My Endometriosis Story

This one is going to be quite a lengthy read, so make yourself a cup of tea and get comfy.

You may have have seen a recent post of mine, A Gentle Routine to Pick You Up When You're Battling Endometriosis, so I thought I would do a follow up explaining my story.
When I was first diagnosed I didn't know anything about the condition so I want to raise awareness, educate, and talk about my experiences so far. Additionally, I'm hoping this helps any one else going through the same battle or anyone who's curious to know what the laparoscopy is like.

I was going to do a sit down chatty video, but I tend to find it easier to pour my heart and soul into writing. I feel like I'm not a natural talker, I can't seem to articulate my points across well. However, with writing I can. The struggles of an Introvert eh. 

I'll start by briefly explaining what endometriosis is. (If you want a detailed summary, click here)

Endometriosis is a painful condition where tissue grows outside of the womb, it can appear in many different places including the ovaries, fallopian tubes, inside the tummy, around the bladder or bowel. Month after month, the tissue doesn't shred and leave the body properly, it builds up and causes an endless amount of pain, heavy periods, bloating and can cause problems with infertility. It's a long-term condition and sadly there is no cure for it. However there are hormone medications, pain relief medication or you can have a laparoscopy performed which will help ease pain and other symptoms for a while. As there is sadly no cure, the tissue will start growing again and repeated surgeries may be needed in the future.

Endometriosis depends from person to person but the main symptoms to look out for are painful heavy periods, lower back pain, pain during sex and bleeding in between periods. It's really hard to diagnose and so hard to figure out whether you have it or not, so I would advise all ladies to keep track of your periods and write down anything unusual happening. There are tons of apps you can download to keep track.

Flashback to 2014 where I was in severe amounts of pain on almost a daily basis, dealing with insomnia and being physically sick a couple of times each month.
There was one day in particular that really stood out to me and identified the problem.
I woke up in a huge amount of discomfort and pain, I had a sharp jabbing pain in my stomach and I felt really light-headed. I waited around twenty minutes for it to ease and then managed to roll myself out of bed. I started getting ready for work and then I collapsed on the floor and was viciously sick a couple of times (such a lovely sight I know). My body just went into shutdown mode, I couldn't move for about an hour and I was screaming in pain.
Luckily Joe was still at home and he came rushing through into the bedroom to help (he was an absolute hero cleaning up the mess and holding my hair back when I needed to be sick, such a babe lol). He insisted that I didn't go into work and also called my doctors to make an emergency appointment. 

At this point I was dreading going to my doctors. I previously spoke about my symptoms over the years and got told my periods were normal, it could be constipation or IBS, so I gave up complaining about it and just accepted this was normal.
After speaking to a doctor I hadn't seen before, I explained my symptoms and she thought it could be endometriosis.  So having someone take me seriously was a huge sigh of relief.

From that day, she referred me to see a specialist. I went for a few appointments and then I was referred to the hospital were they suggested I should have a laparoscopy (key hole surgery), as the only way to truly identify endometriosis is to have an operation. Once identified, the surgeon will either cut or burn away the endometriosis with a fancy laser.

Before going ahead with the operation, I had an ultrasound and I was told everything looked fine, normal and that I didn't have endometriosis. But I didn't feel ok, why was in so much agony all the time? I remember coming home confused and in tears not knowing what to do. Thoughts flooding through my mind, should I cancel my operation? What if I have the operation and they don't find anything? Maybe this is normal and I should just suck it up.

I just knew something wasn't right, the pain and periods were NOT normal, so I decided to go ahead with the operation back in early 2015, and I'm really glad I did.

Usually with a laparoscopy, you have the operation and then you leave the hospital the same day. My operation was said to be severe, I had complications during surgery so I spent four days in hospital. It was awful, I was in so much pain, I had drains attached either side and I had to ring a bell to have a nurse walk to the toilet with me, so humiliating.
Once I was discharged, it took me three weeks to to get back to normal duties and six weeks to fully recover and exercise again. Whilst recovering, I was on a course of co-codomol for the pain and experienced heavy bleeding for three weeks (TMI sorry).

I had a follow up appointment at the hospital six weeks later and I remember it being quite an emotional one. I was told that I have stage four endometriosis related to the bowel, they told me what they had operated on and that it will be highly unlikely that I can have children after the age of 30. I was 25 at the time and just burst into tears.  I didn't want the option taken away from me. I felt a huge amount of pressure to have children at such a young age, yes Joe and I have been together a long time (four years by this point) but we just weren't ready. 

Since then, I have been on various types of contraceptive pills. Finding a pill was quite tricky for me as it needed to be a norethisterone pill (used for hormone replacement therapy, and in the treatment of gynecological conditions) and one that doesn't cause problems with cluster headaches and migraines as I'm a suffer of those. Micronor was the one I was finally happy with. 

Whilst being on the pill I experienced the usual bloating and pain, however less severe to what I had before. The good side to being on a norethisterone pill was that it had stopped the heavy bleeding, for a change I was having light but still irregular periods and I was ok with that.

Over time the bloating was really getting me down, my hormones were all over the place and after reading horror stories about contraceptive pills I decided to stop taking it all together.

Since coming off the pill, my endometriosis has been a nightmare. There hasn't been a day gone by where I haven't felt uncomfortable, in pain or bloated. The sickness came back too.
A few months ago I was being sick every single morning for about three weeks and I didn't understand why. I knew it definitely wasn't morning sickness, so I thought maybe it was the nightly pills I had been taking for my migraines or maybe I was just feeling really anxious. Wrong, the endometriosis devil was back in full swing.

I booked a doctors appointment and she suggested referring me to see a specialist again. After a few more hospital appointments and blood tests, I was booked in for another laparoscopy.
I was a bit skeptical of having this done again after being told last time that if they were to operate on me again it would cause more problems than good, but the surgeon insisted this would be the best course of action as there will have been built up scar tissue and it's possible that my endometriosis causing the pain and sickness has returned and needs to be removed.

I went ahead with my second operation at the end of July and to my surprise it was severe again. I had two endometrioma cysts on each of my ovaries, on my right I had a cyst the size of a mango (how cray), the other side was a lot smaller, I had the majority of the scar tissue and endometriosis removed and they identified adhesions stuck to my bowel which they didn't remove as it was difficult. I stayed in hospital for three days, and was so happy to return home to fully recover for two weeks. When I was discharged, they gave me a course of painkillers and injections that I needed to do for seven days.

I was also booked in to have an ultrasound but weirdly they booked this after my laparoscopy. To be honest, I'm glad they made a mistake with this because from experience I found the ultrasound to be unreliable anyway.
As of now, I'm awaiting for a letter to see the specialist again in six-eight weeks time to go over the details of my operation and what to do next.

While I was in hospital, my surgeon mentioned that he wanted to operate on me again in a few months time, however I'm still deciding whether I want to go ahead so soon after.

So that's my endometriosis story to date. If you're interested I can do an updated version in a couple months time to keep you guys in the loop.

(Laparoscopy recovery after nine days - took bandages off belly button and left hand side incisions, however kept the bikini line incision bandage on for longer as it was still painful. The bruise on my right hand side was caused by doing an injection wrong... whoops).

From my experience it can take years to be diagnosed which is incredibly frustrating. If you've had an ultrasound and have been told everything is fine, don't trust it and keep pushing for them to identify the problem.
I've done a bit of research and a lot of people have experienced negative ultrasounds which has put people off going for a laparoscopy. I personally think that's awful that an ultrasound can't accurately see what's going on and is sending out confusing messages to endometriosis sufferers.
The only way of knowing if you have endometriosis for sure is to have a laparoscopy, which I strongly advise getting as it puts your mind at rest and the condition is officially identified.

I hope this was somewhat helpful to at least one person! If you have any questions, want to private message me or are going through something similar do get in touch :).

Let's get social. Follow me on Instagram: @zoeyoliviablog to see what I get up to daily. You can also reach me on twitter: @zoeyoliviablog. Or, if you like Bloglovin', I'm kind of new to it but follow me on there.

6 MAC Lipsticks Every Pale Girl Needs

Being someone with super fair skin (often described as alabaster or cool bone), finding a good lipstick is never easy. MAC have tons of variations of reds, nudes, pinks and brights which can honestly be quite overwhelming to look at. Every time I walk into a MAC store, I'm like 'where to begin'... the struggle is real ladies!

After being an avid MAC lipstick wearer for years, I've narrowed down six MAC lipsticks that every pale girl needs in their collection.

Plumful, a gorgeous rose-plum tone. I think this shade is so flattering on fairer skin tones. It's a lustree finish, meaning it's quite sheer on the lips, however is build-able for a more intensified colour.
It's not quite autumn yet although this 'summery' weather we're experiencing in the UK certainly feels like it is (not that I'm complaining, I love autumn. Wooly knits, sitting by the fire, snuggled in blankets, yes please), anyway Plumful is the perfect every-day shade for the colder seasons.

(Plumful) 

Chili. A beautiful burnt orange, brown-red tone. Incredibly flattening for all skin-tones, especially us pale ladies. It's part of MAC's matte collection, however, doesn't feel 'matte' on the lips. It's the lipstick I tend to reach for during autumn if I'm feeling something a bit warmer.

Cosmo is my go to every day lippy. It's a beautiful soft pinky-nude-brown colour with blue undertones, which looks really flattening on us pale ladies. It's an amplified creme finish meaning it's super creamy and moisturising on the lips.

(Cosmo)

Ruby Woo. You may be able to spot Ruby Woo in the back, it's slightly damaged and I can't seem to rescue it's shape... I accidentally dropped it on the floor on a night out and to be honest I should probably go and buy a new one. Anyway, Ruby Woo is the perfect shade of red for us pale ladies. It's a very matte vivid blue-red which means it's designed for us cool toned girls. It makes your teeth and complexion appear whiter and brighter. A must have.

Brave. A beautiful pink-beige with white pearl, the your lips but better shade. I've been surprised how much wear I've got out of this one, it's super flattering on fair skin and is so easy to wear. It's one of my most worn lipsticks from MAC.
Every pale girl needs this in their collection!

(Brave)

Lady Danger. If you're feeling a bit of colour, I'd recommend Lady Danger for the cooler skin tones. It's the most lovely orange toned red. It's matte (but doesn't feel matte), really pigmented and long lasting. It's the one that will brighten your day and complexion.

(Top to bottom: Cosmo, Brave, Plumful, Chili, Lady Danger, Ruby Woo)

If you've been a reader for a while, you may have noticed I haven't included my all time favourite, Bare Again. Sadly it got discontinued and I haven't been able to find a replacement ever since, sob.

There are tons of other's I could have picked too. Depending on what colours you fancy, Rebel is another beautiful berry tone that's gorgeous on pale skin. Fanfare and Syrup are lovely everyday nudes. Brick O La is another great choice. For brighter pinks, Impassioned is stunning.

What's your favourite MAC lipstick?

Follow me on Instagram: @zoeyoliviablog to see what I get up to daily. You can also reach me on twitter: @zoeyoliviablog. Or, if you like Bloglovin', I'm kind of new to it but follow me on there.

12 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Blogging

Let's virtually travel back in time and reminisce the golden olden days for a moment. Three years ago Zoey Olivia was born. I've had countless blogs before this one, I was an avid Tumblrer, I had previous Blogspot accounts and a Live Journal account which I can't for the life of me remember what my name was on there (oh boy... that's really going back, does anyone actually remember Live Journal?). I even had a Piczo account (If anyone remember's Piczo, yay!) Back then, no-body had even heard of what a flat-lay was, didn't think twice about tags and didn't carefully plan a monthly blog schedule.
In the olden days, blogging was used as a platform where you spilled things over to the digital world as if you were writing a diary entry, you wrote about your latest beauty purchase, what you're currently loving, your latest outfit splurges, or you'd write something super juicy and spill the beans on that boy who broke your heart. Not much thought went into it.
Oh how times have changed! Sometimes I reminisce about the old days and how everything was a lot simpler and a bit more raw. Although saying that, I do love that blogs have evolved and become more visually pleasing whilst still writing relatable content.

My blog has always been a hobby, I have a full-time job working as a Digital Designer and I create posts during evenings and at weekends. Blogging takes a lot of hard work, time and determination, you are your own photographer, editor, content creator, marketeer and social media manager. A girl boss. I think it's incredible that so many amazing content creators have made a living out of their hobby.

Over the past few months I have been taking my blog a little more seriously and making a few tweaks here and there to improve my content, do a bit more digital marketing and make my blog more user friendly with an awesome new design. So without further a do, here are twelve blogging tips that I wish I knew when I first started out and will help you too.

1. Choose a user-friendly blogging platform. When I started Zoey Olivia, I used Blogger.com (Formally known as Blogspot). More recently I changed to WordPress after a friend recommended it.


2. Make blogging buddies! Follow other bloggers on the blogging platform you choose as well as on other social media platforms. My personal favourite place to find cool new bloggers is on Bloglovin.


3. A way of getting your blog recognised is to comment on other people's blog posts and not in a spammy way (everyone hates a bit of spam). This way you get conversations going and other readers will visit your blog to see and read what you’re about.


4. Create kick ass flat lays and up your photography game. I honestly wish I did this sooner as my following has shot up in the past month or so.
   I love photography anyway, so spending a bit more time carefully creating the perfect backdrop and learning how to use my camera settings properly has been really beneficial.


5. To engage more people through Bloglovin' or Pinterest, create visually pleasing bright photo's that are vertical and stick to it.


6. Plan. Write down what days and topics you want to discuss each month. Have some form of a routine which your readers will get accustomed to. It can be writing twice or five times a week, whatever you decide do it religiously.


7. Write catchy titles. This is a bit of a new one for me, however it has been a game changer. You want to keep your readers coming back for more, writing eye-catching titles like 'The most Instagrammable places in London', 'The MAC Lipstick everyone is buying', or '10 Things to do on a Sunday' will help to increase blog traffic.


8. Use tags on your blogs! Nine times out of ten your readers have been searching for a specific tag which lead them to your blog. They may have searched generic titles like 'Beauty', 'Food'. 'Lifestyle' or they may searched for something a little more specific like 'Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lipstick Swatch and Review'. Just make sure your tags are relevant to your post.


9. Don’t play the 'follow, unfollow' tactic to gain more followers. I've seen a lot of bloggers do this on Instagram, Bloglovin and Youtube and it honestly grinds my gears. You loose your credibility as a blogger, it shows your true motives and its anything but authentic. Let your blog grow organically and follow people you're genuinely interested in.


10. Schedule your posts for first thing in the morning, at lunch-time or after work when the commuters need something to read. These are the times when your blog will get the most traffic. I usually schedule mine around 7-8am.


11. Self promotion. Utilise your social media platforms when a blog post goes live (this is definitely something I need to do more of). Schedule tweets and 'grams on Hootsuite or Mosaico. Also, sign up to Bloglovin, your content will go up automatically when you post.
    Pinterest is another great platform for self promotion, although I haven't quite got the hang of mastering it yet.


12. If you want to step your blog up a notch, buy a beautiful blog design. There are tons of pre-made blogger templates to spice up your blog. I use a pipdig template and I bloody love it. Previously I have used Envye.

Let's get social. Follow me on Instagram: @zoeyoliviablog to see what I get up to daily. You can also reach me on twitter: @zoeyoliviablog. Or, if you like Bloglovin', I'm kind of new to it but follow me on there. 

My Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick Collection

It's no secret that I'm Charlotte Tilbury obsessed. In my eyes her lipsticks are some of the best on the market today and I've been slowly adding more and more in to my collection.

First off let me start by saying they aren't cheap. Twenty four pounds a pop, but they are so worth it. Secondly the packaging is out of this world, art-deco rose gold beautifulness (yes, I know that is a word). I wear every single shade on the regular, so without further a do here's my Charlotte Tilbury lipstick collection.

Bitch Perfect. My ultimate holy grail nude lipstick. If you're a regular reader you're probably sick to death of me raving about this shade, so apologies.

It's a gorgeous lightly muted coral shade with a tinge of pink. A lovely light luminous satin finish which glides onto your lips beautifully and feels super creamy and moisturising too.
Read my full review here.

Pillow Talk. This is one of my most recent Charlotte Tilbury purchases, I caved into buying it after falling head over heels for the infamous Pillow Talk liner, best lip liner ever. It's a gorgeous nude matte brown tone that's very natural and perfect for every day. Read my full review here.

Between The Sheets (Limited Edition). A matte formula in a dreamy vintage rose petal shade. It's the your lips but better shade! Sadly this one is limited edition, however, Kidman's Kiss is very similar. Read my full review here.

Stoned Rose. A gorgeous brown-rose shade, perfect for the autumnal season coming up!

I almost wore this on my wedding day but I ended up opting for Chanel's 402 Adrienne instead, it was a super close call though. Read my full review here.

Kiss Chase (Limited Edition). I adore this lip colour, it's the most gorgeous tawny berry hue which is curated to suit any skin-tone. Another one that's great for the colder seasons. Read my full review here.

Red Carpet Red. This lippy is a gorgeous deep red which actually reminds me of a 1950's film star shade, something Marilyn Monroe would wear. The formula is incredibly smooth and lovely to apply. And, for a matte, it's not drying at all. Full review here.

(Swatches from left to right: Red Carpet Red, Kiss Chase, Stoned Rose, Pillow Talk, Between The Sheets and Bitch Perfect)

So there you have it, my Charlotte Tilbury lipstick collection. I’m really tempted to buy another sometime soon. I've had my eye on Secret Salma, Amazing Grace and Love Liberty - all beautiful autumnal shades, so maybe one of those will be my next pay day treat.

Do you have any favourite products from Charlotte Tilbury? If you do, let me know in the comments below!

Let's get social. Follow me on Instagram: @zoeyoliviablog to see what I get up to daily. You can also reach me on twitter: @zoeyoliviablog. Or, if you like Bloglovin', I'm kind of new to it but follow me on there.

A Gentle Routine to Pick You Up When You're Battling Endometriosis

I haven't spoken much about my endometriosis battles, however, as I type this I'm currently lying down in a hospital bed and feeling pretty crappy after having my second laparoscopy operation. I've been stuck here for three days with two drains attached on each side, looking like a corpse, unable to walk properly and in endless amounts of pain.
I'm just itching to go back home and get a good night's sleep.

By the time this goes up, I'll be on the mend and I'm certain I'll be in much brighter spirits.

I haven't seen many people discuss endometriosis on blogs, however there has been an increased awareness of the condition since Lena Dunham and singer Halsey spoke up about it this year. I am so glad to see endometriosis in the spotlight and I hope this allows more women to find the care and treatment they need to manage their symptoms, as well as a general wider understanding to those who haven't heard of the condition before.

For me, it's still a raw and sensitive subject to discuss as there are a lot of unanswered questions about infertility, dealing with the years of deliberating pain, not being taken seriously and simply feeling like this is the norm. It's an emotional topic and it has been a blooming emotional rollercoaster over the past 8 or so years.

I'll give you a bit of a brief back story, it took me roughly five years to be diagnosed. After my first operation back in early 2015 the pain that had been haunting me was indeed endometriosis. I have stage four, which is classed as severe endometriosis as well as effecting the bowels too.

Endometriosis sadly runs in my family, my auntie was first diagnosed with it many many years ago and she is unable to have children because of it. I have been pre-warned that having stage four will cause complications for when I want to try and it may be unlikely that I can have children too. Jeez, that was super personal for me to share, I'm getting a little bit flustered ha.

Anyway, I've been thinking of little things to pick me up again for when I return home! Here are a few of my go-to's, a gentle routine that instantly makes me feel a lot better. If you're dealing with endo pain or the emotional straits, I hope this routine will help ease symptoms and make you feel better too.

Pots of tea.️ 
An instant mood booster is a lovely warming cup of tea. Camomile tea is great for soothing inflammation and makes you feel more calm. Peppermint and green tea are also amazing, they work wonders for soothing pains.

Enjoy a nice hot bubble bath.
There is nothing better than sliding into a hot, soothing bath to relieve the aches and pains of endometriosis. If I'm having a bad endo day, I like to treat myself to some Aromatherapy Associates oils, a favourite of mine is Inner Strength, or if I want something fun, I'll pop a Lush bath bomb in surrounded by candles in the dark. Honestly nothing beats this. 

If you're struggling to move from your bed or are recovering from a laparoscopy operation, a hot water bottle will be your best friend for awhile. You can still have a nice steaming hot shower and soak your skin in some fancy oils afterwards. Alternatively treat yourself to a lovely little foot bath!

Pamper yourself.
Treat yourself to a face-mask and go and paint your nails to brighten your mood!
Or why not splurge and treat yourself to a spa break get-away for the ultimate relaxation. I'm laying here dreaming of a spa right now, once I'm fully recovered from my operation I know where I'm heading.

Netflix and chill.
Getting lost in a good old tv series will take your mind of things. Suits is an easy watch and Harvey is always nice to perve over (Sorry Joe). I also recommended watching Homeland, The Originals, Stranger Things and House of Cards, I'm hooked on all four at the moment.

Let it out.
It's ok to be upset and have a little cry. Endometriosis is hard to deal with and it's ok if you want to stay in a foetal position and have a good old cry. Letting it all out is better than keeping your emotions locked in, trust me on this one.

Candles. 
There is something that feels so lovely and calming about lighting scented candles. A warming glow that will simply lift your mood when you're having a tough day. Diptyque's Baies is my go to that I know will instantly cheer me up. It feels like such a treat when I burn this.

Disconnect and read.
Whilst recovering, I have been reading Marie Kondo's the life changing magic of tidying again. But I'm dying to go home and escape in some fantasy stories. I'm thinking of re-reading the Harry Potter series.
Bloglovin' has also been a major distraction, I've been loving reading blogs and getting inspired for mine along the way.

Allow Yourself Time to heal. 
Give yourself time to heal and give yourself permission to be sick. 

We live in a hectic society and most of us don’t take enough time to settle down and rejuvenate our bodies and our spirits. When we get sick, we feel guilty if we need to stop running around, or if we have to say no or cancel obligations, but taking a break to heal is essential and you deserve this down time. 

Don't close yourself off. 

The worst thing you can do is shut yourself off and not talk to anyone about this.
I have the most incredible and supportive husband, the best family and friends and an amazing social media family who have been keeping me in brighter spirits and generally sane.
I've been trying to keep active on social media, mainly on Instagram with how I'm feeling and I feel that it has helped me cope with the situation instead of keeping everything locked away and hidden. If you're more of a private person, perhaps write your thoughts and feelings in a diary. 

Have a movie marathon. 

Snuggle up under a cosy blanket and stick on a few easy going films. What's better than watching the whole Harry Potter series or some Disney films to cheer you up. If you have Netflix, Cinderella and Jurassic World are good ones to watch! Or if you fancy a bit more action, The Avengers films are classics.

I hope my gentle routine help's to pick you up and lifts your spirits. If anyone else is struggling and wants to talk about endometriosis, please leave a comment below or private message me. Additionally if you want to hear more about how I deal with it daily or what my second laparoscopy was like, then I will do another post in the near future. Remember to try and stay positive, I know it's hard and easier said than done, but you're not alone and there is an amazing community out there. 

Zoey x

Follow me on Instagram: @zoeyoliviablog to see what I get up to daily. You can also reach me on twitter: @zoeyoliviablog. Or, if you like Bloglovin', I'm kind of new to it but follow me on there.

Our Cosy Winter Barn Wedding with a 1920s Twist Featured on Love My Dress

I've been keeping something secret for a little while and now I'm super excited to share that mine and Joe's magical 1920's inspired winter barn wedding has been featured on LoveMyDress. What an honour! Read the full article here.

This takes me back to my wedding planning days where I was relentlessly checking LoveMyDress for inspiration. I found it incredibly helpful to see how other brides had styled their big days.
I'm hoping this article helps any future brides-to-be who are planning a similar barn wedding or those who want a glamourous 1920's twist on the day. Either way, I hope you enjoy the read.

I also want to give a huge shout-out and thanks to our amazing wedding photographer Cat Lane who got in touch and made this feature possible.



You may also be interested in reading about my wedding experiences, I blogged about mine and Joe's initial ideas here. As well as my initial hair and make-up ideas. Additionally, I discussed The stressful period with eight weeks to go, choosing your wedding make-up here, and designing your own wedding stationary (travel theme inspired) here. More recently, I wrote about how I styled my wedding dress.

Follow me on Instagram: @zoeyoliviablog to see what I get up to daily. You can also reach me on twitter: @zoeyoliviablog. Or, if you like Bloglovin', I'm kind of new to it but follow me on there.

August Goals

We're into the second week of August so I feel like I'm cheating a little starting my goals a little late. However, I really adore the idea of setting little targets each month and better late than never right?
Mini goals not only give me something to work towards but they also help me feel happier, more productive and fulfilled.

August Goals

1. Only post engaging and exciting content (don't post for the sake of it!)
2. Be more consistent on Instagram
3. Blog design refresh
4. Begin thinking about autumnal content ideas
5. Create some helpful blogger content
6. Continue to write blog posts in advance
7. Be more active on Bloglovin
8. Up my game with cool interesting flat lays 
9. To loose four more pounds. Ok this may be a bit of a challenge for me as by the time this goes up I'll be recovering from an operation and not allowed to exercise for six weeks... but we shall see

What are your goals for this month?

Follow me on Instagram: @zoeyoliviablog to see what I get up to daily. You can also reach me on twitter: @zoeyoliviablog. Or, if you like Bloglovin', I'm kind of new to it but follow me on there.

A Summer Try-On Haul

It's been quite some time since I sat down and filmed a haul video. Truth be told I've been on a bit of a spending ban recently, however, I needed some new summery additions in my wardrobe. I got a few bits from New Look, PRIMARK, Topshop, H&M and Mango.

Although with the weather we're dealing with at the moment, it doesn't seem likely that I can whack out these gorgeous pieces anytime soon, so I shall save them for when the sun does decide to pop out and say hello.
   

Follow me on Instagram: @zoeyoliviablog to see what I get up to daily. You can also reach me on twitter: @zoeyoliviablog. Or, if you like Bloglovin', I'm kind of new to it but follow me on there. I also have Pinterest, I'm often procrastinating and pinning my life away... So do get in touch :).

The most Instagrammable Places to Eat in London

If there's one thing that's always on my mind, it's most likely food. Food is my one true love in life, I'm constantly thinking about what dish I'm going to devour next and I'm always on the look out for new places to try.

Most of the restaurants I go to are because I've been drooling over them on Instagram and want to nail that perfect Insta shot too. So without further a do, here are my favourite Instagrammable places to eat in London.

Sketch. Everything about this place is super cool and Instagrammable, from the space-egged toilets to the most gorgeous pink and copper interiors. Just look at those pretty pink velvet cushioned seats, I'd like to sit in one of those all day, every day please. The afternoon tea is also presented so beautifully and is so incredibly delicious, honestly the best afternoon tea I've ever had in my life!

Sketch, 9 Conduit St, Mayfair, London W1S 2XG

The Ivy Chelsea Garden.  #FoodInstagramGoals - That chocolate bombe dessert was amazeballs. 

Also, they have the most beautiful colourful flower display outside the restaurant at the moment, it's stunning and I can see why everyone wants to get that perfect outfit shot outside here.

The Ivy Chelsea Garden, 195 -197 King's Road, London SW3 5EQ

Farm Girl Cafe. The blogger hotspot. This may be a little controversial to some, but I have mixed feelings about this popular brunch spot. Yes everything looks so beautiful and is mega Instagrammable, who doesn't want a cute snap of their rose latte or a french bulldog stencilled on a matcha latte?! However, I feel that the food quality is massively hyped up. I'm glad we stopped by though.

Farm Girl Cafe, 59A Portobello Rd, London W11 3DB

Peggy Porschen. This has to be the most Instagrammed cake shop in London and it's no surprise why! It has the most gorgeous floral decor along the doorway and everything is pink - a girls dream backdrop! The cakes are also divine, do try the banoffee cupcake!

Peggy Porschen Cakes, 116 Ebury St, Belgravia, London SW1W 9QQ

Bob Bob Ricard. How beautiful are the interiors here?! I feel like I'm in a Great Gatsby movie sipping pink champagne and eating luxurious dishes. #Allthegoals.
They also have a 'press for champagne' button which is the coolest feature ever, I got a bit carried away and pressed it about twenty times, whoops. 

Bob Bob Ricard, 1 Upper James St, Soho, London W1F 9DF

A few other spots for Instagram friendly food include The Swan at Shakespeare's Globe for the Midsummer night's dreamy afternoon tea (top picture on the far left), Bread Ahead's incredible doughnuts (top picture in the middle), Mad Hatters Tea Party afternoon tea at the Sanderson (top picture on the far right), Duck & Waffle (middle row on the far left), The Breakfast Club (bottom row, far left) and bubblewrapwaffle (bottom row, far right).

Where are your favourite Instagram spots in London?

Follow me on Instagram: @zoeyoliviablog to see what I get up to daily. You can also reach me on twitter: @zoeyoliviablog. Or, if you like Bloglovin', I'm kind of new to it but follow me on there.

4 Nude Lipsticks I Wear On The Daily

Nudes nudes nudes. I'm all about those nudes, lipsticks of course... you raunchy readers. These are the ones I reach for the most.

Charlotte Tilbury's 'Bitch Perfect'. I can't express how much I love this lipstick, you know when you find the 'one'... well this is it! It's the most gorgeous peachy-nude shade and it applies so smoothly on the lips. If you're fair or have ginger locks, definitely give this a go, you will not be disappointed.

Chanel's Rouge Coco '402 Adrienne' will always have a special place in my heart as it was my wedding lipstick. Since my wedding day, I have been wearing this non-stop. It's the most gorgeous nude with a teeny bit of shimmer, which gives your lips dimension.

MAC's 'Brave'. I have to admit I haven't been wearing my MAC lipsticks as much as I used to these days, however, one that I do always reach for is 'Brave'. A lovely medium-dark pink nude with a tinge of brown.

If I want more of a matte finish, Charlotte Tilbury's iconic 'Pillow Talk' lipstick is the one I'd go for. It's a gorgeous pinky-nude with a teeny bit of brown.
I adore the formula of Charlotte Tilbury's matte finishes as they glide on effortlessly and makes your lips look incredible.

What's your favourite nude? Let me know in the comments below.

Follow me on Instagram: @zoeyoliviablog to see what I get up to daily. You can also reach me on twitter: @zoeyoliviablog. Or, if you like Bloglovin', I'm kind of new to it but follow me on there. I also have Pinterest, I'm often procrastinating and pinning my life away... So do get in touch :).

The Beauty Products I’d Repurchase Time & Time Again...

Over the years I have experimented with hundreds of different beauty products, yet there are only a handful of products that I always go back to and would re-purchase in a heartbeat. I suppose you could say when something works perfectly for you why try anything else?

Now don't get me wrong, I love trying new beauty products. There is something incredibly satisfying and exciting trying something new, however, these five products are my absolute staples, the ones that will be forever in my make-up bag.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation. OK, if you've been following me for a long time, you're probably bloody sick of me talking about my love for this foundation... For me, it's perfection in a bottle, it's medium to full coverage and gives you the most gorgeous finish. It also lasts all day without any touch-ups.  

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer. I've lost count on how many times I've re-purchased this little miracle worker. It pairs beautifully with the Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation, giving you the most flawless base.

I don't think I'll ever find another concealer as good as this one and that's a pretty bold statement coming from me.

Jo Malone's Wood Sage and Sea Salt Cologne, my holy grail. If there's one scent that's always in my hand bag, it's definitely this one. It has such a unique refreshing scent - it smells like the seaside and that's why I love it so much. 

Charlotte Tilbury's Bitch Perfect Lipstick. You know when you find your one true love in lipstick form? Well Bitch Perfect is the one for me. I've re-purchased this three times already and I will continue to buy it time and time again as it's the most perfect peachy every-day shade. 

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water. If you have never tried Garnier's Micellar Cleansing Water, where have you been? This little magical micellar water is incredible at removing make-up! It's also so gentle on the skin and is really affordable.

Do you have any favourites you always repurchase?

Follow me on Instagram: @zoeyoliviablog to see what I get up to daily. You can also reach me on twitter: @zoeyoliviablog. Or, if you like Bloglovin', I'm kind of new to it but follow me on there. I also have Pinterest, I'm often procrastinating and pinning my life away.

Less is more: Let's talk Minimalism

About six months ago I watched a documentary on Netflix called 'Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things'. It really makes you think twice about the 'things' that actually make you happy. I like the concept that owning less 'stuff' and not being sucked in by consumerism can improve your own wellbeing, inner calm and generally make you a happier person.

I find the guys behind 'The Minimalists' and minimalists in general really really inspiring. I find it fascinating how some people can live with only 15 items, or have these incredible quirky small houses but utilising their space incredibly well. Really mind-blowing stuff. Anyway, I'd highly recommend watching it.

After being inspired, I immediately started de-cluttering and took ten bin bags, yes ten, down to my local charity shop. It felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders and I felt so much better for doing so.
I wouldn't go to the extreme and say 'I'm a hardcore minimalist' by any means, however, I would say I have cut down severely on my spending habits and removed so many unwanted and unused things from my home.
It's true what they say, less is more, and de-cluttering definitely soothes the soul.

I'm not saying that I never get sucked into consumerism though. I do have the urge to spice up my wardrobe every now and again with a big old' ASOS order. Or you'll often find me being sucked in to buying yet another Charlotte Tilbury lipstick... damn you pretty packaging and perfect shades.
But when I do feel myself getting sucked in, I try to remind myself to only buy things that add value to my life. Do I really need five slight variations of white off the shoulder tops or do I really another nude-pink lipstick when I have 59357 already? (throwing lipsticks away is a weakness of mine, sorry Minimalists).

If I do find myself over-spending and buying impulsively, I like to reel it back in by listening to a podcast or doing a bit of inspirational reading. Here's a few great reads, podcasts, projects you may enjoy too.

Podcasts:

It goes without saying, 'The Minimalists' are definitely worth listening to! Each episode is about an hour long, so if you fancy doing something a little different on your lunch break or fancy listening to something motivating while you're at the gym, stick on one of these and feel inspired. They discuss a range of topics from de-cluttering, travel, stress, friends and much much more.

Books:

If you don't know where to start with de-cluttering and tidying and want a beautiful minimal space, give Marie Kondo's 'the life changing magic of tidying' a read. It's really helped me discover what's actually important and what doesn't spark joy anymore. Goodbye clutter forever.
If you like Marie Kondo's approach, she has another book called 'Spark Joy' which follows on from 'the life changing magic of tidying' however is more of an illustrated guide to de-cluttering and organising.

Projects: 
If you're liking the whole idea of a minimalistic lifestyle, Project 333 might be something for you to try. Project 333 is a minimalist fashion challenge that invites you to dress with 33 items or less for 3 months.

The Minimalists also have a project called the 30-day Minimalism Challenge. Find a friend or family member and each of you must get rid of one thing on the first day, two things on the second, three items of the time and so on. Whoever can keep going the longest wins!

As always you can reach me on social media. I have Instagram: @zoeyoliviablog, and twitter: @zoeyoliviablog