What Elles Did Next...

"CONFIDENCE LEVEL: 

SELFIE WITH NO FILTER" - UNKNOWN

That's the goal isn't it, to feel confident enough to leave the house and not feel self-conscious about your skin? I'm not there yet, but I can leave the house without foundation to pop to the shops, yes I know, it's a revelation! My skin is very sensitive, I get burnt easily in the sun, go red in cold weather and break out heavily when it's my time of the month. (You know what I mean girls!)

My skin has quite a bit of scarring though and this is due to going on the pill when I was 17. Completely ruined my life. I never got spots before then, I hardly wore makeup either so it was a win-win back in the day. However, the pill made my skin develop terrible acne and it's never been the same since. Scarring is so annoying because it looks like my skin is really spotty but it's not and all I want it healthy looking skin, a bit depressing really...

These days, I have just learned to accept that my skin will never be perfect. I have a simple skincare routine that I've recently grown to love and it works well with my sensitive skin and thought I would share the products I use with you today. I'm clearly not a skincare expert, but this is what I find works for me. So if you have sensitive skin, you could well benefit from this post. (:

"Make the first move, tell people how you feel, stop being so scared of rejection, stop feeling so engulfed with thoughts that aren’t even yours, and stop wasting your fucking time."

So as many of you know I quit my job nearly two months ago because I was really unhappy and borderline depressed. I thought once I quit, everything would fall into place, I would get a job pretty easily due to my many years of experience, I'd be significantly happier AND I'd be super excited for my LA adventure.

This couldn't be further from my current reality. Currently unemployed, I have been messed around by many agencies and companies and managed to only lock down 2 and half weeks of full work since the end of September. It's so hard in the 'real world'. I feel like it's even harder to get a job in London considering how busy it is. You're competing against women with degree's, confidence and even more experience than you. And to be completely honest it's hard for it not to affect you.

However, after my most recent setback by a popular brand that shall not be named. I can confidently say I have been through every single emotion possible. Then it hit me, why not channel all those emotions and write them down. Closure if you will, so if any of you out there are struggling with a career choice, can't find a job or are just genuinely unhappy with the way life is treating you, here are my tips on how to get over being fucked over!



CRY
I bet you felt really confident when you got out of that interview didn't you? I bet when they rejected you, they said "We loved you, we really did. Unfortunately, the role just happened to get filled internally..." It's shit, you feel deflated. I suggest you just go home and cry it out. Not many people get it, they'll say "It's just ONE interview, you'll get another..." But it's not the point because in that moment you really thought you nailed it and if anything you feel like you've let yourself down. You haven't, it happens to a lot of people, but for right now I won't tell you that, I'll let you have your moment, I'll let you cry and tomorrow is a new day...

UTILISE YOUR HOBBY
So you're in a bad place. Not fun, but I'll tell you what helped me perk up a little bit. I wrote this blogpost. If you're into blogging, write about your shit experiences, if you're not, turn to your hobby. Turn to the one thing that makes you feel a little bit better, whether it be taking time out to read the book you've had on your shelf for 6 months, pick your camera up again and take some cool photos. Just try and get out of this mini distressed state because it doesn't make any situation better...

TALK ABOUT IT
Real friends listen to real shitty situations. Tell them every detail, explain how fucked over you feel about things. Tell them it feels like the end of the world, tell them you need a shoulder to cry on. You'll be surprised at how many of them actually sympathize with you and do a lot of things to make you feel better. Bottling up every emotion inside is the one thing I wouldn't recommend you do. You'll be a ticking time bomb and I guarantee you'll explode on the wrong person. #MoreDrama

DO NOT GIVE UP
Take if from someone who knows. I was categorically fucked over on Tuesday, I thought I had found a full-time position in a field I was passionate about. Long story short, shit hit the fan and I was back at square one. I needed a whole day to recover from the low blow. Recovery meaning: Not leaving my room till 4pm, having another cry and eventually getting dressed. However Thursday rolled around and I woke up, (at a reasonable time at last), opened my laptop and jumped back on the job hunt. I received another TWO rejections that day. So I can safely say Yes, it's been a fucking great week!! However, rejection is a part of life, isn't it? As bad as it feels at the moment, we have to get over it and rise above.

I think I've practically managed the art of getting fucked over. It won't be the last time it happens, however, I've now cleverly devised a plan that will get me out of my 'funk' a lil bit quicker than normal...time will tell.

Love Elle 
x

This post is a classic. I've watched so many people online do it, from YouTubers like Tanya Burr to Posh Spice herself. (Love you Vicky B).

I thought I would have a go at doing it too, how original. I love these kinds of posts as I think they are really personal to the individual, and let's be honest, I'm extremely nosey so this is a perfect, yet no intrusive way to see the kinds of things people love and carry with them...

So here we go, this is a quick: "What's In My Bag" post...Enjoy! :)

Soho Disco Bag - Gucci I've never had a red bag before, all my bags are black or brown. I wanted something different. This bag can be used for everyday use as well as an evening bag. You can wear it off your shoulder or over. I'm obsessed with it. I wanted a change and getting a bright red bag a big fashion risk for me...I took the plunge and I'm loving it.

I've always said it's important to make time for friends, to make time to travel and to make time to create memories. I've always been pretty sentimental when it comes to things like that. I never want to be "that friend" who lets people down. Over the years I've learnt a lot about myself and the company I keep around me. I can be the first to admit that years ago I wasn't the greatest friend - that's me just being honest. I was caught up in myself and my own insecurities that I missed out on a lot. However, instead of dwelling on the past, at 20 nearing 21, I can confidently say that I'm a good friend. I've finally found a good balance between having weekends to myself and making time for going out with my friends and drinking a little too much. 

Balance is important. We try to balance a lot of things in our everyday life, from work to boyfriends to family, everything requires some form of balance. And yeah, we sometimes don't always get it right. We upset people, we get angry at them and I guess that a part of forming a friendship with someone. They don't always get it right and neither do you. 

I've decided to bring monthly favourites to my blog as these are my favourite posts to read and watch on YouTube. I'm breaking it down into small categories and linking everything below so you'll be able to reference what I'm talking about easily.

Let me know if you enjoyed this post and if you want to read more...enjoy :)

S O C I A L || M E D I A

YouTube: clothesencounters (Jenn). This is my favourite person on YouTube, she has THE BEST style, seems so cool and genuine and I really want to bump into her when I'm in LA. Her videos are fashion based with beauty, Vlogs & Tag Videos mixed in there as well. Her editing style is amazing and she is gorgeous. If you're into fashion then Jenn is your girl.

Twitter: @BloggingGals - Now I might be the basis as I work with these lovely bunch of women, but I'm so happy to be able to assist with the running of this cool business. Zaineb, CEO of BloggingGals has created this amazing platform for bloggers to connect, grow their audiences and share content. If you are new to the blogging world then I recommend following us over on twitter and hashtag your posts with "#BloggingGals" for a retweet. (:

Instagram: @cakeofdreams - For someone who is currently trying to get her LA body, looking up pictures of cake seems like torture. However, these cakes are so gorgeous that I almost wouldn't want to eat them! (Still would, though...) This small business, set up by a women named Francesca deserves all the success. I've never seen cakes look THIS GOOD! She also makes gluten/sugar-free options if you require it. Check her out if you have a birthday or event coming up!

Bondi Sands Everyday Tan - Winter has officially arrived. I'm naturally pale looking so I want to maintain a summer glow all year round. I picked up Bondi Sands in Superdrug as I was so excited to see it finally being sold in the UK. I've followed their official Instagram page for a while now and the before and after results looked impressive. I'm really pleased with the colour it gives me. It's subtle but it's just what I need for everyday use.

Acrylic Nails - I don't normally get my nails done, but lately, I wanted a change. I went to my local nail salon and asked for acrylics. I know acrylics split opinion, but I've never had an issue with them before. I also browse Pinterest before deciding what I want. I decided on the "coffin" shape and I asked for a dark pink colour. I normally go for a classic nude colour but hey, I was feeling adventurous! I think I'm going to start getting my nails done more often as someone who is left handed, painting nails becomes more a chore than most! There is a website that I recently discovered called "Treat Well". If you want any kind of beauty treatment, just type in your postcode and it will come up with the nearest salons near you, if you book an appointment with them you can get loads of discounts!! Deffo going to try this next time!

M U S I C

There are a few tracks that I've been listening to non-stop this month so I thought I'd share with you guys as well. I recently wrote a Blogpost entitled "Elles Mixtape" where I listed some of my favourite songs at the minute so go over there for a more detailed list if you're interested. Here are 5 songs I recommend to you:

Here I Am - Tom Odell (Btw, the video for this is SO good...Kevin Spacey!?)
Blow Your Mind - Dua Lipa (She is a MASSIVE babe)
Body Moves - DNCE
False Alarm - Becky Hill
Shout Out to My Ex - Little Mix (Their best song to date, no argument)

I have always loved taken photos. Whether it's taking photos of my friends or the scenery around me I just can't help but try to capture every moment.

In the new digital age, social media has played a bit part in helping my passion grow and develop, sites like Instagram and Tumblr being my main source of inspiration. One day I thought to myself, why not try and make my hobby a "thing". Why not offer to take photographs for people who need them for their personal use? ie, for their blogs or small business'? I've decided to try this venture and really put my heart and soul into it.

If you're someone maybe starting out blogging or running a business and want some professional type photographs then please feel free to get in touch with me! I can tell you, hand on my heart that my rates will not be hundreds of pounds because 1) Who do I think I am? 2) I'm looking for start-up clients and understand that their budgets aren't massive!

I am willing to do the following with my Canon Powershot Camera:

- Outside shoots (Eg, outfit shoots for blogs location fully negotiable in the London area, or scenic shots)

- Portrait shoots (Eg, maybe for someone specialising in makeup, or modeling)

- Small events (A social event that you would like documented, a party, small get together)

- I am also more than happy to do some "behind the scenes" shots if that's something you might require.

We can discuss what you would require and if you would like any of the images edited slightly, or I can just send the originals over to you for you to get creative with. It's all on your terms, I'm trying to be as flexible as possible so you are happy with the end results!

If you have any other preferences, I am open to talk so please feel free to send me an email. 

whatellesdidnext@gmail.com 

I suppose all that's left is to show you some samples of my work...enjoy!

At the beginning of the year, I began to feel more anxious than ever. I had no idea where it came from and why I was feeling like that but I knew I had to do something about it. I love to read, so I thought the best option was to find a book about Anxiety to see if I could understand it a bit more.

I came across "Reasons to stay alive" by Matt Haig after reading a lot of reviews. It's essentially his account of his experience with anxiety and depression after suffering a breakdown in his early 20's. When I would pull this book out in public or around people I knew, I got the exact same reaction each time. "Wow, that sounds depressing, read something more uplifting!" While I get that the title is a little daunting, the text inside is anything but.

Yes, it's not an easy read, but it's informative, heartfelt and quite frankly I did feel like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders once I finished reading it. Matt lets you into his life. He doesn't sugar coat anything, he tells you of a time when he nearly committed suicide, when he felt so anxious he couldn't go to his local shop, when he felt like he let his family down. You really feel his pain. 

What I really love about this book is that it gives you hope. I honestly nearly cried when I read that he married and had children. He overcame whatever he thought was going to kill him. A lot of chapters are lists of triggers, helpful advice and all around good information to know if you are someone who suffers from a mental illness. Matt incorporates a lot of inspiring quotes throughout the book as well which I enjoyed reading as I am a SUCKER for a good quote.

What I found also really interesting and important about this book was the small chapter on "famous people". Depression is a taboo subject as we are all aware of, but Matt listed all the celebrities he researched that have said they have suffered from depression. I think it's important to remember that "celebrities" are real people and go through "real shit" too.  Here is an extract from the chapter, pg,160 

"Sometimes just looking at names of people who have suffered depression - or are still suffering depression - but who clearly have (or had) other things that are great going on in their lives, gives a kind of comfort..."

This book isn't just aimed at people who suffer from mental health issues. I think this book is the perfect place to start if you are interested in mental health or know of someone who is suffering. It certainly changed my outlook on certain situations. Although my anxiety is nowhere near as bad as Matt's, I understood him, I empathised with him and I'm glad this book came into my life at the right time.

It's the trend that never went out of fashion. A classic t-shirt has always been a staple in our wardrobes, however, London Fashion Week saw a storm of women wear a "band t-shirt/graphic tee" better than ever!

Henry Holland's SS17 Fashion had me inspired. I love his collection of graphic t-shirts, slogans like "I don't smoke weed, I'd rather suck on Gigi Hadid" or my personal favourite "I'm yours for a tenner Kendall Jenner". They look so cool and easy to style as well as being provocative in their own way. 

I went to ZARA today and picked up an outfit that was inspired by the "band tee" phase. It's now acceptable to "dress up" a t-shirt and for it to be considered "stylish". THANK GOD! I have been an advocate for casual attire for years!

This is the kind of outfit I think I'll be constantly wearing this autumn. The tee from ZARA was only £7.99!! Complete bargain! I certainly will be on the lookout for some more cool band tees from now on! It's an effortless and affordable look that I think will look good on anyone no matter your size, as you can already see, I'm clearly not a size 6!

Examples of t-shirts you can get your hands on :) 

Henry Holland Graphic Tee - Gigi Hadid

Henry Holland Graphic Tee - Kendall Jenner 

My Zara Tee

ZARA Jeans #1

ZARA Jeans #2

Oasis - Shoes

Alternative - Shoes // Shoes

Bra Alternatives - #1 // #2

Love Elle 

x

Here is a collection of songs I've been loving lately and thought you might enjoy too. It's a very mixed bag, I know. From One Direction to J.Cole, my taste is varied. But I love them all the same :)

Somebody Else - The 1975

Say You Won't Let Go - James Arthur

Cruel - Snakehips Ft. Zayn

Concrete - Tom Odell

Wet Dreamz - J.Cole

False Alarm - Becky Hill

Kids - OneRepublic

Cornerstone - Arctic Monkeys

A.M. - One Direction

Starboy - The Weeknd

Super Rich Kids - Frank Ocean

Picture Source - Urban Outfitters

Come and follow me on Spotify, I update my playlists ALL THE TIME! https://play.spotify.com/user/1157228347 

I have Spotify Premium and I seriously recommend it if you love music. I love making playlists and love being able to listen to everything when I'm travelling. It doesn't use up your internet data, (which is PERFECT!), and you can manage all your favourite music from your phone! Bonus, if you're a student, you can get premium for £4.99 a month. (This isn't sponsored, I'm just helping you gals out!) x

Love Elle 

x

Today I thought I'd do my makeup properly and show you that you don't have to be a makeup artist to look "well put together". All you need is a good coverage foundation and good lighting!

Makeup is fun for me, I try not to take it too seriously. I love lipsticks, (liquid ones at the minute), and love the minimal vibe. This look that I've created today is a bit different for me as I wouldn't normally wear a bold lip like this unless it was a special occasion or unless I was going on a night out. My everyday lip is either a classic nude colour or I use tinted vaseline. It's fun to experiment and think I should step out of my comfort zone a bit more sometimes. 

I wore this beautiful silk shirt from ASOS and I think it made my makeup look a bit more romantic and gave off a "date night vibe". The matte, bold lip really brings the outfit and face together as I made sure the rest of the products I used weren't heavy, instead I wanted a dewy base and strong lip.

Let me know if you guys like this kind of post as it's something different. I'm not a beauty guru but I do enjoy buying makeup and this post was really fun to shoot and style.

I will list the products I have used below and you can check them out if you want to buy them too :)

Love Elle 

x