LIFE AS WE KNOW IT AND BLOGGING COMPETITION

Can you believe it's been well over a month since my last post?
No, me neither.
To be honest, I'm glad I took a big break because in all honesty, my heart just wasn't in it that much anymore. It felt like a bit of a chore to take pictures and write about it all and that isn't what blogging is. This isn't a job, or an obligatory task in life - it's fun and it's for myself so why did it feel like that?

There's a lot of competition out in the blogosphere and throughout Twitter lately. Everyone wants to be in the thick of it getting all the PR samples, sponsored posts and having the most followers and that is so not what blogging is about. If you're really desperate to get all that stuff, go and work in a magazine because it's making a bad name for us bloggers. I'm not going to lie, it's nice getting things for what you write - why wouldn't it be? - but making it such a focus is just beyond everything.

So I guess you could say that me and my perception of blogging went through a bit of an itch - I even my passed my blog's first birthday because frankly, I just couldn't be arsed. And that is 100% OK. But over this past couple of weeks I remembered how much I loved it all - getting comments, having a new subscriber and my friends saying "Oh, I saw that post! It was really good!" - and I really want to get back on track with it. It's difficult doing it alongside university and working, my time management is a load of crap as it is, but I want to make time for it, I want to make time for you, my readers, but mainly I want to make time for myself. I actually took pictures earlier to start writing up a couple of blog posts, but I left my camera cables at home, typical.


Things have been alright lately! A belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all! University has been difficult - all my deadlines seemed to come at once, but I found out yesterday that I actually got myself a First in one of my modules, and believe me I was shocked. I was sat in London Victoria with my friends and just shouted "HOLY SHIT, I GOT A FIRST". Safe to say people looked, but I don't care.
For those who don't know, I study Public Relations (PR) and the course seems okay! First semester was a bit hit and miss but it was only really an introduction. I'm starting a module next week called Writing the Message Online where I have to make a blog on WordPress so I'm hoping it'll make my get my ass in gear and give me more motivation for this one. I've been considering buying my own domain for a bit now and changing my blogs name, so we'll have to wait and see!


So I've been rambling here for a while now and I'm desperate for a shower and some tea, so lets wrap this up and get going!
Keep your eyes peeled for a new domain and potentially a YouTube channel coming your way!

Sorry for the ramble. See you soon, I hope.

WHERE I'VE BEEN

Criiikey, a whole month since I last posted! The last few months really have been crappy on the whole blogging side of things - everything has just been so hectic. From family problems to moving out, I now feel settled into my new home and uni to give blogging another go, so I thought I'd give you a little update on what this last month has been about.

Like I said, I've moved out for uni and I loooove it. I have the nicest flat and block mates, I literally cannot believe how lucky I got. I was really paranoid before moving that everyone would be 18, new to going out, and want to go every night. But as it goes, my entire block has taken a gap year. I've already made some amazing friends who love cocktails almost as much as I do, cue the Amaretto Sours!

My actual course (PR) is sort of up in the air at the moment. I think I will love it next semester, or maybe in a few more weeks, but right now it's not as good as I hoped. But I'm gonna be optimistic and try my hardest to get my head down.

Does anyone have any advice for blogging whilst at uni? I'm thinking of drafting a few posts on my day off and posting as and when in the week. Let me know your routine!

Thanks for sticking around guys. I've got a few posts lined up now, so I'll get them up and out to you. I've also been shopping... a lot. So expect a haul post coming up soon.


You can find Hayley Loves on BLOGLOVIN' and TWITTER

my bedside beauty cabinet, have a nosy!

Hey guys, a bit of a personal post today, I guess! I thought I'd let you have a nosy at what's on my bedside cabinet. As I definitely have the shoe box bedroom, I can't fit my make up box in it at all, so I have to leave that downstairs ready for the mornings.
On my bedside, I like to keep my essentials, the things I do right before bed, right after waking up and as I'm about to leave.

I can be pretty anal about the order and set up of my cabinet, which is weird, but I like things to go kind of in size order, and everything has it's set place (I'm currently panicking as the Kylie Minogue should NOT be on the end, it's not the biggest!). The one thing I'm most proud of and want to show off the most is my perfumes.

I love perfume, it just makes an outfit, I literally never leave the house without it, I have a small bottle in my bag and a couple of bottles downstairs just in case I forget. These are definitely the ones I use most often though. I got Kyle Minogue - Music Box Gift Set, Marc Jacobs - Daisy Refill and Cacharel - Noa for Christmas this year and LOVE them. My other staples are the Versace Red Jeans, Diesel Fuel For Life Denim Collection and Diesel Plus Plus. They're all really versatile, so I have one I can just grab for every situation.

I don't have a huge hair styling collection, but I'm currently loving, and running out of, the Avon Moroccan Argan Oil and the Dry End Serum, which I can't find a link for! They're both really great products which I just rub into my damp hair before I sleep and let them work over night, waking up with manageable hair!

I never really used any body moisturizers before, I've never felt the need too, but here I have my Soap and Glory favourite, Smoothie Star Body Milk, and the Rich and Foamous Body Wash as my family keep stealing this! I quite like using these perfumed body lotions when I need my fragrance to last longer. I tend to apply it where I'm going to apply my perfume and it definitely helps! The DKNY Golden Delicious one has a slight shimmer to it which is perfect for a night out! I love using this Grace Cole Smoothing Body Cream before bed as it has a lovely Lavender scent which definitely helps relax me. Beside these, I have the biggest of my products, my Royal Jelly and Pure Honey Dusting Powder from Marks and Spencers, Boots Cocoa Butter and of course, Sudocrem for any sores, burns and spots!

So there's an insight into my room a bit haha! I love this little table though, so handy and it makes my room look so pretty! What's on your bedside cabinet?