6 Products That Give Me An Instant Confidence Boost

As a normal 25 year old female I am overcome more or less daily by my insecurities, but I mean.... we could have a whole other post about that... today I just want chat about a few particular products that make me feel better about myself. Easy peasy instant confidence boosters... because who isn't interested in those?!

Yes, there are a few things out there that in my mind 'up' my glam game and give me that confidence that I'm otherwise lacking. 
From fake lashes to tanning lotions here are my favourite things to make me feel a bit better about myself :)

1. Fake Eyelashes
I can't actually remember the last time I went on a 'night out' without a pair of fake eyelashes on. I think I've been wearing them ever since I went to Ibiza in 2009.
For me, these are a MUST when heading out the door on a girls night out, I have THE shortest, stumpiest lashes and really small eyes so without them I don't ever feel like my make-up is finished or anywhere near as good as it could be.
Favourites :  Eylure Eylure Eylure- I love 101's and 107's ALOT and I do struggle to use other brands I'm not going to lie! I really want to try out Fleur De Force's new range aswell - maybe even the individual ones as I've heard they can stay on all weekend which would be amazing for Festivals and trips away!

2. Highlighters
The world (and my face) would be a sad sad place without a good highlighter! I think I have a slight obsession, I don't think I will ever own enough. Ever since buying the makebelieve skin lmizer as a teen I have be striving to find products that give me that dewy glow that all the celebs rock with ease!
Favourites : theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer, Seventeen Skin Wow!, Rimmel London Good To Glow, Benefit High Beam & Victoria's Secret Illuminating Powder.

3. Tan Tan Tan
Not only do these products stop me from looking like a pale whale they also help to tone the look of the skin - a good tan can make you look a whole lot skinnier you know, I just wish I had more time (and patience) to use it more!
Favourites : Anything St. Moriz.

4. Razors
What feels better than freshly smooth legs? Seriously though - smooth, soft legs are the best - a major confidence boost in just a few swipes!
Favourites : Venus Sensitive Embrace

5. Instagram
Yes I'm saying it and you may think it's obnoxious and vain but in all seriousness - a good filter and a bit of editing can make me feel better about myself and I know a lot of you girls feel the same.... so don't act like I'm being fake and self-centered haha - you all love a good selfie!
Follow me @ Kirstielouises

6. Blonde Toners
Last but not least.... this is a big one for me when it comes to confidence.
 I am blonde, but I'm not a natural blonde, so I am always paranoid about what shade my hair colour is looking. 
My hairdresser is amazing and everytime I had my hair coloured I fall in love but after about 6/8 weeks I can see my colour fading and becoming dull - and sometimes even.... yellowish #booo! BUT there are products that can fix this and I have become a slave to them!
Toning shampoos are totally and utterly fabulous and after getting over my initial fear of using them (I was paranoid I would have purple hair if I left it on for longer than about 45 seonds) I have realised how much they can help and if I feel like a pick me up this is one of the first products I reach for!
Favourites : Pro:Voke Touch Of Silver Twice A Week Brightening Shampoo & Intensive Treatment Conditioner.

What are your favourite confidence boosters?

Get your own confidence boosters :

Like this post? Follow A Yellow Brick Blog on  Bloglovin so you never miss a thing!

5 Apps I Cannot Live Without!

It's a bit sad to say it but it's true - my iPhone is basically another limb. Whenever I'm not doing anything important my 5s is in my hand, it's quite embarrassing to admit that really but it really is the last thing I look at at night and the first thing I look at in the morning.

I'm not quite sure how I lived without one.

Barclays Banking

I can be a bit pants with money and a bit lazy when it comes to going online and signing in with that little pocket contraption so this app is a total life-saver for me.

 I can check my account, pay my bills, move money between accounts and lots more from the comfort of my phone! It takes me 2 seconds to tap in my 5 digit passcode and get immediate access to my account so I can keep upto date with my spending and finances 24/7! SO helpful.

Clue

Well, this is a girly one for you! A period tracker! I have been using this app for about a year now and really couldn't live without it. It's so helpful and literally helps you to get all the information you need and helps you to keep track of everything! If you are forgetful or need to have a good look and your cycle I would highly recommend this!

Whatsapp

Group chats are life. I get to talk to my best friends all day everyday, so even if we can't see each other another all the time we can all still speak and have our standard ridiculous conversations! Plus - this is the best way to send photos and videos to each other!

Tube Map

When I head to London I no longer have the worry or fear of the tube because I have this app! Type in where you are and where you want to go and it tells you what line, how many stops and how long it will take - it is a god send and I will never delete it!

Twitter

This is a pretty obvious one which I'm sure you were all waiting to see in this list. I bloomin' love Twitter and would go as far to say I am probably addicted. ('the first step is acceptance.') I am on Twitter constantly so I can't really imagine life with the app! Any news I want to know about or questions I have Twitter is always my first port of call.

 I tweet too much. (@KirstieLouiseS if you didn't know.... I'm so close to 10,000 followers, eeek!)

What are your favourite apps?

Like this post? Follow A Yellow Brick Blog on  Bloglovin so you never miss a thing!

10 Random Facts About Kirstie : YouTube

Oh dear... I finally went and did it! 
I have officially uploaded a proper video onto youtube.... social suicide or fun new hobby?

I thought to start with I'd just do a quick - 10 Random Facts (and they are seriously random!) 
This is totally terrifying to me and I do feel like a bit of a plonker BUT... yolo (yes I did just say yolo!)
 Please let me know what you think (Good or bad... just be honest ... but not mean) and maybe I'll do another. 
This could just all fall flat on it's face and I'm totally prepared for that but if you guys like then I'll make another video very soon! 

If you do like the video it would mean the world to me if you hit subscribe :)

3 Fab Lipstick Dupes

I love a good dupe when it comes to make-up, but then again who doesn't?!

 Knowing that you can get nearly the same fab product but for a fraction of the product's price tag is one good feeling!

 I'm always reading and looking out for other bloggers dupe posts so I thought it was about time that I started sharing with you guys dupe that's I have discovered over the last few years!

First up is three lipsticks that I seem to have copycats of - I love higher end and drugstore lipsticks just as much as each other... just FYI!

Lipstick Dupe #1

Mac Girl About Town (£15) VS Rimmel Moisture Renew Lily Extase (6.49)

Saving : £8.51

If you've read my blog before you may know that Girl About Town is my favourite Mac lipstick that I own! 

I am such a fuchsia lover and it's always a go-to shade for me! It wasn't until recently that I noticed stumbled across this lipstick by Rimmel in my collection and saw how similar they are!

I know that the Moisture Renew lipsticks have had a bit of a make-over recently so I'm not sure if this shade is still available but if you can get your hands on it I highly recommend you do! They are both super hydrating, pigmented and have a great long-lasting finish.

Lipstick Dupe #2

No7 Stay Perfect Gay Geranium (£9.75) VS Seventeen Stay Pout Make An Entrance (£4.49)

Saving : £5.26

These are both Boots brands and I think most people see Seventeen as the "younger, hipper" version of the formal No7.

Even the name of the products are similar, the only main difference being the price! The Seventeen lipstick is less than half the price of the No7 and for me the quality is totally equal! The colours of both are stunning and so stand out, although the Stay Pout is only very slightly darker than the Stay Perfect!

Lipstick Dupe #3

Mac Matte Lipstick Candy Yum-Yum (£15) VS Barry M Lip Paint 62 (£4.49)

Saving : £10.51

This is probably the best dupe I've found so far! I have been buying Barry M lipsticks and glosses for years and really do swear by them! The colours are amazing and they are still some of the cheapest on the drugstore market! 

Of course I LOVE my Mac lipstick but if you aren't up for paying the price of mac or just wanted to see weather a colour this vibrant would suit you before splashing out the Barry M alternative is totally and utterly perfect!

So there's 3 fab dupes for you all - let me know weather you like this type of post and if you would like to see anymore! 

Bloglovin | GFC | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Tumblr

The Life In Letters Tag

So I was recently tagged to do the Life in Letters tag by PrettyLovelyGirls ! I LOVE this idea so much! They are so easy to read and I find it so interesting seeing what everyone else has been picking! So here is my life in letters...... 

A is for America - Back in 2012 I went travelling around America for 6 weeks. This has to be the greatest experience of my life so far - nothing will ever compare to it. New York, Washington DC, LA, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Florida, New York - Weeks I will never forget. (you can read all about it in my Travel Diary posts remember :)

B is for Buffy - By far my favourite TV show of all time - I am a major geek when it comes to this show - seriously.. ask me anything! Favourite character? Buffy or Andrew. Favourite episodes? Something Blue, Once More With Feeling, The Wish, The Gift ......... oooo I just have too many!

C is for Cinema - One of the things I love doing most in my spare time! I am such a movie lover and going to the cinema and seeing a new film with a bag of popcorn on my lap is perfect!

D is for Disneyworld - Everyone knows I am a Disney obsessive so I had to include the happiest place on earth! I LOVE Disney and everything about it. I cannot wait to go back to Florida in September!

E is for Eating - haha this makes me sounds like a right fatty! Got to love FOOD! Favourite foods - chocolate, Christmas dinner and macaroni cheese (preferably my Mum's!)

F is for Festivals - where I live (check out the letter I!) has 2 major Festivals each Summer and the year just isn't the same without them - I always have the best time! Highlights have been seeing N.E.R.D., Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Christina Perri and going on the bumer cars with Kate Moss back in 2007!

G is for Glamour - Got to have some in your life! Make-up, hair, fashion - got to have some glitz and glam! 

H is for Holidays - Something everyone loves doing - weather it's from going with my parents when I was a kid or getting drunk with my girls over the last few years, I have the best holiday memories!

I is for Isle Of Wight - My home, I have lived here my whole life and I love it. There's no place like home and this place is beautiful. Appley beach is one of my favourite places in the world.

J is for Joey - Boyfriend, Bestie and Roomie. Been with this guy since 2007 and wouldn't change him for the world.

K is for Kirstie - That would be me. Writer of the blog, taker of the photos, tweeter of the tweets ... HI! Make my day, click here and hit follow?!

L is for Life - Make the most of it. 

M is for Make-up - that was a bit of an obvious one! Make-up is one of the things in life that I have a passion for, I love spending money, time and effort on! (it is also for Musicals - one of my favourite things.... I just wish I could be in one!)

N is for 'New Post' - I am loving writing new posts everyday - my blog is my favourite hobby, I love putting all my spare time and effort into it. It makes me happy.

O is for Opportunity - this year I want to try and take every one that I get.

P is for Photographs - The greatest way to capture a moment and a memory <3

Q is for Queen - In my opinion one of the greatest bands ever to have been created. Freddie Mercury is a ledgend and We Will Rock You the musical is one of the best I've ever seen. 

R is for Rock Challenge - some of my favourite memories of being a teenager are the 5 years at high school doing Rock Challenge! My school was obvs amazing (totes biased!) we went to Germany every year to compete in the European comp and I just loved being the choreographer for 3 years of it!

S is for Springer Spaniels - My lil pups! If you've followed my blog for a while or follow me on twitter you know I my family have 2 Springer Spaniels - they are the cutest.

T is for Taylor Swift - I love her and her music. This is the artist I could listen to on repeat all day everyday, being front row at The Red Tour was a dream come true.

U is for Unbelievably amazing friends - I cannot even begin to start writing about how these people just make my life complete. The greatest girls and gay you will ever meet, I could not live without them.

V is for Voldemort .... H was taken so this is how I'm getting Harry Potter into my Life in Letters! I am such a Harry Potter fan - I still don't understand how people don't like it!

W is for Wizard Of Oz - Well you can tell from my blog name that I am a fan, always have been since I was little, I just love Judy Garland - my home is just full of Wizard Of Oz themed things.

X is for xoxo to all you lovely readers, followers and friends - you make me smile  :)

Y is for Youtube - a site that I have been glued to for years and one of the reasons I started this blog. There are so many people I am subscribed to from daily vloggers like the Shaytards to the obvious beauty babes like Zoe, Blair, Elle & Beth Mota! I just wish I had the confidence and time to do my own videos.

Z is for Zzzzzzzzzz - I like to sleep... alot. Oh & Zac Efron, who doesn't love Zac Efron?

I tag these 6 beauts .....

Liza - Glambeautys

Katie - Sugarfixx Beauty

Becky - Lipgloss and Lashes

Shree - Porcelain Shree

Laura - Tease Flutter Pout

Estelle - Letmegoxo

 GFC | Bloglovin | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Tumblr

Dress Like Disney #2 : Ariel, Tiana & Snow White

I started these posts last week and had so much great feedback, comments and tweets about how much you guys liked it that I couldn't wait to get on with the next one!
This time I decided to take on the beautiful Ariel, Tiana & Snow White.

Ariel

Topshop Sequin Midi Skirt | Topshop Sequin Bralet | ASOS Shell Bag | Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids Lipstick | Boohoo Point Toe Suedette Courts | Purple Pear Drop Earrings |  imPRESS Press On Manicure

Tiana

Topshop Green Dress | Barry M White Nail Paint | ASOS Heeled Sandals | New Look Clutch Bag | Rock n Rose Floral Crown | eBay Clutch Bag

Snow White
Apple Purse | Boohoo Yellow Midi Skirt | Topshop Blue Cami Top | Topshop Lipstick in Rio Rio | Red Alice Band | Sugarfree Blue Heels |  White Frill Socks

So there we go boys and girls - another 3 princesses given a 2014 modern make-over - I'm loving doing these (even though they take ALOT of time!), look out for more coming soon!

Check out Cinderella, Belle & Elsa's Make-overs here.

GFC | Bloglovin | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Tumblr

Empties #4

Once again I have 5 products that I have used up, loved and now want to share with you lovely lot!

 Like I've said before it does take alot for me to finish a product to the very end as I have an addiction to buying more - so I'm always dipping in and out of different things!

 I think being on a Spending Ban lately is definitely helping me get through the products I already own! Buying less is showing me what I already have to try out and what I have to use up still!
(Also... yay for a bit of sunshine in my photos!)

1. Lee Stafford My Big Fat Healthy Hair 

Having loads of shampoos and conditioners floating all around my flat I decided that before I bought any more to clutter up the place I needed to use up what  I had! This was one of the first I grabbed! We all know I love a bit of Lee Stafford and this is one of the many that I have of his. This left my hair feel soft, smooth and alot fuller than normal with a great bit of lift - one that I would 100% re-buy.

2. Joules Sensational Skin Body Wash Souffle

You may remember this being on A Yellow Brick Blog last year when I reviewed a lovely bath set from Joules for Christmas! I loved the whole set but this was my favourite product! A gorgeous souffle which felt like a skin conditioner - I've been obsessed with this for months and can't believe I used up the tub already, I haven't looked yet but I really hope Joules sell this all year round and not just at Christmas. (Original review)

3. Bath & Body Works Raspberry Pink Peony Anti-Bacterial Hand Gel

Yes, I am one of the anti-bac freaks! Total addicted. I love this scent of this - reminds me of being in LA & San Fran, I love when smells bring back memories.

4. Seventeen Phwoarr Paint Concealer - Fair :

I know I'm not the only who's ranted and raved about this! This has been a life-saver for those pesky ages under my eyes! Fab fab fab high coverage stuff - I already had another one ready for when this one was a goner!

5. Rimmel Eyebrow Pencil - Hazel :

The only eyebrow pencil I have used in years and years, I swear by this one! Total bargain at £2.99 - works perfectly with my brow shade and is great to use before my HD Brows palette!

GFC | Bloglovin | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Tumblr

Top Beauty Finds Of 2013 Tag

Right girls and guys , for a while now I've been wanting to share with you the products that I have been so so happy to find this year. Products that I now cannot live without and don't know how I lived before they entered into my life.

But this also got me thinking about how much I would love to see everyone else's top products of the year SO.... with this is mind I thought to my little old self, why not make a tag for everyone to join in with?
Totally simple and easy to do - just share your top 5 products that you have discovered this year. (don't worry if you can't think of 5 or have more than 5 - you can choose as many as you like... I just thought 5 would be an easy number for everyone to find!)
 Things that you hadn't used before 2013, hadn't even heard of or maybe they were only just released this year!
I thought this is a tag post that more or less any beauty blogger can get involved in and I would LOVE for as many of you as possible to join in!
These products can be anything beauty related (we are beauty bloggers of course!)- make-up, hair, skincare, body products, an electrical item, an accessory - anything!
It is most likely aswell that if you have LOVED a product that you have shared it previously on your blog - so make sure you link all your previous posts about them too for everyone to read and enjoy!

So here we go - My Top 5 Beauty Finds Of 2013 ..........

First up is the Apocalips Lip Lacquers from Rimmel!
 After purchasing 2 of these beautys at the beginning of the summer (big bang and nova feat. in my June favs) I was actually lucky enough to WIN the complete set from Rimmel via a twitter competition! I'd been using my first two for weeks and weeks so was so so excited to be getting the whole lot! 
These have been my favourite lip product this year. For me they are the perefect mix between a lipstick and a gloss. The pigmentation is incredible and they are so easy to apply and look gorgeous on! I was so happy when they added a few newer darker shades to the collection back in the Autumn and of course bought some of those too! Click here for my first post all about these bargain beautys and ... click here for my more recent additions to my Apocalips collection.

Number 2 on the list (and these are in no particular order!) is the Morrcoanoil Treatment which I featured on A Yellow Brick Blog back in July! This is one of those products that I really don't know how I lived without before!
 It is by far the best hair oil I have used and it is going to take alot to beat this! These tiny bottles that I buy last for months and I have to say for a couple of days in which I was without I noticed a serious difference in my hair.
I use this everytime I've washed my hair, just tip a pea sized blob onto my fingers and smooth in through the mid-lengths to ends of my hair. Since using it my hair has felt alot stronger, softer and it is certainly alot less dry and "ratty"! My hair product of the year!

Now onto a range of products that I have used more or less everyday (minus those lazy make-up free days that I love!) since getting them!

Zoeva brushes have slowly climbed to the top of my favourite brushes that I own, closely followed by real techniques.

Another lucky moment from me here but I actually won these from Zoeva on twitter (seriously twitter is the place to be for comps I tell ya!) - they are such amazing quality and there is a brush for everything, I have been seriously impressed with them and like I said use them every single day! Fabulous for creating a great base and the eyeshadow brushes are brilliant! For more photos and info check out my post I did on them :)

A body beauty favourite now - and if you've bene reading A Yellow Brick Blog for a while then this is going to come as absolutely no surprise to you. It is the Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Wash. I am such a huge Soap & Glory fan and the sugar crush line is something I fell in love with this year.
 As well as the body butter and the body scrub I have been using this body wash for months. I don't think I could change to another body wash now, it smells amazing, you don't need alot each time you use it so it lasts for weeks and weeks on end and it leaves my body feeling so fresh and clean. A total beauty bargain, I have bottles of this stuff stocked up so I am never without!

Last but not least is another make-up product. This stuff is a god send and I urge you all to go out and try it! It is the Skin Wow! 3-way Highlighter from Seventeen. 
Seventeen have seriously gone up in my make-up books this year - their new products released have just been getting better and better and this has been my favourite.
A gorgeous pearly pink highlighter that you can use 3 ways - as a base, mixed with your foundation or alone as a highlighter (my favourite way to use it)!
I can't rave on enough about how much or a bargain this is, only £5.99 - a fraction of the price of Benefit's high beam and it is a great dupe for it!
 I have used this everyday since purchasing it in September and have only used probably a 1/6 of the bottle! This is another product I have stocked up on so I am never without, although I have a feeling these bottles are going to last a long long time!

That's it - my Top 5 Beauty Finds Of 2013! What do you guys think? Have you tried any of these?

I would love for you guys to join in and share your favourite new finds of 2013! It is a great way to bring the year to a close and also find out about some great products from everyone - and I'm sure more or less everyone is going to have a different 5 to share!

If you are anything like me you buy new products weekly so for something to stand out and be a favourite of the year then it is definitely worth sharing with the rest of us beauty addicts!

Make sure that if you join in with this tag you share your link below so we can all be nosey and have a lookie at what you have LOVED this year!

 GFC | Bloglovin | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Tumblr

Lauren's Way Self Tan Mousse & Glam Tan Review

So, winter is upon us. Not only does this mean chapped lips, freezing cold fingers and toes and tights become a staple in the wardrobe but we all get a bit...well.... pale.
I, myself, look like a total ghost in the autumn & winter months so fake tanning is normally key to me looking half normal.
So when the fabulous ladies at Lauren's Way contacted me after I had been raving about their rollers on twitter (seriously they are amazing!) and asked me whether I'd want to try out some of their tanning products I jumped at the chance - seriously who wouldn't!

I had heard so many amazing things about this tan so I jumped straight in and whacked it on as soon as the postman dropped it through the letterbox.
Because I'm fairly fair skinned and not an expert tanner I went for the 'Medium' shade in the mousse - I think this was the safest option for me to start off with!

I do have a confession to make - I normally only tend to tan before a big night out - 1. because I am lazy and 2. because I'm always scared I'm going to totally muck it up.
 There is nothing worse than seeing someone with horrific streaks or who is clearly the same colour as a tangerine -I do NOT want this to be me!

I've been using this tan alot over the last few weeks as I have had lots of partys, night outs and general fun-type things to go to!
 But for these photos I thought I would just show you the difference from just ONE application!
I found this mousse so easy to use (thank you for the free mitt aswell LW!) Just 1 pump from the bottle goes a long long way and I think the smell is slightly better than the other tans I've used but of course there is still that slight "biscuit smell" that everyone has grown to know and love haha! (although I've never really got that... what biscuit to you people eat?!)

It doesn't take me long to cover my whole body with this stuff and streak free I must say! One thing I was super impressed with is the drying time. 
Normally I'm flapping around the bathroom trying to get my tan to dry and feel less sticky before I get dressed again but the LW tan dries so quickly - I was so shocked! Massive brownies points for that one girls and boys!

As you can see in the photos there is a huge difference for just one quick once over with the mousse AND this is a developing mousse so you leave it on for approx. 8 hours and then wash it off for the best results - so pop it on before bed and this tan develops while you sleep - easy peasy!

The mousse is priced at £17.95 and the Glam Tan spray (mentioned below) is £18.95 and that comes with a FREE tanning mitt worth £3.99! To me these are total bargain prices, cheaper than St. Tropez and Fake Bake and for, in my opinion, a better product!

With the LW mousse tan I was also sent one of the "Glam Tan" spray bottles! When I fake tan I normally use Fake Bake or St. Mortiz and always go for a mousse, I find it so much easier to use than anything else so this is something that initially scared me a little to try out but I am actually am so impressed with how easy it has been to use!
Where it is quite a bit darker than the 'medium' mousse it took me a lot of courage to try it out but with the mitt the spray technology makes it so easy to apply evenly! So, thank you LW for helping me get out of me mousse comfort zone!

Fake tan has so many benefits - it makes you look healthier, it makes you look skinnier, it makes you feel more confident,  it isn't harmful to your skin and body unlike sunbeds and sun-bathing, you are in control - want to go darker? Do it again tomorrow and the next day! If you need a pick me up with all this gloomy rain and cloud - hit the bottle and you won't regret it!

I can honestly say now - hand on heart - that the LW is the best at-home fake tan I have EVER used and will 100% be purchasing when these bottles have run out, because with the weather as it is and no holidays booked as of yet ... I'm going to need it!

(***Disclaimer : This product was kindly sent to me by the lovely people at Lauren's Way. . All thoughts, opinions and ideas are always my own and I would never include an item or product on A Yellow Brick Blog that I didn't truly believe in.)

Kirstie's Travel Diaries #10 - Venice Beach, Santa Monica & YouTubers

Catch up with #9 here.

DAY 10 (09/03/12)

Friday morning , the sun was shining and today we had decided to finally head down to the BEACH! Venice Beach to be precise and not forgetting Santa Monica!
We thought we'd ask at our hotel desk for the best way in getting to the beach, with traffic in LA being crazy busy we decided taxi probably wasn't the best idea as if we got stuck in traffic we could be paying hundreds of dollars! After speaking to them we headed off to the bus stop on Hollywood and Highland where we were to get on a bus and head to a bus station to change.

This bus came and we got on, a little nervous as to be fair we had no idea where we were going and knew no-one.
After what seemed a lifetime of stopping at a million stops on the same never-ending road we ended up at a bus depot type thing (aka we had no idea where we were). We actually got off at the wrong stop and had to walk  little bit to get there - we weren't having much luck at this moment.

Luckily a friendly bus driver advised us on where to go, so onto another bus it was and on the home straight to Venice Beach. Again, this wasn't a short journey but finally after over an hour and a half we were there - Venice Beach!

Obviously I'd seen Venice Beach so many times before, TV, Films, YouTube so this made it all the more exciting - recognising so many views and "sets"! 90210 sprung to mind!

One thing me and my friend had been dying to do was put our feet in the Pacific Ocean. I think it comes from us watching the movie Crossroads so many times and Mimi in it saying "I wanna travel all the way to California and dip my feet in the Pacific Ocean..." - have you guys seen that movie? I hope so - it's a childhood favourite of mine, got to love a bit of Britney!
So we did it, headed straight onto the beach and straight to the sea - now there was noway I was going in for a swim because.... erm... Sharks! So feet was enough! 

We walked alotng the beach for a little while and then decided to head back onto the walkway to check out everything there!
Venice Beach is a busy place and there is so much going on, stools, musicans, shops, cafes - the place is buzzing and we loved it!
There was so much to look at and even though I've heard people I know say before that it is a bit "dodgey" I didn't feel uncomfortable or on edge at all, I was loving it!
Walking along we suddenly noticed something we had definitely seen on TV - one of the model's homes from American's Next Top Model!!! (I can't remember what cycle it was - but I loved the season where they lived here - it is the most beautiful home with the most insane view!)

We could see the Santa Monica pier so thought we would walk along to there, taking in the beautiful views as we went!
We'd been walking for a while so we stopped and got a drink, it was probably the hottest day for us since arriving in the US... it wasn't even that hot and my poor pale skin wasn't coping well.
We set off again, getting closer to the pier - we could see the Ferris wheel and couldn't wait to hop on!
Whilst walking towards it all I suddenly noticed a camera crew - cameras, mics etc and then I suddenly saw who they were all pointed towards.... CarlieStylez and HeyKayli from YouTube!
If you haven't heard of them... where have you been? I have been watching the Shaytards probably for around 3 or 4 years now and with them being sister and sister-in-law to the family I have been subscribed to their channels ever since they started and of course to The Moms View.

I knew exactly what they were doing down in Santa Monica - filming Moms On The Loose!
I begged my friend to wait with me until they had stopped filming so I could go and speak to them and get a picture  call me sad/crazy but I knew there was noway this opportunity would ever come again!
I think we probably looked like weirdos sat down on the beach wall about 10m away waiting for them to finish interviewing  group of guys and at one point I thought we should probably just leave but after little while they finished up and the guys left.
So, like a crazy fan girl I went over and asked if I could have a photo with them - yes I'm that girl. #awkward
Thankfully they were so so lovely and happily had a couple of photos with us, not only this but they asked us to be on The Moms View.

 This terrified me but of course we said yes! We were filmed answering a few questions - which I totally ballsed up and sounded like a complete fool and I still cringe to this very day about it but.... oh well! 
It was so amazing meeting them both (although they did think I was about 16... god damn my young baby face!) as their family to me are such amazing role models and I can honestly say they were so lovely and I even still get to speak to Carlie on twitter now and again which, to me, is just crazy -she is such a sweetheart. 

After that seriously exciting moment we carried on up to the pier, passing the famous rings (that I always see in the Shaytards videos) and more!
Finally we were there - Santa Monica pier.

 A few years ago I would have never imagined I would have been this far from home, having the time of my life and seeing sights I never even dreamed I'd be able to see.

 We got some lunch (chips) and chilled for a bit - we had walked a fairly long way in the heat! Then it was time for the Ferris wheel! All we kept thinking was.... this is where Spencer propsed to Heidi in The Hills haha!
I swear to god that wheel went round about 500 times but definitely gave us enough time to get lots of lovely photos of the view! Why don't I live here?

Time was getting on and we knew that, with traffic, we were a good hour way from our hotel we thought that going back to the bus was the best plan.
Now.... where the bus stop was - we had no idea! There was noway we were walking back along to Venice Beach where we had come from so we went to the little help/police desk thing at the pier!
The officer kindly looked into all the bus times for us - which was like writing down chinese to us - we had no idea where we were going, or even which way!
 We actually stood on the wrong side of the road for about 30 minutes until we realised the bus we needed was across the other side - blonde moment.
We then had to run for our bus when we saw it - highly embarrassing  We were finally on a bus (and luckily had a seat) and it was packed.
It took us over 2 hours and 2 buses to get back to Hollywood and by this time I never wanted to see a bus again!
We had a quick dinner and took some photos up on Hollywood Boulevard and went bck to the hotel for an early night - what a day!

NEXT POST - LA Ink, Pinkberry & watching David Beckham!!