What I Want to Achieve in 2018

Well, we’re half way through January 2018 already(!) and, now that it’s finally dawned on me that we’re into a new year (anyone still writing the date as 2017? Yep, me too), I’ve decided that now is as good a time as any to set some personal goals.

It’s taken me a heart-breaking number of years to accept that I’m not a teenager anymore (I was a bit of Peter Pan who wanted to stay in Neverland forever), but now that I’ve left that sink in, I find myself growing as a person with each year that passes and things that didn’t matter to me before now do, and things that were significant to me in the past, are no longer.  My perspective of what is and isn’t important in life have changed and as a result, I find it helps me stay focussed and channel my energy into things that matter to me.

The first thing I’ve done this year is think about what I really want to achieve.  I haven't set New Year resolutions for the last couple of years, mainly due to the fact that they were always broken by 4^th January and quite frankly, I was setting “goals” just for the sake of it.  I didn’t ACTUALLY know what I wanted to achieve, so in reality, I’d failed before I’d even begun.

So, what's on the agenda for 2018?

Being more positive – This is something that I think about quite a lot, and although I’ve taken steps in the last few months which have definitely helped me lead a more positive life, there is still room for improvement.  Like every human being on the planet, I have my down days.  I have days where all I want to do is lock myself in my flat, feel sorry for myself and not talk to anyone.  I have my moments when I feel like my issues are everyone else's fault.  I have times where I feel unattractive and like I'm not good enough.

As part of being more positive, I’m learning to become more open minded.  I’ve always been quite an opinionated person and before, no amount of debating or persuasion would change my mind.  I believed what I believed and there was no changing that.  Now, I’ve come to learn that everything happens for a reason – People say things or act in particular ways, usually as a result of something they’re dealing with in their own personal life.  I’ve learnt to take a step back and, rather than make rational assumptions about a person, I’ve considered that they might just be having an off day.  And that’s ok, because we all have them.  Being forgiving, letting go and not getting hung up on small things that don't actually matter will, I promise, be a weight lifted off your shoulders.

As cliche as it may sound, positive thinking really has the ability to completely change your outlook on life.  All you need to do is find what makes you feel those "positive" and motivating vibes, and remember them each time you feel like you're having a crappy day.  Think positive, act positively and become the best version of you.

Look after myself more - This includes a lot of things for me, so it's quite a general goal to have, but it's something I know I should do and don't currently make much time for.  Like a lot of people I know all the things I should be doing, so why amn't I doing it;  Lack of time?  Lack of money?  Lack of motivation?  Probably all of the above, but I'm adamant this will change this year.

I want to make more of an effort on things that will make me happier and healthier, both physically and mentally - I want to visit family and friends more, because the feeling you have when you're surrounded by love and laughter is like no other feeling in the world.  I want to look after my body and skin better, because when I do, I always feel amazing and I'm a firm believer that if you feel good on the inside, you look good on the outside.  I want to eat better and drink more water, and I want to take more "me time" and learn how to switch off from a busy day at work.

The most frustrating thing is, some of these things are so easy to achieve with just a small adjustment to everyday life.  I know that it's all about balance, so it's time for me to beat the bullshit and just get.things.done.

Spend less time on social media - Well this is perhaps a bit of a strange one, given that I'm a blogger who is trying to increase my blog following.  So, what I think I mean is, I want to spend less time obsessing over unattainable bodies and unrealistic lifestyles on Instagram and instead, focus on being influenced by the more positive messages that social media has to offer.

I personally feel that social media has got out of control over the last few years.  A lot of it is photoshopped/perfectly contoured/digitally enhanced "perfection", all in the name of getting a few more likes and followers.  But it's not.  Sadly, much of it is fake, unhealthy and it can be totally damaging to individuals who can't decipher what's real and what's not.

Although I feel like I have a pretty firm grip on reality, it's sometimes difficult not to compare yourself to others online, so I've made a conscious effort to unfollow any accounts that I feel portray a negative image and instead, will continue to follow those who make me happy, inspire me, and make me feel better as a person.

Well, if you've read this far in what feels like an essay rather than a blog post and I've not bored you to death, I'd love to hear any thoughts/comments/feedback you might have.  Do any of my goals resonate with you?  What do you want to achieve and how do you intend to do it?  Feel free to comment below!

Rachel x

IRIS! (By Vera Wang, not the Goo Goo Dolls...)

Greetings, stranger!  And by stranger, I mean me because y'know, I've gone AWOL and abandoned my blog for what feels like forever.  I only ever intended for theforbesfile to be a hobby but even at that, it can be difficult to set some meaningful time aside to write "proper" posts, especially between moving cities, buying a flat (the most stressful and emotionally draining time of my life, EVER) and lazing on the sofa stuffing my face whilst binge watching Line of Duty.

Nonetheless, if you follow me over on insta then you may have noticed a picture recently of a lovely little blue Vera Wang bottle. That, my amigos, is my new favourite perfume.  And it smells bloody delicious.

"Periwinkle and Iris" is part of the Vera Wang Embrace range and there are four flirty floral scents to choose from.  After sampling them all and smelling like some sort of tropical garden, I quickly knew this one was my fave and whapped out a pleasantly surprising £21 for my 30ml bottle.

The perfume is light but noticeable and boats a pretty sweet, even musky scent.  It's also soft, classy and I'd even go as far to say intriguing, and I think it's perfect for everyday use, especially during the summer months.  I've already had loads of compliments on it at work and every so often I catch a whiff of myself and I'm like oh yeah, I smell gooood!  Totally modestly, of course.

Come to think of it, my first thought when I smelt it for the first time was "parma violets" and what do you know, it's made from violet petals!  It's very subtle, but it occasionally brings me back to my retro-sweetie eating childhood days.

If you're looking for something fresh, feminine and just generally "ooo, what's that you're wearing?!" then I highly recommend giving this beauty a try... If you do, let me know what you think!

Rachel

FACE WASHIN'

Hey folks, if you follow me over on insta then I promised a post bringing you "the mother of all face washes", so voila!

If you read my previous review about the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate then you'll know how much I loved it, so much so, that it encouraged me to try some of Kiehl's other products.

I'd read a lot of good reviews about their "Ultra Facial Cleanser" so thought I'd give it a go and I have to say I'm really glad that I did.

I have normal/oily skin and I've probably tried every face wash under the sun that promises to reduce shine, minimise pores, clear blemishes blah blah... You know the script.

The first thing I noticed about the Kiehl's cleanser was how dreamy and creamy the consistency was.  It's pretty thick and my first impression was that it would maybe be too much for my skin, but actually, you only need a teeny, tiny amount of this glorious wash and it glides beautifully over the skin.  Lather it up, wash it off and I promise you that your skin immediately feels fresh, makeup-free and squeeky clean.

Kiehl's promise that the wash "thoroughly cleanses skin and removes makeup without over-drying or stripping the skin if its natural oils".  I can confirm my lovelies, that it does exactly that.  I have found some face washes in the past to be very harsh on my skin, leaving it feeling dry and even red and blotchy, but this certainly does what it says on the tin and leaves your skin feeling top notch without drying it out.  Follow this at night with the Midnight Recovery serum and ooohhhhh my god, your skin will LOVE you for it.  Pinky promise.

The Ultra Facial Cleanser comes in two sizes; 75ml at £8.50 and 150ml at £15.00.  Now in the past, I would never have normally spent more than a few pounds on a face wash but this is definitely worth the extra couple of quid.

As I said, you only need a very small amount of this so even your 75ml size tube will last like, forever.

When I bought this wee gem I got a free sample of the "Daily Reviving Concentrate".  If I'm honest, I've not used this enough to give you an honest opinion, but it certainly gets top marks from me for the smell and ability to wake yo skin up in the morning pre-makeup.

Next on my wishlist is the "Rare Earth Pore Cleansing Masque" - I'm off to Florida soon (AAHHHH!!) so I'm hoping to treat myself to lots of Kiehl's and other skincare products whilst I'm there.  My skin can hardly wait!

Do you have any skincare recommendations?  I'd love to hear from you!

Muchos love, Rachel x

WEDDING BELLS

Hey everyone, and happy hump-day!  Now that July is over and we're into August (I know, what the actual muff), we're well and truly into wedding season... Hooray for pretty dresses, copious amounts of alcohol and fascinators bigger than my head.

 

I love a good ol' wedding as much as the next person, but when you have several in the space of a year, it can definitely come at an expense with all the outfits, wedding gifts and potential travel and accommodation involved.  As someone who is currently saving her butt off in attempt to get on the ever price-increasing property ladder, I decided to reel the spending in a little bit this summer and set myself a target of buying an entire outfit for under £50.  Was £50 realistic?  Maybe, but at the time it didn't seem that way, and I can't tell you how many times I saw a gorgeous dress in excess of £100 and managed to refrain from sticking it on my credit card.  Good restraint, Rach.

 

After weeks, maybe even months, of drooling over dresses online I finally managed to find this lacey little number when snooping through the rails at TK Maxx.  I thought "oh, that's nice, and I have shoes already that would match so I would only need to buy a bag and a fascinator..."  With that in mind, I turned over the label to be very, VERY pleasantly surprised that it cost £19.99!!!  An absolute steal if you ask me.

 

My next hunt was for a matching bag and fascinator and with a mahoooosive sale on, it seemed Accessorize was the only place to go.  I managed to pick up a pretty snazzy looking fascinator for £10.50 (reduced from £35!) and a cute, ivory satin bag to match for £6.00.  Now maths wasn't my strongest subject in school, but that my friends, takes my grand outfit total to a nice little £36.49.  Mission accomplished.

 

I know that shopping through sale rails can be a task in itself at times, but if you're on a budget then I can't recommend enough taking a little extra time to look for a good bargain.  This time of year is especailly good for them as many shops have their summer sale going on.

 

Do you struggle with finding the right outfit for a special occasion?  Where are your "go to" shops when in need?  I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas!

 

Unfortunatly these pictures were taken on the day of the wedding with an iPhone, and with my prosecco cap on, I didn't think to take more detailed pictures of my accessories but I hope you enjoy having a peek anyway!

 

Rachel

Fascinator - Accessorize

 

Clutch bag - Accessorize

 

Dress - TK Maxx

 

 

WELCOME TO THE WARDROBE

Well hey there!  So I've been pretty shocking at blogging recently and you might notice that my last post was a few weeks ago.  If you follow me over on Instagram you'll have seen that I've been pretty busy, but still, that's a poor excuse I know!  I've been partying it up at a friends' hen-do in Newcastle, ruining my liver at weddings and work related awards ceremonies, and the real time consumer has been organising a new flat because my friends, I'm moving to Edinburgh!  (Excited is an understatement!)  The big move is on the 4th July so things will continue to be a bit hectic until then, but I promise I'll make more time for writing and I can't wait to get snappin' in the beautiful cobbled streets of the Capital.

Moving on and before I get totally side-tracked and waffle on about how much I love Edinburgh, I thought I would share a few of my recent purchases with you.  I don't know about you, but I often struggle to find an outfit that's suitable for lunch with friends and any "smart but casual" occasion, so I think these pieces work great together if that's what your after.  Of course, I love a bit of versatile clothing and these lovelies are great to be mixed and matched with, well, anything!

The blouse is from River Island and was a real bargain at £20 in the sale.  I'm a sucker for a pretty blouse, especially one with a collar, so this was right up my street and I knew it would look great with pretty much anything.

The jeans were another bargain (£15 from TKMaxx!) that I have to say I'm pretty chuffed with.  For some reason, TK is never a shop that I'm normally in but after hearing some great things, I thought I would venture in and take a look for myself.  I managed to pick up a few things that I didn't need (but loved) and I will definitely be paying them another visit the next time I'm shopping.

And finally, the heels!  These Hailey heels are from Public Desire and I LOVE them!  They look bloomin' amazing with everything - Jeans, smart trousers, jumpsuits - You name it.  The straps on them are also pretty long so you have a few options of how to wear them, depending on what you fancy, ie. Around your ankle or further up your leg if you, like me, love the strappy look.  As if that wasn't enough, these beauties are also incredibly comfortable so they're perfect for dancing the night away and pretending you're Beyonce (surely I'm not the only one who thinks this after a few vinos?)

I hope you like my recent buys but I'd love to hear form you... What is your go-to smart/casual wardrobe essentials?  Do you have a particular piece that you love for mix-matching dependent on the occasion?  Let me know!

Rachel

Top - River Island

Jeans - (Shop similar) TK Maxx

Shoes - Public Desire

THIS WAY FOR SCRUMPTIOUSLY SILKY SKIN

So I have a little confession to make... I know us gals (and guys!) always have it drummed into us about how important it is to cleanse, tone and moisturise blah blah... But up until a year or so ago, I was the ultimate lazy girl when it came to skincare and often chose to remove my make up with just a simple make up wipe.  That was it, my skincare routine done for the evening.  No toning, no moisturising, nada.

Now my lack of skin routine was not solely down to laziness (I'm giving myself a bit of credit here) - I have normal/oily skin and have spent a fortune over the years on different cleansers, moisturisers, facial masks etc that promised to reduce my blemishes, minimise pores and control shine.  To cut a long and boring story short, I gave up in the end and my "just use a make up wipe" mantra was born.

HOWEVER, now that I'm old enough to qualify for the "overs" category on the X Factor, I've since decided to put a bit more effort into researching what's good for my skin type and have managed to find some products, finally, that truly work for me.

A couple of months ago, I decided to try something new after reading so many amaaazing reviews and yep, you guessed it, it was Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate.

The concentrate is a night time facial oil that replenishes the appearance of skin overnight, leaving you with unbelievably soft, fresh and clearer looking skin by morning.  Having oily skin myself, I was a bit sceptical at first about adding more oil onto my face, however it is so light and absorbs beautifully into the skin.  Not only that, but it smells bloomin' divine as it's made from primrose and lavender oil (also helpful to aid sleep!).

The serum is £36 for a 30ml bottle however you only need 2 - 3 drops per night, so you will more than get your money's worth out of this wee thing.

I have used Mr. Kiehl almost every night for around two months now and I can happily preach that this has worked like a charm on my skin.  It's light, it's fresh, and I even feel like it's visibly reduced my blemishes and scars from a couple of spots I had as a teen.  I recommend.  Like seriously, buy it now.

If I haven't convinced you yet to try this little gem, you can check out the thousands of other reviews online for yourself and you may even be able to pick up a sample from a Kiehl' store.  If you do buy, let me know how much you love it and you can thank me later!

Rachel

 
 

AN ASIAN ADVENTURE: PART II OF III

Hello folks, and happy Friday-eve!  I don't know about you, but all these blue skies and that big, bright ball in the sky (I think they call it the sun?) are getting me excited for the weekend!

It's been another busy week but I finally have some time to sit down and put together part 2 of my travel diary and this time, we shall visit Singapore my friends!

This was my first visit to Singapore and all I can say is that I bloody loved it.  Every single thing about it: The green gardens, the food, the people, the cocktails, Marina Bay - Everything.  The place is absolutely immaculate and as soon as I had my first wander around, I told myself that I would live here one day.

After my mini Hong Kong adventure (see previous blogpost), I visited Singapore for five days whilst staying with family and I tried to cram in as much as possible during my short stay.  There's a bucket load of things to see and do in Singapore, depending on your interests, but my favourites were... * drum roll*

The Zoo

What can I say, we don't particularly have that many fascinating species of animals in Scotland.  I mean, Highland coo's are pretty cool but let's face it, seeing lions and tigers and bears (oh my!) is pretty bad-ass.

I felt the zoo was a good way to spend my first day in Singapore and it gave my body a chance to adjust to the INSANE humidity there.  The zoo was spotlessly clean, really well kept and I loved the fact that the animals appeared to have lots of room to stroll around and be free in.

There were plenty of spots to stop for refreshments and lunch and all round, it was a great day out.

 

 

Singapore Botanic Gardens

The Botanic Gardens is a tropical garden situated near the main shopping district and is a lovely walk if you fancy a more relaxed afternoon.  It's filled with beautiful plants, flowers and water features and it's so relaxing just to wander around at your own pace listening to the sound of the birds chirping away.

Also in the Gardens is an amazing little restaurant called "The Halia" where we stopped to enjoy a delicious lunch (and air-con!).  Their menu was very varied with something for everyone and was a great place to stop for a bite to eat.

 

  

 

Clarke Quay

This is an amazing wee place and if you're prone to a few cocktails and a dance, you NEED to visit here at night time to take full advantage of the funky bars, live music and Singapore clubbing scene.  There are literally endless bars and eateries to try depending on what tickles your fancy and if you visit during happy hour (which seems to last around 3 - 4 hours for most bars), then you can grab yourself some bargain deals on numerous drinks and cocktails - I recommend visiting during this time as it is quite pricey paying full price for drinks after the deals end..

Unfortunately I was a little er, merry, whist here so I didn't take any photographic evidence of my phenomenal (aka extremely average at best) dance moves, but if Singapore is ever on your to do list, I would definitely look this place up and give it a try.

Gardens by the Bay

So you may already have seen pictures of these bad boys because they are an extremely popular tourist destination in Singapore, and for a very good reason.  They are amazing.

The "Supertrees" take part in a light show every evening just after sunset and flash/change colour in sync to a number of great songs from the best musicals.  It's pretty hard to explain in writing but I'm sure there will be some cool videos on You Tube if you feel like having a nosey.  If I remember correctly, the show lasts around 20 - 30 minutes and in my opinion is a must-see, even just for one night.  I promise you, the pictures do these no justice!

 

Marina Bay

Lastly, but certainly not least and probably my favourite, behold, Marina Bay!  Where do I begin.  When I first got to Marina Bay it was early evening and to me, some of the buildings actually looked like a cardboard cut out because they were just so surreal.

The Bay oozes the "wow" factor and is the perfect setting of never ending bars, shops, restaurants and awe-inspiring buildings.  In addition, it is of course the home of the faaabulous Marina Bay Sands Hotel.

I drank in many a bars at the Bay during my stay (I feel I'm starting to sound like I have a bit of a drink problem - I don't, I think) and I also had the pleasure of eating at the OUE restaurant which is a rooftop bar and restaurant offering the choice of three cuisines; Japanese, French and Chinese.  I was lucky enough to have a booth right next to the window and I can't even put into words how amazing the views were overlooking the Bay.

Every evening there is a pretty damn cool laser show which is reflected off screens of water (like the Fantasmic laser show at MGM Studios in Florida for any Disney geeks out there).  As well as that, there are a number of fun, science-y type games and activities situated all around the Bay for anyone feeling creative.

Once you've completed all of the above, have stuffed your face and drank too much wine, a nice stroll around the Bay is literally the perfect way to end what I guarantee will have been a truly amazing evening.

Rachel

 
 
 
 
 

AN ASIAN ADVENTURE : Part I of III

HONG KONG

Aloha!  And welcome to Part 1 of my Asian Adventure travel diary.  I've recently been lucky enough to travel to Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand and it was one of THEE best holidays I've ever been on.  Quite frankly, I can't stop scrolling through my pictures and wondering why I ever had to come home (like seriously, who even needs a job?), so I thought I'd try and cheer myself up by sharing some memories that seem so distant already.

So my first stop was Hong Kong which is a gruelling 16 hour flight from Edinburgh.  My boyfriend gets quite grumpy and agitated on long plane journeys, so I told him it was 10 hours and really "not that bad".  You should have seen his face when we stopped in Abu Dhabi for our connecting flight and he realised we had another 7 hours to go.  Priceless.  Anyway, we flew with Etihad Airways and I have to say they made the 16 hour trip a lot more bearable - New and current movies, comfy seats, decent legroom, a fully kitted out "plane essentials" kit and of course, an unlimited drinks trolley.  That was me sorted!

Once we arrived in Hong Kong I couldn't help but notice three things:

1. Everybody was super friendly

2. The buildings were really, really, really tall

3. I had no idea what day, time or even planet I was on due to my old pal called Jetlag

Accommodation

My three nights in HK were spent in the laaaavly Harbour Grand Hong Kong, situated right beside Victoria Harbour.  The reception area had the biggest, most sparkliest chandelier I'd ever seen and the service offered by the bellboys was second to none.

My harbour view room was on the 32nd floor and, had it not been so foggy, would have offered amaaazing views of Victoria Harbour and Kowloon Island.  Unfortunately I was too excited to think about taking pictures of the room at the time but I can assure you, you would not have been disappointed!

The hotel offered several eating places with loads of different cuisines from around the world, a heated outdoor pool, a gym and spa area and even a harpist in the lobby to make sweet music to your ears!

Things to do, people to see...

Sadly, the weather was ridiculously foggy my whole three days in Hong Kong so I didn't get to do a lot of the touristy stuff I'd planned (Victoria Peak, the Big Buddha, Lantau Island).  Nonetheless, I tried to make the most of my trip and explored parts of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon whilst trying some local cuisine and embarrassing myself by attempting to use chopsticks.

The city is beautiful in an array of colours at night and you can make the most of the colourful views by having a nice stroll around the harbour or by taking a boat cruise across the bay.

If you are a fellow cocktail lover, one place that you MUST visit if you are ever in Hong Kong is the "Ozone Bar" (also known as the highest bar in the world!) which is situated on the 118th floor of the Ritz-Carlton hotel.  All I can say is wow.  Again, we didn't get the spectacular views due to the weather, but the chilled atmosphere, funky interior and truly scrumptious cocktail menu ensured we had a fab time anyway.

Well folks, I feel like I've rambled on enough about my mini-adventure in Hong Kong.  The weather situation was disappointing but overall, HK gets a thumbs up from me and I would definitely recommend a visit if you are travelling around that side of the world.  I've included a few pictures from my stay below (sorry about the quality of some), and if you've ever been before, get in touch and let me know what you thought!

My next travel post will be about Singapore so keep an eye out and I'll see you there... Happy reading!

Rachel

HELLO & WELCOME!

Well hey there, and welcome to my first ever blog post!  (Yikes!)  It's taken me about four days to pluck up the courage to write this so, with a sudden burst of bravery and a glass of red wine by my side, here goes...

I guess I should start by telling you a bit about myself - I'm Rachel, 24 years young and from the tropical land of er, Aberdeen.  I'm a HR ninja by day and your typical girly-girl/foodie/car singer/phantom gym goer the rest of the time.

I love everything from fashion, food, photography and travelling, to walking my crazy-ass cocker spaniels or chilling with Mr. Net-Flix whilst consuming my body weight in cheesy doritos.

I've wanted to start a blog for a couple of years now and I could rattle off a number of pretty pathetic excuses as to why I haven't done so by now, but ultimately, I was worried about what people might think.  As someone who actively encourages others to "screw what other people think - Do what makes you happy", I am pretty disappointed in myself.  Bad Rach.

Anyway, I've finally decided to get my butt in gear and give this blogging malarkey a shot because you know, you only regret the things you didn't do and all that.  My favourite blogs are those that contain a bit of anything and everything so mine will most likely reflect this, however my main aim is to share general fashion, beauty and lifestyle thoughts and happenings (and not bore you to tears whilst doing so!)

On a serious note, I hope you enjoy reading my blog and I'll hopefully have a new post up in the next few days - If you'd like to leave me any comments/feedback then please feel free as I'd love to hear from you!

Happy reading!

Rachel