How to beat the winter blues

I don't know about you but I'm definitely one of those people who suffer from winter blues. I wouldn't even say that I generally dislike winter, it's just that I find it hard to deal with the darkness and the weather which makes me want to stay indoors way too much and robbs me of my motivation to do anything, particularly on grey and dreary days. I'm also not very good with the cold temperatures and admire people who live in REALLY cold countries/climates (I'm looking at you Canada and Russia). However, since winter keeps coming round every year without fail, I've found a few little ways of making it more bearable which I want to share with you today.

Make the most of any sunny spells

I try and make the most of the rare sunny spells by getting out and about for a little walk or some errands or even just sitting on my balcony in the sun. The light and warmth revives me and is so important to give my body the much needed Vitamin D.

Try and embrace the bad weather. Get cosy!

Since we can't change the weather it is best to make the most of it and try and appreciate that it isn't just a nuisance but that it can also be quite cosy actually. So get your blankets out, make some hot chocolate or tea and cuddle up on the sofa with a book or a good film.

Buy some flowers

With christmas over, I'm craving spring but since I'll have to wait for that a bit longer I make sure to buy some fresh flowers as often as I can. I think a nice vase of tulips instantly brightens up the room and it definitely lifts my mood, despite the gloomy weather.

Make some plans and changes that get you excited

I always find that making plans and sticking to my new years resolutions really helps with improving my mood and getting me even more excited for spring and summer. I like making plans for the months ahead so that I have something to look forward to and to work towards.

Watch summery films

On days when it is particularly cold and wintery I like watching films that are set in summer or a sunny location because they give me that summery feeling and let me forget about winter for a moment.

I hope these tips help you as much as they help me :-)

Julie xx

Astor Pro Manicure Already Dry! Quick Dry Topcoat

Today I want to show you my favourite topcoat, which I've been using for the last six months.

For years and years I never even bothered with topcoats as I wasn't keen on adding yet another step to my manicure. One of the things I find most annoying about painting my nails is waiting for them to dry. In my mind, adding another coat of something would probably not make my wait any shorter. I was so wrong however. I ended up picking up the Astor Pro Manicure Already Dry! Quick Dry Topcoat on a complete whim one day and haven't looked back since.

Now, I have to add that I used to have a bit of a love/hate relationship with this at first which was completely down to me using it wrong. It is important to give the nails some time to dry a bit and not to apply the topcoat too early, otherwise you will move the nailpolish around which then creates gaps and makes the natural nail visible again. Once I found that out (silly me!) I started to love it and like how it finishes off my manicure and gives my nails a nice shine. I will definitely repurchase this once I run out.

Which is your favourite Topcoat?

Julie xx

Instagrammers to follow: Preppy fashion and lifestyle

I'm a huge fan of Instagram and love looking at my feed for inspiration and happiness. There are so many interesting accounts with a whole range of topics and I thought I'd share some of my favourites with you.

Today I'll share some wonderful, preppy accounts with you that I love for their outfits and preppy lifestyle.

@sarahkjp

First of all Sarah Vickers from Classy Girls Wear Pearls. How could I not include her in this list. I love her style and think she is absolutely beautiful. I also live vicariously through her because she and her fiance Kiel just get up to so many cool adventures.

@carly

Carly is the lovely lady behind the blog The College Prepster which I have been reading for a long time now. I love her style and love following along with all the adventures that she, her boyfriend Garrett and her cute dog Teddy get up to.

@classysassywhit

I absolutely adore Whitleys Instagram feed because it is so colourful and stylish. I love that her outfits are super classic and wearable without being boring. The only problem is that I want all of her outfits for my own wardrobe now.

@robinvancrabb

Robins feed is full of super preppy outfits and I like how she combines various pieces. She also has enviable hair which I always very much admire. (Damn you thin hair...)

 @summerwind41490

I love Sydneys account for her beautifully preppy and sophisticated outfits and lifestyle. I think she always looks incredibly classy and happy which is what draws me to her blog and Instagram account more often than I care to admit.

So there you have it. This list is by no means a complete list of all my favourite preppy and sophisticated Instagrammers but these are definitely the ones I browse most often.

Which are your favourites?

Julie xx

Autumn nails

Today I wanted to share some of my favourite autumn nailcolours with you which I have been wearing in turns over the past few weeks. At this time of the year I really love deep reds, berry tones and stormy greys, as well as more shimmery and glittery polishes. Essie nailpolishes are (as usual) my favourites and I can't wait to add to my collection this autumn and winter :-)

Essie - Dress to Kilt (Limited edition)
 Essie - Bahama Mama

P2 - 017 Elegant

P2 - 991 Satellite Dreams

Which are your favourite polishes this season?

Julie xx

Kiel James Patrick Pieces I Love

Atlantic Pearl Bracelet 

 Catesby Jones Bracelet

Barnstable Bag 

 Briggs Capeside Docks Belt

Brooke Creek Sleeveless Scallop Oxford Shirt

Anchor Navy Blue Boatshoes

I've been a big fan of the KJP products ever since I've come across Sarah Vickers blog
'Classy Girls Wear Pearls' a few years ago.

Over the years Sarah and her financé Kiel added more and more beautiful accessories and now even shirts and shoes to their collection. I really like the whole classy-New England- nautical theme and definitely want to add some of their pieces to my wardrobe soon.

Julie xx

Dr. Scheller Organic Apothecary – Organic Thyme Moisturiser

Today I want to give you a quick review of the latest addition to my skincare routine, the

Dr. Scheller Organic Thyme Moisturiser.

I picked this up a few weeks ago on a whim and because it was on offer.

I had already been interested in the Dr.Scheller skincare range for some time but always ended up buying cheaper products instead.

First I couldn't decide whether to get the lavender or thyme day cream, but then chose the thyme one as it seemed to be more suited for my skin type.

Dr.Scheller products are mostly made from natural ingredients and some of them are organic which probably explains the price. ( 8,95€ for 50ml)

After using it for some time now I can say that I absolutely love the cream. It is not too greasy to break me out but somehow rich enough to moisturise my dry cheeks and forehead.

It sinks in relatively quickly and doesn't feel sticky. At first I wasn't too impressed with the scent because it is a bit too sweet for my liking but it is bearable and I got used to it.

I also like the packaging as it looks slightly old fashioned ( in a good way) and quite fancy too. Of course this isn't the most important aspect, but I'm a sucker for pretty looking products.

I'm keen to try more Dr. Scheller products in the future, that is , if I can find another shop that sells them as my local drugstore stopped stocking them now. (typical ha!)

Have you already tried any Dr.Scheller products?

Julie xx

Life Update

I thought it was time for a little life update so here goes.

Since I finished Uni I've been trying to find a job which turned out to be much more difficult than I first anticipated. I left Uni with a Bachelors Degree in History and English which isn't the most useful combination of subjects as I found out. I don't desire becoming a teacher (also I would have to go back to Uni to get fully qualified for that) which seems to be the most suitable profession with this kind of qualification.

Before I started my uni course I was unsure of the direction I wanted to go in so I tried to gather information about different subjects and prospects for the future. In the end I opted for the History and English degree as they were some of my favourite subjects in school and I was told that I would be able to find a job in loads of different areas of work like media and journalism, trade, administration and so on.

Unfortunately this hasn't been the case as the German job market is very "hot" on additional qualifications and there is loads of competition as well.

After trying to find some kind of an entry level job in administration and other fields and failing miserably I now decided to go back into education and start a further education course to become a foreign language assistant.

This decision hasn't been an easy one because part of me still just wants to find a job and finally start earning money. The prospect of another 6 months of studying combined with having very little money doesn't fill me with much joy at the moment. I know however that I have to take action and improve my chances on the job market in order to find work and finally start living the life I imagined.

I had big plans for my blog as well but my situation has been dragging me down in recent months so I lost a lot of my motivation for writing blog posts. I really want this to change again and will hopefully get into some kind of a blogging routine.

Thanks for reading everyone. See you soon for my next regular post.

Julie xx