Hygge is a Danish belief in indulging in cosiness, comfort and togetherness - something which has become a huge trend over the past year. Everyone has had their own take on this Scandinavian concept and I've also started trying out some of the practices lately, which are perfect for the winter months. In this post, I thought I'd talk a bit about hygge and how I've been embracing it in my life, so I hope you enjoy it!

Light
The key belief of hygge is creating light, which is especially important in the winter when there's limited sunlight. The perfect way to do this is through lighting candles, which are the ideal way to create a peaceful atmosphere that radiates warmth. Having a candle burning beside me is instantly calming and creates a positive energy, as well as allowing you to focus on the present. You definitely can't have too many candles in a hygge lifestyle, especially with the gorgeous smelling festive ones that are available.


Togetherness
Hygge is all about togetherness and making time in your day for family and friends. As a student, it can be easy to become engrossed in your work, but it's important to take a step back from this at times just to enjoy the simplistic moments with the people you love. This can be in the form of planning a short break away, an evening in of family board games or meeting friends for a coffee, whatever best suits your lifestyle.

Reading
One of the key elements of hygge is removing yourself from technology, even if it's just for a few hours, and enjoying alternative forms of entertainment away from the screen. For me, reading is definitely my go-to choice, as there's nothing better than a cosy evening with a good book, although I definitely need to make more time for this in my daily routine. Although any will do, reading classic novels is certainly encouraged in hygge, which I'll definitely be taking advantage of with books like Jane Eyre and Tess of the D'Urbervilles on my shelf ready to read.


Hot drinks
A mug of peppermint tea is definitely an essential for me on cosy days in the house, but this is also encouraged in hygge. Any tea, coffee or hot chocolate is ideal for creating a warm ambience. Whether you're drinking some to follow the Danish indulgence in tea or just as a burst of warmth in the cold winter evenings, this is definitely an important step to embracing hygge.

Christmas
Not only is the Christmas period my favourite time of year, but it's also an extremely important aspect of hygge. From the exciting activities, spending time with loved ones and cosy winter evenings, the festive season really has everything on offer for embracing hygge. I've already started my festivities for the year by visiting the Liverpool Christmas markets, which instantly put me in a festive mood, as well as spending some quality time with friends who I otherwise don't see that much.


I've also started preparing for December with my adorable advent calendar, which is the definition of hygge, bringing together candles with festivities. I've purchased quite a few decorations for my room, and I'll be putting them all out next week as I fully embrace the Christmas spirit.


Clothing
Cosy clothing, in the form of warm jumpers and scarves, is an extremely important part of hygge in the winter. You want to be feeling comfortable and snug as much as possible, and wearing woolly jumpers is definitely one of the easiest ways to achieve this. Blankets and throws are also equally important in being warm, especially in the winter months, and there's no better time to get cosy under a blanket than a relaxing Sunday evening.

Nature
Although hygge is mostly associated with the home, it can be achieved anywhere, and one of the best ways is through embracing nature. Hygge is all about taking in your surroundings and enjoying the present, and this can be accessed through being at one with the seasons and appreciating nature, either in the form of long nature retreats or just a brief walk in the countryside. I tend to embrace the outdoors when walking to college through photography, and when you're paying attention you really start to notice how beautiful it can be.


Mindfulness
To fully embrace hygge in your life, you have to be mindful and pay attention to the present, appreciating each moment for what it is. This is definitely an aspect of hygge that I'm working on furthering, as being grounded in the present and gaining pleasure from the simplicities of life is highly important. Also, techniques like meditation and journaling to record moments of happiness or reflection are utilised to further the importance of enjoying the little things in life.

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I hope that you enjoyed this blog post, and I'd love to know how you plan on embracing hygge in your life this winter, so make sure you let me know down in the comments. Thank you very much for reading and I'll see you next Sunday with another post!

Love from Daisy x

I've tried a variety of foundations, but it's safe to say that I think I've discovered my new holy grail base product. The Rimmel London Lasting Finish Breathable Foundation is the brand's newest launch and I had to try it after hearing countless bloggers sing its praises upon purchasing it. I definitely wasn't disappointed, as this foundation has revolutionised my makeup routine and I've been using it on a daily basis ever since, as I really have fallen in love with it. To hear more of my thoughts on this product, make sure you keep reading!


This foundation comes in a glass bottle, having a doe foot applicator unlike any other foundation that I've seen. This soft sponge wand allows you to have control over where you apply your foundation, making it ideal for an easy yet mess-free application. I also find that this concealer-style applicator means there is practically no wasted product, unlike if you were to pump out the foundation on the back of your hand. My only concern is that the applicator may not be the most hygienic, but you can easily apply it onto a brush or sponge opposed to straight onto the face if this is a concern.

Rimmel's Lasting Finish Breathable Foundation is available in seventeen shades, which is a huge variety that you wouldn't normally expect from a drugstore brand. This means that there'll definitely be something for everyone and you shouldn't struggle to find a shade that matches your skin tone.


Applying this foundation is incredibly easy, and its thin, water-like consistency makes blending a dream. This is ideal for doing my makeup before college when I have to get ready quickly and can still wear foundation without having to spend ages buffing it into my skin.

The Lasting Finish Breathable Foundation provides a medium coverage that is definitely buildable - it evens out my skin tone and minimises any redness, meaning I only require minimal concealer on blemishes and under my eyes. It has a very radiant, semi-dewy finish that gives the skin a glowing and healthy appearance. It's also incredibly breathable and skin-like, living up to Rimmel's claims, which is ideal for me as I'm not a fan of thick, cakey foundations. It sits comfortably on the skin, being lightweight and glowing - which is exactly what I desire in a foundation.

Not only does Rimmel's newest foundation tick all of the boxes in terms of application and appearance on the skin, but it's also a winner in terms of longevity. This product stays in place all day on my skin, which literally never happens to me as my foundation usually wears away and becomes patchy by the end of the day, especially around my nose and chin. This certainly isn't an issue with the Lasting Finish Breathable Foundation, and it stays in place even after a long day of college and through dancing.

An added bonus of this product is that it includes SPF 20, which isn't the most useful now as the weather is dreadful in the UK, but I can guarantee that I'll be extremely thankful of this in the summer months.

Overall, I'd highly recommend purchasing this foundation, as for only £8.50 you will gain a breathable, radiant and long wearing product that truly has become my holy grail. I'll definitely be continuing to wear this foundation as I've fallen in love with it, and I'd urge you to try it out if you haven't already!

Thank you very much for reading this blog post and I hope you enjoyed it! I'd love to know your thoughts on the Rimmel Lasting Finish Breathable Foundation, so make sure you let me known down in the comments what you like about it. Thank you very much for reading this blog post and I'll be back next Sunday with another one, but in the meantime why not check out some of my other latest posts?

Love from Daisy x

It's been quite a while since I last wrote a college-related blog post, but I'm back with a new one that'll hopefully be helpful for many of you. English literature is without a doubt my most difficult A Level, and at times it feels like so much work that it's multiple subjects in one. It definitely requires a lot of effort and it often seems a lot more challenging than other subjects, but if you're struggling with this subject or just want some extra advice, then these are my biggest tips for getting through A Level English Lit and achieving your desired grades.

1 - Annotate your texts thoroughly
There's nothing worse than coming to revise a specific scene or chapter, only to see that your annotations are sparse and all of the analytical points that you thought of weren't written down. I'd highly recommend annotating your texts with anything you view as important, as that way when you're re-reading them all of the information and analysis is to hand. If you have large handwriting or just want to make a lot of notes, I'd also use file paper to write down any further points that you can consult when revising.

2 - Learn quotes sooner rather than later
When your exams are closed book, it can seem like there's an endless amount of quotes that you need to remember. Just picking a few key ones and starting to learn them now will definitely save you some work later on in the year, as leaving all of your quotes learning till the last minute is a difficult and risky game to play. This also applies to critical quotes, as it'll not only assist you when it comes to exam season but you'll also be able to apply these interpretations to your classwork throughout the year.

3 - Get feedback whenever possible from teachers
As English literature is an essay-based subject, it's important to get as much practice as possible with writing. I'd definitely say that it's not the same as writing essays for other subjects, and English literature essays are definitely a difficult skill to master, one that I'm still fine-tuning. However, the only way to make progress is to practice and get feedback on how you can improve. Whenever there's an opportunity to have your work marked or an assessment, make sure you try your hardest and see where your true areas for improvement are, rather than corrections being made just because you didn't put full effort into the essay.

4 - Use online resources to help
There's a variety of websites and videos online to help with your revision, and so I'd definitely make the best use out of these whenever possible. You don't want to rely entirely on websites like Sparknotes and Shmoop that may not be the most detailed and are better for providing a summary, but you may also occasionally come across a hidden gem of a website that is really helpful. Academic articles are also extremely useful, especially when it comes to doing your coursework.

5 - Watch the film
I know that some teachers will advise against doing this, but I definitely think it'll be beneficial if you're struggling to understand certain elements and want a more visual representation of the book. Definitely do this with caution, choosing a production that stays close to the original story whenever possible, and don't do this as a substitute for reading the text but instead as a way of enhancing your knowledge or understanding of it. You can also make brief references to these in exams, placing an emphasis on how the director has made visual choices based on specific words, stage directions or techniques used by the author.

6 - Write your notes in a way that works best for you
If a certain method of revision doesn't work well for you, don't think that you have to use it just because everyone else does. I've discovered over the past few months that typing my notes is much more efficient for me, as I can type quickly whereas I spend too long making my titles look pretty and colourful when I'm writing notes. I've started typing up all of my poetry notes after a lesson, and have recently found flashcards to be the best option for learning quotations for the plays that I study. Whatever works best for you, find your preferred methods and stick to them.

7 - Attend extra lessons
When it comes to upper sixth, the topics that you covered in class last year can seem like a distant memory. If it's possible and your teacher allows it, ask if you can attend lower sixth lessons for revision purposes. I've been doing this for the past few months and it's definitely one of the best decisions I've made, as it's helped incredibly with revising topics from last year and provides a much more enjoyable and productive revision environment.

8 - Practice your exam technique
It can be easy to just focus your revision on learning quotes and revising context, but exam technique plays an equally important part. Not only should you know exactly what you're asked to do in each exam and the weightings of each assessment objective, but you should also be aware of how to structure your essays and paragraphs. No matter how much you revise, if you're including comparisons in an exam where it's not necessary or spend too much time on one section, it'll hinder your results.

9 - Be independent in your learning
As English literature is such a heavy-going subject, it's important to further your work outside of the classroom and be independent in learning. It's also great to have points and critical quotes that other people may not, as it'll make your essays stand out more to an examiner and be less generic. There's definitely a lot of reading and revising to do for this subject, so make sure you understand this and be independent in your work.

10 - Remember to balance your other subjects
With a subject as demanding and intense as English literature, it can be easy to focus all of your energy onto this lesson and start to forget about your others. Make sure that all of your A Levels are prioritised equally and that you don't neglect the others due to the huge workload of English lit. Although it may be necessary to spend more time on this subject than your others, you should still ensure that there's a balance between them.

I hope that this advice was useful for some of you, and if you're studying English Literature then I'd love to know what you're biggest tips and preferred revision methods are. Thank you very much for reading and I'll see you next week with another new blog post!

Love from Daisy x

I hardly ever write monthly favourites posts, simply because I find that I don't try out enough new products on a regular basis, but over the past couple of months, I found quite a few favourites accumulating that I really wanted to share on my blog. There's a mixture of beauty and lifestyle included, so I hope that you enjoy hearing about what I've been loving lately!

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation
This foundation has been a favourite of mine for quite some time, and although I finished my tube of it a few months time and started experimenting with other products, I couldn't help but miss wearing it. A repurchase was definitely necessary, as this foundation gives a lightweight yet flawless finish and it's incredibly easy to blend on the skin. Now that it's back in my makeup bag, I've found myself reaching for it every day, as it truly is a wonderful foundation. If you'd like to hear more about this product, then why not check out this blog post where I did an in-depth review of it.

Seventeen Long Lash Mascara
I tend to find a mascara that I love and stick with it until it runs out before trying another, and lately, my mascara of choice has been the Seventeen Long Lash Mascara. As someone who likes their eyelashes to look enhanced without appearing clumpy, this product is right up my street and I reach for it on a daily basis. The brush is also really narrow, which is useful if you have quite small eyes like me, and it allows you ensure that each lash is fully coated.

Essence Camouflage Full Coverage Concealer
As much as I love my holy-grail Catrice Liquid Camouflage Concealer, it's a bit too heavy for under my eyes and I've recently been searching for a lighter alternative that is still high in coverage. I think that I may have finally found that product, being this Essence concealer. It is extremely brightening and helps to cover my dark-under eye circles without being too thick and creasing, and I've loved trying it out over the past few weeks.

Makeup Revolution Rose Gold Lipstick in Chauffeur 
I've worn this lipstick quite a few times since mentioning it in my Autumnal Superdrug Haul, and I have to say that I really have started to fall in love with it. Although now is the perfect time of year to be embracing berry lipsticks, something like this is much more in my comfort zone and easy to wear on a daily basis. It's definitely comfortable to wear and doesn't accentuate the dry patches on your lips, as well as lasting nicely once applied.

Emporio Armani Diamonds Rose Eau de Toilette
I always have a couple of trusty perfumes that I tend to stick with, but this is the latest addition that I've been wearing non-stop. I love the light, fresh scent of this perfume, particularly with the floral notes coming through, making it extremely wearable and a lovely aroma that lasts well throughout the day. Even the packaging of it is absolutely stunning, making this an all-around beautiful perfume.

The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living by Meik Wiking

It's almost time to embrace the cosiness of winter and the festive period, so I've been getting in the spirit by flicking through this book. Hygge focuses on creating warmth, comfort and togetherness, taking pleasure in the little things in life and having a more optimistic, stripped-back perspective. I've loved reading some of the sections in this book and I'm definitely looking forward to implementing it more into my life as winter arrives.

Peppermint Tea
With the weather getting much colder lately, I've resorted to drinking a lot of teas, especially peppermint tea which is by far my favourite. I know that not a lot of people aren't into herbal teas, but I find them incredibly soothing and also taste very nice. Whether I'm having a chilled out afternoon after doing some work, or if I was doing an ELAT practice paper, peppermint tea has definitely been my drink of choice recently.

Music
I go through phases of being obsessed with Spotify and then never using it, and at the moment I'm definitely in a Spotify mood. Aside from constantly listening to artists like Bastille, Amber Run and Banks, which is pretty much guaranteed for me, I've also been listening to quite a few songs from Dermot Kennedy and Dean Lewis, loving both. I've definitely listened to music a lot more than podcasts this month, with songs like The Anchor and Warmth being frequent listens.

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I hope that you enjoyed hearing about what products I've been loving lately, and please let me know if you'd like to see more blog posts in this style or if you'd prefer me to write monthly favourites posts instead. Thank you very much for reading and I'll see you next Sunday with a new blog post!

Love from Daisy x