute give a double dose of rosiness, helping to clear the mind and boost your mood."

Angels on Bare Skin Cleanser £6.95

"This incredibly gentle cleanser is made from 100% natural ingredients. Inspired by a medieval recipe and topped off with lavender flowers, this contains kaolin to absorb grease and dirt, leaving skin clean and nourished. Lavender oil and rose absolute calm the skin. As you mix your solid cleanser with water to form a paste, the ground almonds create almond milk which helps to tone and brighten the skin. This can be used all over your body as well as your face."

Honey I Washed My Hair Shampoo Bar £5.95

"Deliciously toffee-scented, this syrupy sweet bar will make your hair turn heads (and noses). Honey is renowned for adding softness and shine to locks. To top it all off uplifting sweet wild orange and bergamot oils create an aroma that transports your troubles away."

Snow Melt Luxury Bath Melt £2

"Remember your first snow and the joy of catching flakes on gloves. Frosty, stimulating peppermint oil swirls with bright Sicilian lemon to recreate the crisp air. Fair Trade Organic cocoa and Organic illipe and shea butters soften skin and transform the water for creamy, snow white bliss."

What are you favourite LUSH products? What would you recommend?

You can view my previous LUSH haul here

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