I have not done one of these posts in probably a few years but nonetheless, here are my favourites for the month of January (and the tail end of December too). 

1. Mango bag 

This is definitely a dupe for the Alaia 'Le Teckel' bag but I just loved the silhouette of it and I have been looking for a deep chocolate brown bag for the longest time. I love that it has 2 little zips which can be used to get in and out of the bag, the long straps are so beautiful, and the faux croc texture just adds a little interest. 

2. L'occitane hand cream 

At first I could not justify spending over £20 on a handcream but honestly once I tried it I understood why everyone has been using this one in particular for years. I really like the fact that it does not leave your hands feeling oily or greasy but instead it deeply nourishes your hands. 

3. Silkie hair comb  & 4. Lush 'curl power'

I have wanted an acrylic hair comb, in particular in tortoise shell, for the longest time purely for aesthetic reasons, of course. Since getting my hair cut this has been really useful in detangling my hair because of its wide teeth. 

Ever since discovering I have curly hair I have been trying to condition and look after my curls and this has been amazing for it. First of all, it smells amazing to the point where I want to eat. Second of all, it leaves your hair feeling super hydrated. Third of all, I am all for supporting businesses that use natural ingredients in their products. 

5. Huda Beauty lip gloss in 'bombshell' 

I love the way this gloss looks on your lips and the colour is absolutely gorgeous. It pairs really well with nudes, pinks, and browns. Its not sticky at all and lasts really nicely throughout the day. 

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The first half of this month has flown by incredibly quickly. I still find it hard to believe that more than half of October has passed and we are just over two months away from 2025. Nevertheless, I am trying to be more mindful of how I choose to spend time now and so far I am loving it. Here are a few things I have been obsessing over the past month. 

1) Chloe - Mini Joan bag

Now I think I purchased this back in July and I have not stopped wearing it. Despite it being olive green, a little different from the copious amount of natural bags I own, I have managed to pair this with so many outfits. I love wearing it with dresses in the summer, or dressed up with an all-black abaya, or in autumn with knitwear and long coats. I love the unique colour and all the gold bells and whistles that come with the bag. 

2) Clare Mackintosh - After the End 

If you want a book that will have you reading and turning the pages faster than you humanly can, this is the book for you. This was a little different from what I have been reading recently, which is almost nearly every Lisa Jewell book, but I loved every bit of it. It takes you through one of the hardest decisions a couple has to make for their son. The fact that I managed to read this in a matter of days just tells you how I was consumed by it. 

3) Lancome - La vie est belle 

This is always going to be an absolute favourite for me simply because of the memory attached to it, my wedding day fragrance. The smell of this is so classic yet so enchanting and I find myself loving the scent the more I use it. The packaging is gorgeous too and I know I will be sad when I finish it. 

4) Sally Hansen - nail polish primer 

I go through phases of wanting deep burgundy and brown tones on my nails or then wanting the opposite and a super clean manicured look. For when I want something that is barely there but still looks put together I like reaching for this Sally Hansen nail primer polish. You can pair this with a French tip but personally, I love the paired-down milky nude look. 

5) Flower clips 

I adore the little flower clips, even though they are just another trend, I love the way they look in your hair. They do an amazing job of keeping your hair up and out of the way of your face whilst also looking pretty effortless. 

 

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October has left just as quickly as it arrived. Now almost 2 months into my BTC I am eagerly awaiting my exam dates. I intend on writing a whole post on the Bar Course and how I have found it so far because damn that has been stressful to say the least! 

As someone who has found it extremely difficult to work at home I have been dragging myself to coffee shops to spend a few hours doing work and it helps (not so much my coffee intake but you win some you lose some). From having to complete my undergraduate degree from home and now also my postgraduate a change of scenery makes the world of a difference. 

My Blackstone's Criminal Practice book arrived and I have to say navigating this was a lot harder than the Whitebook. When it comes to textbooks I prefer having a hard copy even if it weighs a ton the only downside to these books is that the paper is extremely thin so every time I turn a page I am faced with the fear of tearing it. 

I had some amazing food at Tamatanga and Giggling Squid. Good food is truly one of life's greatest gifts. When I am not doing work for my Bar Course, or working I am eating and I cannot lie trying new food is something I look forward to. 

I received the most thoughtful graduation gift ever from my cousin. It has my name and degree engraved into it, you better believe I am keeping this bottle for life. The fact that I have graduated still feels surreal, maybe it is because of the lack of the ceremony, but apparently the ceremony is likely to go ahead in January so we shall see how that unfolds. 

I had the most stressful oral advocacy session last week. My laptop felt the need to update minutes before my session and I forgot to backup my files onto OneDrive so there I was dressed in my blazer, shirt and pj bottoms frantically emailing my tutor. But thank god I managed to get my skeleton argument in front of me (one of the perks of performing last I guess). 

I ate runny eggs on toast a few too many times. My go-to is toasting the bread in a pan with some butter, frying the egg until the whites cooked but the yolk is still runny and then topping it off with either some spring onions or spinach and then seasoning with salt, pepper and a generous amount of chili flakes. Oh I also managed to find another bird ring and replaced my old one. 

This month has been hectic to say the least but also one of the best! Here are a few photos from the past few weeks. I ate out a little more than I probably should have, bought my first car, and started the Bar Training Course. 

The Bar Course has been more intense than I originally anticipated. Unlike undergraduate law there was no 'introduction week' and it was all guns blazing. Personally I feel like I have done more work and reading in these first three weeks of studying than my law degree. My White Book also got delivered and knowing that they are £725 each makes me want to cry ever so slightly. I had my first oral advocacy session where I had to prepare for a bail application before the Magistrates' Court and it went a lot better than I expected considering I prepared on the day. Despite being slightly overwhelmed by the workload I have thoroughly enjoyed studying so far and quite frankly cannot wait to continue and hopefully qualify. Speaking of qualifying I have booked myself onto a qualifying session centered around the Black Lives Matter movement. 

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I have been buying a lot recently, more than I should but I blame going on holiday for my unecessary impulse purchases. There's a handful of things I have reached for constantly during the end of July and first half of August. Keep reading to see what I have been obsessed with recently.


+ Kiko hydra-gloss '21' 
I have wanted a coloured gloss for the longest time, but one that actually lasts. Kiko have a wide range of lip stuff and I have used and loved a lot of their products and was not surprised when this one made the cut too. It's super glossy and pigmented too but I still apply a base colour first and then use this over the top.


+ Lightwash straight-legged jeans 'H&M' 
I love my straight-legged, 'mom' and oversized fit jeans, probably more than skinny jeans. They are extremely comfy and the light-wash, borderline acid wash, jeans are a little different. Ideal for the summer but can be worn during the colder months too.

+ Crystal gold bracelet 'Naina Barcelona' 
This is one of the nicest bracelets I have ever bought from being abroad, the upside it was only 7 euros but the downside is it will probably discolour in time. I love layering it with my watch and other bracelets.


+ Blending brushes 'Qivange' 
I needed some new eye brushes for the wedding and so naturally I used Amazon prime and I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and the quantity considering the price. They are really fluffy and wash incredibly well.


+ Contrast stitch over-shirt 'H&M' 
I like this so much I bought it in Khaki too, both of these can be styled in so many ways. I've worn it as a shirt, a dress and a jacket too. They're great for layering and go perfectly with the rest of my wardrobe.