Top Five Audiobooks Of 2017 with BookBeat

Last year I was very kindly given a one year subscription to BookBeat and I've been using it over the past year (and loving it). It's the first time I've ever listened to audiobooks and if I'm honest, it did take me a while to get into them; however now I'm obsessed and it means that I can listen to books whenever I want and they contribute to my reading goal on GoodReads.

BookBeat is such an amazing audiobook service as unlike others, you don't have credits, you just pay £14.90 per month and you can listen to as many audiobooks as you want which is amazing value for money compared to other audiobook services out there. I also love their app as it's so easy to use. There have been some boring, slow or tedious audiobooks but there have also been some wonderful ones and today's post is all about my top five audiobooks of 2017 (although I only started the service in March/April).

Borne by Jeff Vandermeer ★★★★★

In 2017 I discovered my love for Jeff Vandermeer's books as I read the first book in this southern reach series and then the other two books on BookBeat. I really liked the trilogy so I had to listen to Borne as well which is a newer release. All of his books are very unusual so I think they will be something you either love or hate!

Borne isn't set in the same world as the southern reach trilogy but the world is just as weird...wait, weirder. I'm not going to say anything else about the audiobook as it's best to be surprised, intrigued and grossed out as you listen to it. I did like the narrator and it is one of the best fiction audiobooks I've listen to so far.

House Of Furies by Madeleine Roux ★★★★

Next up is a YA paranormal audiobook from an author that seems to be fairly prolific in that genre so it definitely shows. I loved the narrator for this audiobook (no matter how good the book is, it can definitely be ruined by an awful narrator) and I loved the spooky, atmospheric setting as well as the sweet romance. It's the perfect audiobook for dark winter nights or around halloween!

Victorians Undone by Kathryn Hughes ★★★★

I've listened to more non-fiction audiobooks in 2017 than fiction but there are actually only two on my list as the others have just been a little forgettable or boring, if I'm completely honest! This book was the first audiobook I ever listened to and I definitely chose well as this audiobook was interesting, intriguing and definitely gave me an intimate insight into the numerous historical figures it features. If you are looking for an informative non-fiction with an unusual twist and intimate details then check this one out!

Ancient Wonderings By James Canton ★★★★

The final non-fiction audiobook on this list is more like a walk with a friend or listening to someones thoughts rather than a list of facts. It mentions various ancient monuments, sites and objects but in a more relaxed, easy listening kind of way which I loved and it was such a nice change compared to the dull, information heavy audiobooks I was listening to at the time.

The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro ★★★ (3.5)

Lastly we have an audiobook that links with the TV show of the same name - I love the TV show (I've only watched the first season so far) so I wanted to listen to the audiobook. From my memory, the TV show and the audiobook aren't massively different so you can just watched/listen to one or the other. I like the narrator (not so much the sound effects), the story on the whole and the creepy mystery.

Honorary Mentions

I'd like to mention a couple of fantastic audiobooks that I loved but that didn't quite make the top five including Coraline by Neil Gaiman and it's narrated by Neil Gaiman too (★★★) and We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie which was a great lesson on the basics of feminism (★★★★★).

Have you listened to any of these audiobooks?

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2017 Beauty Favourites

It's finally time to publish my 2017 beauty favourites post which was so difficult to narrow down but here it is! I have some brand new favourites and some from 2016 as well which have been consistently my favourite products so I couldn't leave them out even if they have appeared in other favourites posts. Let's start with the best category, makeup:

Makeup

I'm not going to rank any of the products but one of my very top favourites has to be the fantastic Temple Spa Concealer which was sent as a surprise blogger mail package and I've loved it since I received it. If you have dry skin as I do then you'll know how difficult it can be to use a foundation or concealer that doesn't emphasis dryness which this one doesn't so it's been perfect for the colder months!

I have two palettes that I've been loving in 2017, one of which is an old favourite and it's the Too Faced Semi Sweet Palette which has pretty much everything I need in one palette! I've also been loving TheBalm Meet Matt(e) Palette which is great too and I cannot recommend them enough. A mascara that has wowed me this year is the DHC Double Protection Mascara as it is so gentle and easy to remove with just warm water.

Lastly for the base products, the first is the Real Techniques Miracle Sponge (from face.co.uk) which is a great alternative to the very expensive Beauty Blender. My favourite foundation of the past couple of years as been the Bourjois 10 Hour Sleep Effect Foundation and I ran out of it while I was half way through my makeup for New Years eve! Now that I'm having to use other foundations, I'm realising how much I loved it and how wonderful it made my skin look. The final makeup is my much loved Essence Fixing Powder which has been a favourite of mine for the past two to three years.

Skincare 

I only have two new skincare favourites this year, the first being the Eucerin AtoControl Cream which I'm using now and I'm loving it for my eczema prone skin and secondly the Merci Handy Facial Mists which were essentials during the ridiculously how summer days we had last year. I've also been loving all of my Antipodes skincare and I cannot recommend their products enough!

Bodycare & Misc 

My final category is body care, haircare and miscellaneous products but I'll start with the most impressive semi-permanent hair colour I've ever used which is the Joico Colour Butters! 2017 was the year that I bleached the ends of my hair and dyed it a range of colours. The Jocio Colour Butters were the most incredibly vibrant, quick (less than ten minutes to develop) and long lasting semi-permanent hair colours ever!

For my other haircare favourites, I've loved all of the Colab dry shampoos I've tried and I've just bought a few more as they're fantastic. I was very kindly sent the GHD Ruby Styler last year and it's been one of the few few hair tools I've used and I cannot recommend GHDs enough.

Finally onto the bodycare products, a couple of essentials that I loved in 2017 include the Organii Lavender Liquid Soap which smells heavenly, the Cetraben Lotion that is a miracle product for the eczema on my hands and the Bomb Cosmetics Hand Treatment which is one of my favourite and creams ever!

Another heavenly product has to be the Crabtree and Evelyn Lavender and Espresso Body Butter which is the most relaxing and unique smelling body butter and one of the most moisturising. I also have to mention the Feather and Down Pillow Spray which I've been using for a while now and I cannot recommend it enough and finally for my favourites, the Lush Get Closer Dusting Powder which is a great multi-use talc.

Honourable Mentions

I obviously have to include a few honourable mentions in this post as there were so many wonderful products from 2017 such as the Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita, the Antipodes Manuka Honey Eye Cream, the Essence All Eyes On Me Waterproof Mascara, Eylure Brow Gel and the Bumble and Bumble Pre-a-Powder.

Have you tried any of these products? What were your favourites from 2017? 

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Blog Tour: A Mighty Dawn

Today's post is a book review/blog tour and if you didn't know, a blog tour consists of various book bloggers reviewing the same book in a tour of sorts within a set period of time. I have taken part in at least two so far with this one being my third and my favourite! Today's book tour is with the lovely people over at Corvus for a review of Theodore Brun's debut fantasy, adventure read, A Mighty Dawn.

*A Mighty Dawn by Theodore Brun (608 pages) ★★★ (3.75...so so close)

Some of my favourite book genres include fantasty, historical fiction, magical realism and anything related of fairytales or folklore and this one includes quite a few of these genres so I knew I would like it but there were elements that I loved even more than I thought I would and then there were a couple of issues, for me personally.

We follow Hakan, son of the Lord of the Northern Jutes, who experiences a life changing tragedy which forces him to find himself, reevaluate his life and find his purpose. This section is the first part of the book and equates to maybe the first 15% to 20% and to me, it felt quite different to the rest of the book and I wasn't very happy with the rape in this section of the book; however the rest of the story follows his journey, the people he meets on the way and his hardships which I utterly adored!

The novel is set in a viking age world, similar to our own at that time; however it also has elements of folklore, norse myths and demonic, underworld like creatures which to be honest, was one of my favourite things about the book. During December I read a book all about norse myths and the norse gods such as Odin and Loki so I was familiar with the gods in the book and their backstories, relationships and the norse view of their gods which definitely helped in my understanding of the book so I think it would be useful to have a slight understanding of norse myths and their gods before going into this book.

It has a classic adventure storyline which I loved and at times it did remind me a little of the Seeds Of Destiny series by Andrew Livingstone (which I also loved). Another aspect of the book that was so endearing was the friendship between Kai and Hakan which I loved and the adventures they go on - the fight scenes were also amazing! So after it's slightly rocky and unpredictable start, it became such a wonderful, intriguing and fantastic adventure of a book with norse gods, demonic creatures and a fast paced journey with Hakan, Kai and some pretty vicious vikings!

Thanks so much to Corvus for putting together this blog tour and for kindly sending me an early copy of the book! This debut book was so incredibly close to being a solid four star read so I cannot wait to read the second book in the series, A Sacred Storm, which is being released on the 7th June 2018.

Will you be picking up this book? Are you a adventure and fantasy fan?

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*My Cruise Experiences + Tips

One of many cruise photos from our cruises around the Mediterranean in 2011-2013

I have been lucky enough to go on numerous cruises all around Europe with my family via a couple of different cruise lines. We've visited Italy, Sweden, Russia, Spain, France, Portugal and many more wonderful countries over the years. I have published a few posts about cruising on my blog with my most recent being my incredible cruise to Norway last summer which was amazing!

In all honesty, I was quite reluctant to go on a cruise initially as it is something so different to anything I had experienced before but we haven't looked back and since then we have convinced family and friends to go on cruises too, which they have all loved as well. Today's post is a short snapshot into my cruise experiences, advice and tips for those who haven't experienced the wonder of cruises before.

Shop Around For The Best Deal

There are so many holiday and cruise operators out there as well as numerous cruise lines so it can be a little confusing when it comes to deciding who to go with, especially for your first cruise. Cruise Nation is the UK's number one cruise holiday retailer so they are a great place to start with cruises all over the world, particularly the Mediterranean which is an area of Europe that we have visited the most while cruising and it's spectacular!

State Rooms & Destinations 

If you haven't been on a cruise before then I definitely recommend choosing a state room that has a balcony rather than the rooms with a window, porthole or an inside cabin as they can be, for me, a little disorientating. Also one of the best parts of cruising in my opinion is waking up to the sea or a beautiful port every morning from the comfort of our own little private balcony.

Another aspect is your destination which is one the most important decisions, although we have met individuals on numerous cruises who never actually leave the ship! A few years ago we visited Scandinavia and Russia which was one of the best cruises we have ever been on but I would also recommend mediterranean cruises as they typically offer so many destinations in one cruise.

Cruising is unlike so many other holiday options, not only because you are on a ship for most of the time but because you get the opportunity to visit, two, three, six or more cities in one holiday depending on the length of your cruise. If you are looking for a holiday where you can relax, shop on on a ship and explore numerous countries in one holiday with almost everything being included within your price then look no further than a cruise! MSc Cruises offers such a wide range of cruise options particularly around the stunning Mediterranean at reasonable prices!

View from Portofino - 2012 

Formal Nights, Activities & Shopping

There are a few aspects of cruises that might be unexpected to those who have never been on one before such as the plethora of activities onboard, the shops on the ship and the range of restaurants, bars, cafes, theatres and even pubs on cruise ships! Some even have an ice rink, rock climbing wall, parks and more.

You will be so surprised by the number of shops onboard the ship and it truely is like a miniature city on the sea that you will only fully understand and be in awe of if you have been on a cruise! Shopping is easy on the ship as everything from your bar bill to your beauty purchases are added to your room card so there is no need to use money on the ship, only in port.

Formal nights are the only aspect of cruising that I am personally not overjoyed by as I don't like dressing up but it does make for some wonderful...or awkward holiday photos while on your cruise. Usually there are two formal nights which is black tie for men and sparkly, formal cocktail or ballgown dresses for women; however there are other options onboard if you don't want to take part - it isn't as strict as it may seem initially.

Excursions

As incredible as cruise ships are, it's wonderful waking up to a new city almost every morning! With a new city comes a lot of sight seeing and exploring which on the whole you can do on your own but I cannot recommend the cruise line excursions enough as not only does it mean that if you are late back to the ship that the ship will wait for you (we have been on numerous cruises were people have been late and they have been left behind!) but you get a guided tour of the city or cities you are visiting that day. Excursions can range from walking tours which are my favourite kind of excursion to kayaking, hiking, boat rides, coach trips and so many more options! They can be very pricy...but they are so worth it!

Vegetarian & Vegan Options At Sea

Lastly, as I am a vegetarian, I did want to mention my experience with the vegetarian and vegan options on the cruises I have been on as it was something I was quite concerned about on the first couple of cruises. The advice I would give you if you have any dietary requirements is ask for the specific vegetarian or vegan menu on your first day and as soon as you can. I didn't know that there was a vegetarian menu on the first couple of cruises as it wasn't mentioned but I've received it ever since, it's almost like a secret menu that not everyone receives and now the choice is much more varied and I know the meals I eat with definitely be suitable for my dietary choices.

These are just a few points about cruising and my experience of cruising (with P&O and Royal Caribbean) as well as a couple of tips but I could write so many more posts about my experience of various cities, specific cruise lines and onboard experiences; however I hope you enjoyed the little snapshot into the joys of cruising and if you have any questions just leave them in the comments or email me! I have numerous cruise posts on my blog already if you want to check them out!

Have you ever been on a cruise? If not, would you consider a cruise in the future? Do you have any questions about cruises? 

*This is a sponsored post 

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2018 Goals + Wants

Image from Etsy via Pinterest

While I think it is a regularly mocked cliche of creating 'new year, new you' goals every January, I actually find having simple goals for the new year ahead helpful and motivating. My goals for this year are more general than last year so I don't put too much pressure on myself to reach everything on my list. For 2018 my goals are mainly building on my goals from last year and I have a couple of treatments that I'd like to finally get this year too.

Goal: Continue exercising, maintain my weight loss & eat well

In 2017 one of my goals was to exercise consistently, to lose weight and to eat better (and or become mostly vegan) and unlike every other year, I have actually reached all three of these goals. I've managed to stick to a 90% vegan lifestyle, I've been exercising consistently and almost daily since the start of summer and I have lost just over 20lbs (which is about 1.4 stone)!

For 2018 I want to continue my mostly vegan diet which isn't difficult for me especially as January is the month of veganuary. I also want to continue exercising consistently and to lose a little more weight in time for my bridesmaid duties in the spring. Are you taking part in veganuary?

Goal: Be more active & push myself more

I've never been one for exercising and throughout my time in primary school and secondary school, I did literally everything to avoid PE but now I am finding that I want to be more active in terms of hiking, yoga and cycling which I'm loving so I want to carry on with it in 2018. I also feel like I need to push myself more in terms of exercising and I'd love to try out rock climbing or kayaking, both of which I've done before.

Goal: Save money

Another goal of mine for 2018 is to save money rather than trying to spend it as soon as possible which has been my strategy so far...I'm lucky enough to earn money from my blog which is something I never thought would happen so I'd like to continue with that and save some of the money earned via my blog as well as putting some of it back into my blog.

Goal: Read more classics & read 100 books

In January 2016 I decided on a whim to start reading again after reading very little since primary school (apart from the books and articles I had to read for school, college and university) and I smashed my 2016 of 30 books then in 2017 I smashed my goal of 100 books by reading 143 which I'm so happy with.

For 2018 I've set my GoodReads reading goal to 100 books and I think I'll definitely reach it. Another reading goal of mine is to read longer books and to read more classics. I already have quite a few books lined up for these goals such as Les Miserable by Victor Hugo, Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss and It by Stephen King among many others. Do you have any reading goals for 2018?

Want: Laser Eye Surgery

Less of a goal and more of a want for 2018 - laser eye surgery is something I've been thinking about for the past couple of years. I definitely want to start the process of laser eye surgery this year but it is a little daunting, not just because of the slightly terrifying procedure but because there are so many options and companies out there so I'm not sure where to start. Have you gone through laser eye surgery, if so, who did you go with?

Want: Professional Teeth Whitening

Lastly I'd love to have my teeth professionally whitened this year! I've tried quite a lot of at home teeth whitening products but most of which didn't work very well for me personally so I think that professional teeth whitening is the answer! The Harley Street Smile Clinic is one of the UK's most experienced cosmetic dentistry clinics which provides such peace of mind knowing that you are in safe hands!

They offer a range of services such as veneer application, gum shaping or a mini smile makeover. They've worked with various celebrities, olympic athletes and they've had so many rave reviews. If you're like me and don't live in or near London then their e-consultation might be a great option to get a quote and advice.

What are your goals for 2018? What are your wants for 2018?

*This is a sponsored post
*Image from Pinterest

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Blog Tour: Culture Smart Travel Guides

It's only the beginning of the year and I already have quite a few book blog tour posts scheduled for the upcoming couple of months which is so exciting and the first is with the lovely people over at Kuperard on their new Culture Smart! Travel Guides.

I love to travel and I've been lucky enough to have parents that have taken us on camping holidays around the UK as well as cruises all over Europe but there are still so many places that I want to visit, some of which include: Canada, Austria, Hungary, Greece and many, many others. You can read my 2018 travel wish list, if you want to know more.

*Kuperard Culture Smart Travel Guides (£7.99)

It can be a little overwhelming when choosing a country to visit or city to explore so travel guides are a great way of deciding where to go first and what to visit when you get there as well as providing you with a brief historical background on the country, the culture and customs as well as travel safety, traditions, weather, national holidays and colloquial terms.

I have four of their fantastic guides including: Austria, Canada, Greece and Hungary, all of which are handy paperback books but they are durable, handbag sized and packed full of so much useful information about the country that will be invaluable before and during your visit.

One of the main things I love about these little guides is the layout as it's structured well, easy to read and find the information you want without it being boring or confusing. Each guide also had various tables, photographs and bullet pointed sections which make it a quick, easy and enjoyably informative read.

Canada is very high on my list of places that I want to visit in the future so I think this guide in particular will be very useful. They'd make great gifts too, if you know someone heading off on a gap year, honeymoon or holiday. I have four of the guides but there are many more to choose from including countries such as China, Japan, Kenya, Mexico and New Zealand, all of which are some of their latest releases. There are so many more guides that I want so I might have to get a couple, especially Iceland, Ireland and Germany!

I cannot recommend these travel guides enough as they are well laid out, very useful without being dry, boring or tedious and it's easy to find the information you want. I love the size and design of the guides as well as the information included. I think they'd be perfect for any holiday abroad, a gap year student or anyone who loves travelling. Thanks to Kuperard for sending me some of their travel guides and I cannot wait to travel more as well as take part in more book blog tours this year!

Do you have any of these travel guides? Where do you want to visit this year? 

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