I'm an ASOS Insider! #AccessAllAsos

Access All ASOS

Last week I received a very exciting email and package from ASOS... and guess what, I'm an ASOS Insider! If you're not familiar with Access All ASOS  it was set up for people with a passion for fashion (and ASOS, of course) and gives everyone the opportunity to get involved in some amazing events. You also get the latest fashion updates and even opportunities to visit ASOS HQ! what more do you need?

If you're like me, I'm always lusting over literally everything on the ASOS website and I have to say its definitely one of my favourite websites to buy from. Their service is always so good! Anyone can apply to join #AccessAllASOS, so make sure you all click on the link above and get applying.

To top all that I also received a surprise parcel too. Inside was the cutest little cat pen (which I LOVE!) and a notebook, which I was desperately in need of. Looks like ASOS know me very well already.

I can't wait to see what this opportunity brings and I can't wait to meet lots of lovely new bloggers.

Are you an ASOS insider? What are you looking forward to the most?


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Hello 2014, I''m back!

This is just a quick post to say hello, & that I am back in the blogging world!

I've had a really rough couple of months, I have let my blog slide and I've not really been writing a lot at all to be honest. One of my big resolutions for 2014 is to get back into blogging and build up Littlegoldstars, so what better day to start than today!

Get ready for lots and lots of posts & hopefully some great things!

Happy 2014 everyone :) lets get blogging! 

Long Time No See..

Hey bloggers,

I literally haven't blogged in over a month, so please forgive me. The past month or two has been literally a crazy roller-coaster of ups and downs, but I'm back smiling and ready to get back on with my blogging. I have so much to catch up on and so much to tell you guys about, so keep your eyes pealed in the next week or two. There will be lots and lots of postings coming your way about the last month, as I've literally done so much.

It was my 22nd birthday on Friday, so I have lots to blog about surrounding that. I've also returned with a clear head and I can't wait to get back into writing posts again. Its so weird how much you miss doing something.

So yeah, I'm back and rearing to go :) Let me know if there's anything you would like to see on here in the next few weeks.

The Liebster Award

Thank you so much to Emilie at emiliethehackett for nominating me for my third or fourth Liebster Award (I can't really remember which.) I always find it so amazing that people actually read my ramblings and think of me when doing things like this, so thank you!


RULES

- Answer 11 random facts about yourself
- Answer 11 questions from the person that nominated you
- Nominate 11 new blogs, then make 11 questions for them to answer

11 Facts About Me:

1. I don't have a middle name, but I actually wish I did.
2. I have the worst habit of biting my nails EVER! I have to keep them painted 24/7.
3. I have a brother four years younger than me.
4. I have a 2.1 high honours degree in Journalism from Sheffield Hallam University. 
5. I have four tattoos and nine piercings.
6. I jot down everything I eat in a food diary on my iPhone.
7. MY guilty pleasure is bags! I have a little collection coming along at the minute.
8. I have two pet ducks, who I massively love!
9. I can't start the day without a cup of tea. Milky, two sugars.
10. I work at Matalan and I actually really like it. 
11. I could count the number of my best/true friends on one hand, the way I like it.

Emilee's Questions:

1. If you could have a super power for the day, what super power would you want?

It depends what you would class as a super power I guess... but even then I don't really know haha!

2. What do you prefer, early mornings or late nights?
To be honest neither haha. I hate getting up early but I get tired so easily. If I had to pick one I guess it would definitely be late nights.

3. Who do you look up to?
I look up to my Mum, obviously, she's the main person. I actually look up quite a few people but it would take me far too long to explain everyone and the reasons why.

4. If you won the lottery, what's the first thing you'd buy?

I'd buy a third Mulberry bag without a doubt. Or maybe a Vivienne Westwood or Louis Vuitton... either way it would be a designer bag of some sort.

5. What's the first thing you do when you wake up?

Usually check my phone, or switch my alarm off. 

6. What do you most enjoy blogging about?

Beauty and make-up products are mainly what I love to write about, but I just like to review things or write about things I love. I wish I had the confidence to do more outfit posts though.

7. Can you/do you play an instrument? If not, what would you like to play?

I can't and I don't play any instrument. I've never really had the want to learn, probably because I used to hate music lessons when I was at school.

8. What's your favourite make-up brand?

I don't really think I have a favourite because I tend to jump from one to another so much. I can never find one thing I absolutely love.

9. If you could visit one last place for the day, where would you go?

Wow thats hard! Erm I have no idea to be honest. There's so many places I want to visit, but it would just take a day to get there haha. I love London so maybe there? That's got me thinking now...

11. Did you notice I missed out number 10?
I actually did, haha!

Real 11. What was the last thing you bought?
A dress from Lashes Of London, but its too big :( I hate ordering things online because I never know whether to order a size six or eight! Girl problems!


My Questions:
1. Where do you see yourself in five years?
2. Name one beauty product/male-up item that you would recommend - and why?
3. What advise would you give anyone thinking of starting a blog?
4. Which do you prefer, summer or winter?
5. What made you decide you wanted to start a blog?
6. What is the once piece of clothing/one accessory you can't live without?
7. Do you like to travel? Where is the best place you have been?
8. Do you keep a journal or diary?
9. Tell me about your best friend:
10. Who/what is your favourite blog at the minute? Link so we can all be nosey!
11. Where is the one place you REALLY want to visit?

EmilieTheHackett, Unwritten Hollywood, MegsBudgetBoutique, Heidi-Likes, TeaWithMilkAndSugars, AlElizabeth, SummerHollyday, JerranFJ, BeautyIsUnwrittenxo, ConfessionsOfAFashionJournalist, BeccaTalksBeauty

The Christmas Tag

1. What is your favourite thing about christmas ?

I think my most favourite thing about Christmas and the whole period in general is getting to see all my family loads, and them actually all being together. 

2. What is your favourite make up look for festive the season?

 I don't really have a favourite I guess. I love big black lashes and maybe a red/plum coloured lipstick for a party look? I'm definitely determined to have a smoky eye at least once!

3. Real tree or fake tree?

I absolutely love real trees so much! They look absolutely gorgeous and there's nothing better than the smell of a real Christmas tree. At home we do have a fake one, just because of the space mainly, but I know my Mum would love to have a real one.

4. Giving presents or receiving presents?

I love the whole shopping for presents process, and the wrapping, and the giving... I just love everything about it :)) But then again I do love getting presents too, like everyone, so both?

5. Do you open presents christmas morning or eve / evening

Always open presents on Christmas morning. We go to my Nan's for dinner so on the way we always call at my other relatives and open our presents there too. When I was younger I used to open my presents from my great Nan and her family on christmas eve when I went to visit, but seeing as I usually end up working I don't get the time to anymore :(

6. Handmade christmas cards or bought?

I love handmade cards but unfortunately I'm not really the most crafty person around, so I usually just end up  buying nice cards. Saying that I only buy them for my close family though, I don't tend to send a lot now.

7. What is your favourite christmas film?

I know it'll probably be the same as everyone else's, but I absolutely love Elf. It makes me so happy every time I watch it and its one of those films I could watch over and over again. I've actually just bought it on DVD too, so that'll definitely be happening in the run up to Christmas.

8. What's your favourite christmas food?

I've never ever been a massive fan of the whole roast dinner thing, but Christmas is the only time I actually look forward to it. For some reason cheese and crackers always reminds me of Christmas time, so I tend to stuff my face with those for days around this time.

9. What's your favourite christmas song?

I don't really have a favourite, but I do really love WHAM's Last Christmas. Working at Matalan you kind of get sick of listening to Christmas songs as they play them constantly from about November-January.

10. What's your favourite christmas memory?

Again I don't really have a favourite memory as such, I guess its more of a favourite tradition that used to happen. On Christmas morning we could always drag our huge Santa sacks into my Mum and Dad's bedroom, then sit on the bed and open them all. They'de be sat in bed with a cup of coffee, while me and my brother would cover the whole bed in wrapping paper. Then we'de take all our presents downstairs and lay them out in the dining room and they wouldn't move for days. 


I'd love to read your Christmas Tags, so feel free to leave your links below. 

The L'Oreal Colour Genius App

This little app I found when trailing through the iPhone app store is an absolute beauty. I'm forever trying to match my make-up to my outfits and most of the time I just go for the safe options, so when I found this I was instantly excited to try it. The beauty of this is that the app does all the work for you, which I love, then you go from there.

Basically, you take or upload a picture of your outfit to the app, where it gives you the main colours that it finds within the picture. You then choose a colour which you want to focus on, then click on which look you would like to go for. I always go for the match option, then you can switch between the three later on. You also have the option of choosing 'Day Look' or 'Night Look', which is really handy too. I did an example of each below... the top image is Day and the bottom is Night.

As you can see it gives you a lip product, eye-shadow and nail varnish to match the colour you have chosen, then based on whether you want to match, blend or clash. What is really good about the app is that it also uses products spread across the L'Oreal make-up range, so you'll find different types of lipsticks and eye-shadows instead of all the same product in different colours. You can then save the looks you like or even tweet/post them to Facebook. I think this app is so handy and is also an amazing idea for bloggers who want to show their looks and things. Obviously you could do a look, then go out and find dupes of the colours to suit your tastes. I'm beginning to really like this app and I know it will get a lot of wear in the future. 

What do you think? Do you use the Colour Genius app?

The Liebster Blog Award - Thank you!

I know this has happened once before, but, I've been nominated for the Liebster Blog Award! Thank you so much Nicola at Just an Ordinary Girl. Half way through writing this I received a comment saying that I'd also been nominated by Alina at AlinaLoves. It is such a lovely feeling to know that people are actually reading my ramblings on and taking notice, so thank you to you all :)

Facts of the Liebster Award

The liebster Award's origins are pretty mucg a mystery. Bloggers nominate other bloggers that have 200 or less followers.

It's a little way of saying "Welcome to blogging, love what you've done so far! Here's an award!".

BUT, you can't just accept the award. You have to play by the rules and pay it forward. Then you can put the award on your blog for all to see. 

The Rules 

1.  List 11 facts about yourself2.  Answer the 11 questions given to you in this post
3. Create 11 new questions for the bloggers you nominate
4.  Choose up to 11 bloggers with 200 or less followers to nominate
5.  Go to each bloggers page and let them know they have won the award
6.  Than the person who nominated you and link back to their blog (See intro of this post)

My 11 Facts

1. I'm a Journalism graduate with a BA Second Class Honours (1st Divison) from Sheffield Hallam University.

2. I passed my driving test the first time round, but it took me three times to pass my theory test... explain that if you can.

3. I'm still scared of the dark, even at the age of 21. This means whenever its dark, the lights have to be on in every room I'm going into or out in the hall etc.

4. I absolutely love my family more than anything in the world. I see my cousins  aunties and uncles nearly every single day.

5. I am the worst person for biting my nails. I have to literally keep them painted 24/7 so I don't bite them.

6. I can't leave the house without my make up in my bag, or on my face for that matter. I feel a bit self-conscious when I don't have it with me. 

7. I literally make lists for everything! Its my way of feeling organised and knowing what I need to do or buy. 

8. I have an absolute guilty pleasure for anything like The Only Way Is Essex and Made In Chelsea. Do not ask me why, but I just have to watch them.

9. I'll probably regret being this soppy but I'm head over heels about my boyfriend Frazer. He really is the best thing that's happened to me and even though we annoy each other and have silly arguments, I don't half love him!

10. I literally live in skinny jeans. I hardly ever wear anything else, so I have a huge collection of jeans.

11. I absolutely love Vivienne Westwood! I have my own little collection with four pairs of earrings, three bracelets, a necklace, two pairs of shoes and a purse.


My 11 Answers

1. Describe your childhood imaginary friend
I never had an imaginary friend... I don't know if that's good or bad? But yeah, I never had one.

2. Who was your first love?
To be honest, I'm not entirely sure. I thought it was one of my ex boyfriends, but then from being in the relationship I am now I think that love's completely different. So, I think it depends what you class love as, and who you're with etc etc.. because I know I always think I am, but I'm actually not. Confused?

3. What is your favourite book and why?
I don't think I have a favourite book, it's more like a favourite author, which is Stephen King. I love a good thriller or horror novel so who else would it be?! If I had to choose one book, it would probably be The Shining.

4. People are too negative in life, tell me five things you love about yourself
Wow, what a question! Right here goes...
- I love my hair. I'd bleached it blonde for about five years until last year when I decided to take the risk and go dark again. I can't believe why I didn't do it sooner!
- I love how neat and organised I am, it always seems to pay off. Although I do think its a little OCD..
- This may sound funny, but at the minute I love how I seem to be able to eat everything and anything I want without it even touching me weight wise. My Mum says this is definitely going to catch up on me some day...
- I love how happy I seem to be at the minute. Everything's going how I want it to and I'm actually really loving my life, even though I may moan about it a lot.
- I can't think of a 5th one that I want to write down... I think I've done pretty well with this :))

5. Which four people would you invite to a dinner party?
Any four people? My cousin, Beth and best one, Sophie, because they literally make me wee with laughter so I'd be guaranteed a good night. Then definitely Drake because I absolutely love him! Then Joan Rivers, because with her paired with my two besties, I'd literally be on the flour crying with laughter.

6. What's your biggest life ambition?
To be honest, I'm not really sure anymore. It was to get into the fashion industry and write for a magazine like Vogue, but I'm not sure if I even want to do that anymore? Watch this space...

7. What do you REALLY want for Christmas this year?
Oh god this sounds like my Mum at the minute, she's always asking me. There's loads of things I WANT, but obviously I'd never ever ask for. I'd love some AA Disco Pants, the Michael Kors bag I've had my eye on for months and some Vans. Oh, I've thought of a few more things... wow I'm bad at this!

8. What's the biggest piece of advice you could give to yourself as an outsider? Think of a negative about yourself and how you would tell someone to change it?
Probably to not worry as much as I do about everything. I don't really have a lot of confidence with things, which makes me worry a lot. I'd definitely say to stop worrying and to put a lot more trust in people. 

9. How many lies have you told today?
None! Wow go me, but it is only 9.30am, I've got all day to change this yet...

10. Who is your cartoon crush?
I don't actually think I have one. I know I know, 'everyone has one' but I literally don't. Boringgggg.

11. What is your job title and description? 
My job title is Sales Assistant. Yep, I work in Retail, at Matalan. I work on the Ladies department with another girl, who is so lovely! She is the full-timer and I am the part-timer.


My 11 Questions to you, bloggers

1. What is your favourite blog to read at the minute? (Please share the link for us all)

2. What is your favourite trend at the minute? Or what do you love wearing?

3. Do you have a favourite film? If so, what is it and why is it your favourite?

4. Who is your style icon, and why?

5. What is your worst habit? 

6. What is your most worn item of clothing? How do you style it, and what with?

7. How long have you blogged? What made you start?

8. Share one of your beauty tips with us:

9. What would your dream job be, and why?

10. What is your favourite piece of make up in your make up bag, and why?

11. Where do you want to be in ten years?


My nominees for the Liebster Award are:

Violet Daffodils / Tea Three Sugars / The Pulse Of Fashion / Becca Talks Beauty / Whispers From Angels

Follow Me Friday - Blog Hops

I thought I'd do something a little different today and do a little post on how to increase your readership and gain more followers. Obviously you've got to have the right content on your blog, so that obviously people have something to read and comment on. Writing interesting posts and including lots of relevant and clear pictures is always good, I know that's what I look for when i'm reading blogs. Blog Hops are a really good way of both sharing your blog with others and gaining a few new followers along the way. 

These are the three I have used previously, and in my opinion they're such a good idea. I recently had to start my blog from scratch due to huge problems and therefore lost absolutely all of my followers. Anyone will know its hard to build up a readership anyway, but having to start again after having quite a few followers is such an awful feeling. You post your link to a blog hop, which has a list including lots of blogs, and its almost a place for all blogs to come together in the same place - which makes it easier to find new ones to read.

I'm quite new to these but I think they are such a good idea. I've used the three I posted above and the people that run them are so lovely too. I've found so many brilliant blogs through these blog hops and met some really lovely people, and I've also had my blog read a lot more. I know some people are dead against using blog hops - I read somewhere that they are almost used to 'force' your blog upon someone, but I don't feel that's the case at all.

So to conclude, I'd strongly recommend using a Blog Hop to everyone, no matter how many followers you may have. It's such a great way to find some amazing blogs that you might not have before, and to also showcase what you have to offer.

Do you use Blog Hops? What are your opinions of them?