How to Fall Asleep Better

Hello again to all of my sweeties- it is that time of year again, where the clocks go back, the pavements seem to freeze and one jumper is simply not enough. I'm going to admit, autumn is not my favourite season and winter really can suck sometimes, so it's important to keep our mind and body balanced- and sleep is the magic fairy dust in solving almost every problem. When we sleep, our body rests, we refuel, and with a good nights sleep, it's easier to concentrate, complete tasks and be in a good mood. However, if we are sleep deprived, we feel rubbish- we are grumpy, we have those horrible bruises under the eyes, and we are simply exhausted the entire day. Thus, it is super important to get a good nights sleep, every night.

I never had problems with falling sleep until I started secondary school. I go to bed early, I listen to some music, and then try to fall asleep. There are some nights I don't fall asleep until well after midnight, resulting in being tired and unable to focus properly in school the next day. I have come up with a few tips and tricks that help me fall asleep, and I want to share them with you, as hopefully they may help you in getting your beauty sleep each night :)


Tea

If you're Irish, the ole 'tae' is probably a big part of your life already- some of my friends drink up to 3 or 4 cups a day (madness). Whether you like yours milky, extra sweet or black, make sure to make your favourite tea an hour before you go to bed. I like mine with a slice of lemon and half a teaspoon of honey, in my gorge Van Gogh: Irises mug from Amsterdam. I drink the Twinning's English Breakfast tea, it tastes unreal. Tea really calms and soothes all the anxieties of the day away- herbal teas also help to clear your skin and your system, but I'm not too keen on the taste sadly :(

Fresh Sheets

Fresh sheets are what keeps me going during the cold seasons- I always bring an extra duvet in and sleep with two, as I am forever cold. Having fresh, crisp sheets to snuggle in, especially if you have a teddy (or Brooklyn Beckham, whatever your taste) to cuddle, can make falling asleep so much easier. Falling asleep amidst warm heavy sheets and blankets is definitely one of my favourite things of the winter.

Sleep Remedies

Sleep remedies are products used to help you to fall asleep, or to sleep better. Some people don't use them and they may not work for others, however I find that mine do work in calming me down. I use Avon's Sleeptherapy, and I've had these two for ever. The first is a scented pillow spray, which you spray on your pillow or sheets before going to bed, and the smell is supposed to calm you down and help you fall asleep. I also have the Sleeptherapy Balm- and this actually works- which you rub a little bit on your wrists and temples before going to bed. The balm ensures you sleep soundly and peacefully the whole night, without waking up, and find it really helpful.

Reading

Reading is one of the easiest and well known ways to make you ease into sleep. Obviously, if you're reading a mind-gripping crime novel, it won't leave you too much at peace, but a drama novel does no harm. If you're not too keen on books, reading a magazine, usually filled with a lot of visual content, de-stresses you and makes falling asleep much easier. I love thumbing through Vogue or the novel I'm currently reading, The Help by Kathryn Stockett before bed.

Shower/Bath

Having a bath is one of the best ways to relax and calm down after a long day. I love always adding something into the water, like bubbles, salts or bath bombs. Lush is obviously amazing for this, as they do unreal bath melts, bath bombs and body treats. I don't really have time to take baths that often, so I shower before bed using a gorge smelling and moisturizing body wash, like this one, and make sure to use lotion afterwards. Using a body moisturizer is extremely important during the cold months, to keep skin supple and avoid dry patches. I've had a tough time with my skin this year, between allergies and itchiness, so I keep it basic with this Dove Purely Pampering Nourishing Lotion.

Music

Listening to music as you're trying to fall asleep is something I'm never too sure of- I can never figure out whether its a good thing to do or not. Some people say that listening to music distracts you from falling asleep, but for me, it's the last thing I do at night and the first thing I do as soon as I wake up- I listen to my iPod. Currently, I'm loving Lorde's Pure Heroine album- all of the songs are so different, and so good to listen to.

The Worry People

I really am not a very superstitious person, and I don't believe in four leaf clovers or walking under ladders- however this isn't really based on any kind of magic. The Guatemalan Worry People are available to buy in health shops, and their concept is really interesting- they're based on how Guatemalan people used to make tiny little people, and before bed each night, tell the people all their worries and anxieties. When put under your pillow for the night, your worries would dissapear as the worry people would do the worrying for you. Hence, the load would be lifted off your mind and you would fall asleep carefree, and wake up carefree. I do have my own Worry People, and I can't say that this geniunely works, but the concept is very true- as soon as you actually voice your problems, they seem minor and maybe even a little silly at times. The Worry People become like a therapist of sorts, that listen to your problems- and hopefully take them away. They are inexpensive and definitely something to try out.

Clean and Tidy Surroundings

In order to achieve a good night's sleep, the bedroom you sleep in should be in order and de-cluttered, so make sure to find some time every day to do a rough tidy up and cleaning sesh in your room- and save the hoovering for the weekends. Tidy room, tidy mind.

Getting Stuff Done

Being an anxious person, I need to get all my homework and whatever work I need to do done in advance, as I hate leaving things till the last minute. When you go to bed, it's natural to lie there and think about all the things you still have to do, so ensure to get them all done during the day, or plan ahead, by writing them all down and ticking them off. This will ensure that when you do get to bed, you're not being anxious about how much you have to do. Keeping a diary, whether to write down feelings or plan ahead, is also a good idea.


Writing Down Thoughts

Writing down thoughts and feelings, like getting stuff done, is a good way of getting things out of your way. Much like the Worry People, this is probably a more effective way of clearing your head and helping anxieties go away. One of the most effective ways of dealing with mental issues is by writing them down, as often as you like.

Sleep Schedule

Being a teenager, I looove staying up late watching Breaking Bad and drooling over Joey Essex's face (can we not pls) but this means that on the weekends, I end up going to bed at 1 or 2 am, and then on Mondays I'm trying to fall asleep at 11pm or so. Unfortunately, this doesn't work and I don't fall asleep until 1 am. Having a proper sleep schedule is one of the most easiest ways to fall asleep- eventually you will, if you go to bed before midnight every night and get up for school or even at the weekends, you get enough sleep every night. That's my new rule- I have to be in bed by 1 am, weekend or not.  Obviously some exceptions to apply (nights out and stuff) but this ensures I get enough sleep, always.

I really should listen to myself as I have just gotten back to school from mid term, and now I'm suffering with serrrriouss cases of lost sleep haha :). Please remember that if you have real trouble with falling asleep/getting any sleep due to unknown reasons, do contact a professional. 

Thank you so much for reading! I hope you sweeties had a good Halloween! Trick or treaters are officially my new favourite thing in the world.



Gaby x

Life Lately: Spring, Summer

Hello again to all of my sweeties, today I am here to reminisce about the summer. I actually cannot get over how quick it went this year- I love sleeping in late and the warm weather too much to let it go so easily haha:) I really haven't done enough Life Lately's this year, so here is a summer one- things I loved and will miss about this summer.

Beauty

Bourjois Delice De Poudre Bronzing Powder

I took a trip to the Vilnius city centre on my last day there for the last time, and I decided that it was time for me to finally indulge in this bronzer. I've seen more or less every blogger looovee this, and now I know why- it smells amazing to begin with, so much so that every time I use it, my room and blush brush is left smelling unreal- the bronzer has a chocolate-y, floral light scent and it even looks like chocolate in its packaging- which I'm not too fond of, I don't really like powders in cardboard pallets. Mine is in the shade 51, which is one of the lightest, and because I'm only new to bronzer, this means I don't ever end up orange. In the lighter shades, this is like a complexion enhancer too- it makes you look more radiant and awake as well as tanned and contoured. I'm super happy with it, and it's so gorgeous on the skin, and it can be layered too. To be honest, it puzzles me how I lived without bronzer up until now!

Sleek Blush By Three in Pumpkin 363

I bought this at the end of summer, after I discovered that my local pharmacy actually stocked Sleek (!!). Their blushes were the first I saw, and it took me forever to choose a palette. This contains P Pie, Squash and Lantern (L-R). These colours are so pretty, and unbelievably pigmented- you really do need a tiny amount, but I love how intense each colour is. My favourite is P Pie, as it looks gorgeous blended with the Bourjois powder. The Lantern shade may seem a little full-on (it is a very true orange) but it actually doubles up as a bronzer and blush once applied.

I have P Pie on my cheeks, and Kate Moss x Rimmel shade 01 on my lips

Rimmel 660 In Love With Ginger Lipstick

Since I got back from Amsterdam, I was on a mission for an orange lipstick- I thought about Mac's Lady Danger, but then I discovered this. This is a gorgeous, true orange, with soft red undertones, so its a good shade to go for if you're not feeling too brave. Lippies with blue undertones can often be little too harsh for me, and make me look a little pale and washed out. As a summery shade, this is gorgeous- I took mine straight from the bullet, and got a lot of compliments in return.

Top two- In Love with Ginger and Bourjois Bronzing Powder

Bottom three are Sleek Blushes

Fashion

Nirvana T Shirt

I have developed a weird tradition with Nirvana t shirts- every summer I get a new one. This was this summers one- a distressed grey with acid yellow. And here's me, looking nothing short of fabulous in it (not haha). I love the band, (I'm listening to Where Did You Sleep Last Night and The Man Who Sold The World as I write this haha) I love Kurt's raspy vocals, and I love even more how these go with absolutely everything- jeans, skirts, shorts. I really want a tie dye one, it would be the dream.

Levi's Vintage Shorts

Every fashionista's and blogger's dream is to snap up a pair of cheap, legit vintage Levi's shorts- and I came across mine very unexpectedly in a little vintage shop tucked away beside Vilnius' Rotuse- thanks to Emilija for showing me the way! For under 10Lt, I got my very first pair of Levis- these used to be the actual jean, white, with the bottoms rolled. They fit me comfortably and cosily, and surpisingly, are the first pair of shorts my derriere doesn't peek out of (I was brought to this realization by my very own mother). They're a little worn, a little tattered, tough and undoubtedly, Levi's. They are high waisted and I actually don't need a belt for them- something that barely ever happens to me.

River Island Silver Platforms

I came across these beauties in a charity shop in the middle of summer, and even though they really aren't the most comfiest thing in the world (I'm always left with blisters :( ) I love them to death, just because they look pretty.

Random

Lana Del Rey's Ultraviolence

Obviously, I have been loving Ultraviolence over the summer. It is amazing, all I ever wanted it to be. I wrote a blog post on it, so make sure to check it out, and give Lana a listen. My faves include Brooklyn Baby, Sad Girl, Old Money and Shades of Cool. Her husky vocals always remind me of summer- it's unreal how music can do that.

Breaking Bad

I discovered Breaking Bad at the start of summer-ish, and I only finished it a few nights ago. It is, without a doubt, one of the best shows ever, and it's actually crazy how now I have nothing to get me through the evenings. The plot, the shots, the action, the cleverness and witiness and the richness of each character is unbelievable- I was hooked from Season 1 Episode 1. I miss it like crazy now- I miss Jesse's 'Yo, bitch' every 2 minutes, I miss Walt's scientific solutions to drug problems, I miss Walt Junior's questioning of how mental all this is, and I even miss Marie. I love how normal the show is, with twists of absolute madness. Also, Jesse may be one of the main reasons I started the show- he is kind of gorgeous *love heart eye emoji*



And that's it! Hope you enjoyed my favourites, and do let me know yours! I also hope you guys liked how I actually modelled some of the clothes and makeup for you guys, I feel like you don't seem to see enough of me on here haha! My little blog has recently hit its 2nd birthday, so thank you so much to everyone that has stuck around, I love you!


Gaby x

My Thoughts on Lana Del Rey's Ultraviolence

Hello to all of my lovely sweeties- how are we all doing, September is over, snoods are getting pulled out of wardrobes and berry shade lipsticks are creeping back into our makeup bags- oh Autumn, you mess with my head. 

I'm here today to discuss a very summery topic however- the flawless Lana Del Rey's Ultraviolence album of course, which was released early June. I have been listening to it all summer, until I knew every lyric, beat and rhythm off by heart- and now I'm here to share my thoughts on it. Please note that I am no way and expert in music- this is just my humble opinion, as always :)



I have loved Lana for a long time- I've mentioned her countless times, I've listened to her for countless years, she is definitely my favourite singer of all time. I know probably all of her songs off by heart- her old stuff, her new stuff and her unreleased stuff. Lana is my queen, and I would be definitely lost without her.

I loved the Born to Die saga so, so much- every album, every song, every video, even the short film. I thought it ended amazingly, every record was flawless and I genuinely cannot fault anything in the saga- it is sheer perfection. So when Lana announced that Tropico was the farewell to the Born to Die saga, and that Ultraviolence would be something new and different, I was admittedly a little bit sceptical and scared. I didn't know what to expect, and so I was terrified to hear West Coast for the first time. 



And truthfully, I didn't fall in love with it immediately. I listened to it a few times and I didn't think much of it- but just like anything else of Lana's, it grew on me, slowly but surely. As Shades of Cool was released, I didn't like it at all- I classified it as boring and melancholy, but it didn't become one of my favourites of the whole album until a few weeks later. Brooklyn Baby was an instant hit- I love the last chorus 'Yeah my boyfriend's pretty cool/But he's not as cool as me' I love how it adds a bit of mystery, and ultimately creates Lana a femme fatale we all know she is. Ultraviolence itself is a good song- I'm not crazy about it, simply because of the lyrics and what Lana tells us- I don't think it's right to glamorize abuse, but at the end of the day, it's art, and that's what I take it to be.



And a week or so after the 4 singles came out, so did Ultra itself. I got it, a little after its release date, and it took me a while to properly listen to all of the songs, I don't delve right in to an album- I take in and digest each song as it comes. I only listened to the whole album probably about a month after I got it- in the middle of a hot, hot rural Lithuania countryside at my grandmother's villa. 

I must say, the vintage feel of 'Money Power Glory' , 'Old Money' 'Pretty When You Cry' and 'The Other Woman' rocks. Listening to these songs in the midst of a hot summer is unbelievable, it makes them feel so much more real, pure and true. Lana's husky vocals absorb you into her songs- you become Lana, instantaneously heartbroken, reminded of poignant blues of post-relationship. 



Lana is a little bit different in Ultra- in Born to Die, she is love sick and obsessed in some ways- in  Ultra, her lover is obsessed with her, and a lot of it is written in the aftermath of the relationship- she is even sometimes a 'mistress'. I love this new feel and vibe- the vintage hipster atmosphere is so true to Lana- this is Lana, but maturer, more alluring, even more gorgeous Lana.

I could go into detail about each and every song, but I'm not going to. Everyone needs to take an hour or two to sit down and listen to this- Lana will inspire you. Ultra, like Born to Die is flawless- and Lana is a 'bad bitch on the side'. It makes sence- at the end of the video for Ride, she finds her freedoms- and in Ultra, she explores those freedoms. And in a way, maybe that is something we all also need to apply to our lives.





Thank you so much for reading! I will also be at Ed Sheeran at the 3Arena in Dublin this Sunday, please say hello if you spot me!



Gaby x

Coffee Cups, Everywhere

Another photography based blog post for you guys- this one is a little sillier, haha :) As some of you may know, I have been doing a bit of travelling (well, my version of travelling haha) over the past years, and I have collected a few photos of coffee cups and caffeine drinks. I have an obsession with overpriced coffee- the smell, the taste, the pure luxury of a good coffee makes my day. Hope you enjoy!

My very first Starbucks is from Stuttgart, Germany- a Strawberry and Cream Frappe. A very proud moment for the world.

My first Vero Cafe Fresh n'Tasty- this one is Shweppes with Blueberry syrup. This is a tradition in Vilnius, Lithuania for me and my friends.

CoffeeCompany in Amsterdam this year- I think this is just a standard latte.

My favourite Vero- Russian Shweppes and Watermelon syrup, with loads of ice. On hot days, this keeps me alive. Once again, Vilnius.

Coffee Inn, or the Lithuanian Starbucks. Obviously I had to try some. This is a salted caramel mochiatto. Oh, and the streets of the pretty Old Town.

Looked gorge!

Our apartament in Vilnius- this coffee I've loved for years, its just the standard Nescafe 3 in 1 Latte. The bun is one I've loved since I was in kindergarden- 'Arbatine Bandele', or Tea Bun, available on Ateities Street

My beloved Gloria Jeans- I live off this stuff whenever I visit Athlone to shop. This is a cappucino, but I've tried many, many coffees and chillers.

Another Coffee Inn purchase in Vilnius- this one was from the Coffee Inn Lab in Gedimino 9 on Gedimino Avenue. This is 'Juoda Balta', or Black and White- one half of the espresso shot was milky cold latte, the other bottom half was black coffee.

And it casually ended up on the floor..looked pretty though!

My latest affair with Gloria Jeans- Creme Brulee Chiller. This tastes unbelievable, and I love the whipped cream on top.

Thank you so much for reading! 

Gaby x

Vilnius '14

Hello again to all of my lovely sweeties, today I am back with a photography and travel related blog post. As some of you may know, I am originally from the capital of Lithunia- Vilnius, and I go back every summer, to visit and to rekindle with old friends and relatives. I hope you have a hot cup of tea ready, as I have a lot of eye candy from my beloved city. Hope you enjoy!

Just a side note- that blue doughnut, is a Breaking Bad doughnut, hence the blue (yes, it is a meth infested doughnut, haha)

Thank you so much for reading! I hope all my fellow TY's/5th year readers got on well with their results- I was delighted with mine, thank god! Sad to think they barely matter, haha:)



Gaby x