Winter Wonderland

On Tuesday evening, my boyfriend and I made a spontaneous little trip up to the incredible Hyde Park to go to Winter Wonderland to get ourselves into the Christmassy spirit... (girls just love a bit of spontaneity don't they?!) But before we caught the tube to Hyde Corner, we made a tiny detour to Kings Cross station where we found Platform 9 3/4! Being a massive Potter fan, I was in my element as there was a trolley half way through the wall which made me giggle quite a lot. It does make me smile knowing commuters don't bat an eyelid because everyone knows what it is and why it is there. Everyone loves Harry Potter! Unfortunately, I couldn't get a photo of the magical trolley making it's way onto the Hogwarts Express, but I did have a browse in the hidden Harry Potter shop next to it and the merchandise was so adorable! If someone wants to buy me the Hedwig key chain for my car keys, I will love you forever.  

I was told that it would be best to go to Winter Wonderland in the evening because it apparently has a much better atmosphere, and boy did it deliver! I am a complete sucker for all things cutesy and romantic, so I'm really glad I had the chance to go because I didn't want to miss it again like I did last year. It was completely packed as you could probably expect. The Christmas market was so pretty and I loved how everything was lit up with fairy lights (I do love my fairy lights!). We froze ourselves silly in the -8 degrees Magical Ice Kingdom, and I just couldn't resist going down the slide made of complete ice - how embarrassing! There are also a ton of rides to go on and they're not just your average ones - all sorts of roller coasters and one even had a waterfall coming out of it! If you're planning on going with your family or friends, it is completely free to get in, but if you want to visit certain attractions you have to purchase tickets online here. It's on until the the 4th January 2015, and the site is open daily (apart from Christmas Day of course!) from 10am - 10pm so you're free to visit whenever you please. I would definitely recommend it as it is such a fun day/evening out and it is right by the stunning Oxford Street so if you needed to get some last minute Christmas presents you are spoilt for choice (and obviously the Disney store is there so that is a perfect excuse to go). I apologise if some of my photography is a bit on the bright side in some of them... it was really hard to get decent photographs because of all the lights.   

If I don't post again before Christmas, I hope all you lovely lot have a very merry Christmas with your loved ones. I hope you all get spoilt rotten by Santa and you eat lots of amazing food! Have a good one guys xx 

You Are Strong

I've always wanted to be able to write posts that are useful to people and I've always been quite sceptical over how intimate and personal my writing gets. Beloved Jaine is first and foremost a beauty, fashion and lifestyle blog where I'll talk about recent amazing products I've tried (or not!), and my experiences as an internet persona (if that's what you want to call it?). I understand that readers do generally enjoy getting to know the person behind the words, but there's always been a part of me that thought maybe revealing too much would mean the reader doesn't take anything away from it. There was also the possibility that they wouldn't be that interested anyway.  Over the past few weeks I've noticed that quite a few girls on social media aren't happy with themselves physically and emotionally. It is upsetting because I can identify with them, and trust me that is very hard to admit. I think if you are a beauty blogger or an outgoing individual, there is the automatic assumption that you ooze total body confidence and are 100% content with the type of person that you are. That is actually not very accurate. Myself, like most people, have very good days and very down days. One morning I'll wake up and I'll feel like I can take on the world, and then the next day I'll feel like a completely different person. Sometimes I love myself (I feel bad for saying this - damn you society) and sometimes I absolutely hate myself. I tend to try and avoid any type of negativity, because one of the main reasons I write Beloved Jaine is to make people like you feel good about yourself. However I feel that being honest is an incredible trait to have in a person. You might not take anything away from this and wonder why you bothered in the first place, or you might end up not feeling so alone because I, like you, have been there. I want you to know that you don't have to be ashamed of who you are, or how you look or how other people perceive you. You're not weak for having doubts about yourself or having a cry every now and again. Everyone has insecurities,  and you will soldier on just like you always do because you are so incredibly strong. 

Lush Bluewater VIP Opening Party

I was recently invited to the VIP Opening Party of the brand new Lush store in Bluewater and brought my friend, Sam, along with me as a plus one. This was the first launch event I've been invited to as a blogger, so I wasn't going to say no in the RSVP! I didn't quite know what to expect, but was very pleased that I went. As soon as we walked in the staff were very friendly and approachable. I spoke to one member of staff and said that I was looking for a deep hair treatment that would be good for damaged ends. She spoke to us for a good fifteen minutes, asking me all sorts of questions about what condition my hair was in to try and find the best product to recommend. Eventually we settled on a hair care product called 'Marilyn' which you use every six to eight weeks, depending on your hair regime (review of this coming very soon!). The new shop décor was very bright and colourful, and they had arranged the entire store around a cute little island counter in the middle, where you could get free skin consultations. We were treated as typical VIP's throughout the evening and enjoyed some lovely beverages of orange juice and champagne, as well as cake and a relaxing arm massage with a wonderful smelling soap bar of our choice. We also enjoyed looking at the brand new Halloween and Christmas collections before anyone else! I made my own bath bomb which was very fun to do. Sam and I also took part in a rather interesting 'smell game' with one of the staff. She told me to tell her a happy memory of mine and to elaborate on all five senses of that memory (taste, touch, smell, see, hear...). So I said about my time at the Isle of Wight Festival this year and whilst I had my eyes closed she concocted an amazing memory smell and magically transported me back to the festival - I could actually smell my memory and it was like I was back there! Sounds bizarre, but it was definitely a highlight of the VIP party for me... I couldn't believe how she had managed to do it! At the end of the launch I bought the Marilyn hair treatment and a gorgeous exfoliating lip scrub called 'Mint Julips' which you can lick off after application (yum!). We were given a little LUSH goody bag as a 'thank you for coming' present, which had a free soap bar called 'Honey I Washed the Kids' and also a pink bath bomb. Thank you LUSH Bluewater for making my first blogger event a truly unforgettable experience. I love you! Who else has been to a launch party? Aren't they so much fun?!    

Playboy Makeup Review

The lovely team over at Playboy Make-up were extremely kind to send me through some of their latest products for free. I received three items in my little package, which you could say are essential for pulling off one of my favourite and classic looks... the quirky pin-up girl! The packaging the lipstick and mascara came in was really shiny and pretty, so I won't be throwing those away which is a first!

The lipstick is called 'Perfect Kiss Intense Lipstick' and this was my favourite product out of the set. I am a die hard lipstick fanatic, and I loved how this shade was able to compliment most of my outfits for the start of Autumn. The shade is a coral colour with hints of pink tones. I can't say it's a summer colour (if you're looking for an explosion of colour on your lips) because it isn't very bold. However Perfect Kiss is slightly more subtle, which gives it that flexibility to wear during the cooler months ahead... pretty darn perfect if you ask me!

The first thing I noticed about 'Playful Lashes Volumizing Mascara' was the vibrant orange/pink-ish colour of the tube - I am always so fascinated with all things design and I believe Playboy put a lot of time and effort into this eye-catching range. I love that the mascara is a wonderful jet-black because it is my go-to eyelash colour and is always a safe bet for me. The mascara wand was shaped in a great way so you can create those brilliant full, voluminous lashes that every woman desires. The nail varnish I received was a beautiful, glittery blue and I bet it will look awesome when Christmas eventually rolls around.     

To create a look worthy of a pin-up legend, I had to do a little bit of research. Although I didn't have super bright, vampy red lips like Dita Von Teese (I used Playboy's Perfect Kiss of course)... I did take a look at some of her photographs for a little bit of inspiration. Pin-ups are famous for having a very pale complexion with eccentric eyes and a fabulous pout. I used Nivea's Daily Essentials BB Cream in shade Light for my base and then applied white eye-shadow from my Sunkissed Pallette to the whole lids. I then applied two different browns to the lower lid and eye crease, then blended together. Winged cat-eyes and the Playful Lashes mascara was put on last to make the eyes pop. Last but not least, I added Perfect Kiss and dabbed it onto the lips so it would last longer. 

Voila! Has anyone else tried any make-up from Playboy before? I'd love to hear your thoughts! Xx

Aimee Feeds a Rhino!

On Monday 8th September (a while back now!), I had the pleasure of being taken to Port Lympne Zoo by my best friend, to feed the rhinos she works with. This was a once in a lifetime experience and a great 21st birthday present. We started off the day by going on the safari drive around the zoo, which was lovely and meant we could have a good chin-wag and catch up - as always. The weather was amazing for a September day, which meant all the animals were out enjoying their natural habitat. When we finally made our way through to Basecamp at 2.30pm, the rhinos were ready to be fed. I think what surprised me the most was that I was very relaxed, and was very shocked to find that rhinos are actually quite gentle animals despite their harsh (and sometimes false) representation. I was allowed to stroke the one I was feeding and was amazed that its skin was not rough and tough as I had imagined, but really quite soft! Overall the experience was brilliant and I'm so glad I got to share it with my best friend. This is definitely one for my memory jar! Have any of you been lucky enough to feed or stroke an animal from a zoo? I'd love to hear about it!  

I look miserable here but I promise you I wasn't! This is my 'concentration face' :) 

The Sunshine Blogger Award

Hello kittens! Just popped online to check my stats when I saw a notification telling me I've been nominated for a Sunshine Blogger Award by my fellow gorgeous blogger and real life/outside of the cyber universe friend Elana (check out her little site guys, it's so cute!) The Sunshine Award is mainly given to people online who inspire others, spread positivity, and write in creative and entertaining ways. I feel very privileged to have received this because I am extremely passionate about all of the above and I hope that I can continue to motivate you whenever you decide to come back to Beloved Jaine to check in on me. 

For some, the SBA might be all new to you. So I thought I'd tell you the basics... it kind of works like a chain letter and it's really fun to complete because you never know what questions you'll be asked! 

The rules:

• Thank the person who nominated you
• Answer the questions the person who nominated you asked
• Nominate a few other bloggers
• Write the same amount of questions for the bloggers you nominated (I wrote a couple more... oops!)
• Notify the bloggers you nominated on their blog
• Put the award button on your blog

What is the most recent thing you bought?

A pack of heart shaped post-it notes and a new notebook
How are you wearing your hair today?

A messy up-do!
What are your siblings names, ages and personalities?

Luke and Joshua (both 14/twins). Luke is quite shy and reserved. Joshua is more like myself... cheeky and always up for a laugh!

How do you think you would do in The Hunger Games?

I'd like to think I'd do okay... I wouldn't want to make too many allies though because you're going to have to kill them eventually anyway. Being a big fan of the films and books gives me an advantage though.
What is the last film you watched?

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
If you could learn any instrument in 10 minutes, what would it be?

I really don't know...
If you could be anywhere right now where would you be?

At the Wizarding World of Harry Potter of course!
What's the colour of your duvet?

Purple :)

Have you ever been angry or emotional about a television show? If so what and why?
I have definitely been angry or emotional when watching a TV show because I get too attached to certain characters. When Desperate Housewives ended it felt like I was in mourning for several days after the finale aired.
Who is the last person you talked to?

My boyfriend
What is your favourite season?

Autumn is my favourite season. The warm clothes, beautiful colours, hot drinks... it's lovely!

My nominations: 

Desiree

Jess

Clarice

My Questions for You:

Why did you start a blog?
Tea or Coffee?

Cats or Dogs? 

What is the meaning behind your blog name?

Do you have any special skills?

Lipstick or Mascara? 

Hair up or down? 

Favourite annual holiday and why? 

Favourite quote?

What can't you live without?

Favourite TV show? 

Have fun everyone! Xoxo

Warner Bros Studio Tour: Every Potterhead's Dream

If no one has been to the Harry Potter Studio Tour in Leavesden yet then I advise you do ASAP. Even if you're not a big fan of the franchise, you will definately be able to appreciate the amount of hard work, effort and dedication that went into making the films. I've always liked Harry Potter but not until a few years ago did I really get into it as a massive fan. The sets are incredible and the detailing in all of the costumes and props is really something! To all of the people who are still waiting to go, I won't give everything away because there are some amazing surprises. The gift shop is a Potterhead's paradise... there is simply too much stuff to choose from and I did spend over £100 in there (sorry bank balance...!) After you've seen all the inside sets, you can venture outside into the lovely fresh air and enjoy a nice cup of the famous wizard beverage 'Butterbeer' (a cross between butterscotch and a cream soda taste). Don't bother trying to find out the exact recipe from them because it is 'top secret' and even they don't know apparently! The tour is one of a kind and the experience is incredibly moving, inspiring, funny and for everyone who is still a big kid at heart. My camera was always taking photographs throughout it...especially the awesome quote ones dotted around the place. The staff are excellent at what they do and really know their stuff when it comes to the world of Harry Potter... they also look the part, wearing the exact Hogwarts costumes people wore in the films. There is such a happy atmosphere when everyone is walking around and the people who work there really make it that extra bit special, especially when they throw in the odd Harry Potter joke (which is always a laugh!) Overall, I can't recommend it enough... it is such a good day out and I was buzzing throughout it. Please check out some of my photos from the day and my first haul video from the gift shop below which is now on YouTube. Are any of you planning to go soon? Have any of you mad Harry Potter fans been before? Tell me all about it in the comments below! xx

When Life Gives You Lemons...

Wow... I haven't posted since June?! Crikey. It's been one of those days where I have been racking my brain for something to do and then I remembered how much I've missed writing in this. I honestly don't know where the time has gone. These past two months have flown by so this will most definitely be a bit higgledy piggledy and random as I haven't planned this like I normally do. 

I turned 21 a week and a half ago, and though some of you may treat birthdays as a day of dread or 'just another day', I usually tend to think about where my life is going as each year passes. It's sort of like a whole day of reflection for me... although I don't think I've changed that much, the person I am now at 21 is completely different to the person I was when I was 16 (notice I'm talking about landmarks here?!). The truth is you're always going to know more in the future than you do at this moment in time. There's always going to be another lesson, another journey, another unforgettable moment right round the corner ... and yes, I'm 100% aware that I'm sounding a little Carrie Bradshaw right now. I'm not sure what lies ahead in my twenties and beyond, but what I do know is that life will always be a roller-coaster of emotion. We have to go through the bad to appreciate the good. When life gives you lemons you have to turn it into lemonade. When you've hit the ground the only other place you can go is up. What doesn't kill you makes you a million times stronger than before. If people don't like you for who you are, then shake it off and be the bigger person... loving yourself is far better than trying to give your happiness to people who don't appreciate your company. In a world where females in particular are constantly being compared to other females, it's no wonder we're made to feel down, not attractive enough, not clever enough or simply not good enough. But what I find the most strange thing of all is that women bring down other women, knowing exactly how hard things can get.

Due to my lack of posting I've decided that I'll probably start a video channel at some point just to give it a try and see how things go in the big world of YouTube. I hope that you take away something positive from this and remember that life is like a camera... develop from the negatives. Keep fighting the dementors and ignore the haters.

Much love, Aimee xx 

Isle of Wight Festival 2014

I am an extremely indecisive person. So indecisive that when I started thinking of what to blog about next I didn't know where to start. I originally intended to do a post about the festival lifesaver products that got me through the entire four day event, but then decided I'd do an entire review of the whole thing seeing as my blog motivation has been lacking for a while (hey it's summer...give me a break!) Hopefully you'll take some of my advice on board if you're going away to a festival yourself this year! 

The decision to go to the Isle of Wight Festival all came down to the fact that I was pretty much a festival virgin and wanted to reward myself after completing my first year of university (thank goodness for that...). After my wristband had been purchased via the lovely Ticketmaster, it dawned on me that my lack of camping experience meant that I actually didn't have a clue about what to take in my rucksack (I know...first world problems). A month before we left, my boyfriend and I even set up the tent in the garden so I could get some 'festival practise' seeing as I am what everyone calls a 'city girl at heart'. I think without a shadow of a doubt my 'go-to' festival product would most definitely have to be Pampers baby wipes! You don't realise how amazing these little things are until you've been to a festival. I could take my make-up off with them, take them with me to those god awful toilets you have to use (and sorry Isle of Wight but I'm not paying for a £19 wristband to gain entry into the luxury 'When Nature Calls' loos even if I am squeamish about hygiene), have a mini shower with them to cool yourself under the unbearable heat that was Thursday afternoon or even become a domestic goddess and wash the used pots and pans with them! Whoever thought that a toiletry to wipe a baby's bum would be so useful?  I cannot stress enough how important it is to take a small little shoulder bag for walking around and being in large crowds. It will be light enough to not get in the way of anything but will be able to keep your ID, money, lip balm and sun cream in just in case. My strawberry anti bacterial hand gel from Primark came everywhere with me because it was always in the bag and was used as an alternative to the gross sinks and washing facilities. Girls, if you want to remain sane then TAKE A DRY SHAMPOO WITH YOU! Batiste Dry Shampoo really helped to spruce up my hair whenever it felt greasy and disgusting. I know that's all part of the festival experience but we still want to look and feel gorgeous don't we? I bought the one called 'Fruity and Cheeky' and sprayed it in every night before I hit the pillow so it worked into the hair for the morning. It has a lovely, strong cherry smell that lasted throughout the day and made me feel a bit fresher, which is always good. Another idea is to purchase a hat... not just because it looks pretty and bohemian, but it will keep the heat off your head.  

There were of course many highlights. A worm slithering across my bare foot is one I wish to remove from my memory but besides that it was an incredible weekend. Biffy Clyro proved that you can still sound even better live than your studio recorded album (I bought the T-shirt!) and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers' stage presence was on point, gaining them a new fan and my car some new tunes to blast as a result. The Red Arrows were also spectacular... even if it scared the living daylights out of me as they came out of nowhere whilst myself and my camp mates were tending to the tedious barbecue.       

Some lessons were also learnt throughout that weekend... but we all learn from our mistakes right? When we were queuing up to pitch an area for our tents I developed a rather unpleasant sunburn that wasn't a bundle of laughs when it came to sleeping on the blow up mattress.  I had stupidly left my sun cream back in my car and didn't have anything to cover my sore shoulders. Luckily enough I was able to walk into town the next day to buy a summer shawl... this definitely saved me a festival full of pain and misery. So ladies if you get burnt this year, then invest in one of these! Not only do they look so fashionable, they are also really light to wear so you can wear them at whatever time during the day. No matter what you tell yourself, you will become skint and poor no matter how much you try to budget your spending. Most of your hard earned cash will be spent on food and of course booze (never down a vodka slush puppy in a drunken attempt to get to the main stage on time). I don't understand what was going through the event planner's heads because we NEVER USED THE FESTIVAL APP. The reason? Because for the duration of the weekend you will more than likely have a dead phone battery and will have to do a half an hour sweaty trek to your car just to charge it an extra worthless 10%. Also it's a festival... you want to enjoy being with your mates and having a laugh instead of checking your news feed on Facebook every minute of the day. My camp mates came up with a good idea for next time... to print the line up and have it stuck around the campsites (everyone wins). Also, whenever you are at a festival a guy named 'Alan' will be shouted over a billion times in a sort of call/response type thing... apparently this is what people call 'festival tradition'. No one ever found out who Alan was, but he seemed to be quite popular amongst everyone late at night. 

All I know is that my first festival experience was an awesome one with some hilarious memories! Which festivals are you heading off to this year?