First of all, this gorgeous dress from ASOS. I needed something a bit different to wear to a prom early this month, and this was just the ticket! When I discovered ASOS' sale, I realised that it was far better value than any of the other sales on at this time. This is because their delivery is free of charge and they had so many lovely dresses to choose from. You'd never guess it but this dress cost me £11 rather than it's original price of £25.00. It's still on the website so grab it while you can if you like it! I should also mention that it has an open back. This one that I purchased is a size 10. Here is where you can buy it: 
http://www.asos.com/Women/A-To-Z-Of-Brands/Paprika/Cat/pgecategory.aspx?cid=11812&mkwid=svLMQBaBJ_dc&pcrid=31912423392&plid=&kword=asos%20paprika&match=e&WT.srch=1&affid=&gclid=CKGx1svS87kCFXDJtAodoW4ABw#parentID=-1&pge=0&pgeSize=36&sort=3 

Now for a more casual dress. I found this lovely number in Primark for just £5! It was originally purchased as something to take to uni to wear, but seeing as I'm not going this year I've worn it quite a lot! It is SO comfortable you wouldn't believe, and it really flatters your figure. It also looks great with or without tights as it sits just above your knees, so it's great to have in your Autumn/Winter wardrobe!  I've seen other designs of this dress in Primark recently, again £5 so I will be sure to buy more when I get paid next month! The dress in this picture is a size 10. 

I'm sorry if this picture isn't that clear, my camera's a bit awkward like that. Here's a necklace I bought to accompany the red dress I showed you. It cost £4 which I think is fantastic considering the quality and detail of it! If you can't make it out from the picture, it's silver :D 

Here's something I ordered online from the Next clearance. It was reduced to £10 from £20 and I think it's a great top that can be dressed up with leggings and a blazer (due to the lower hem at the back) or down(ish-look at that sparkle!) with jeans and a cardigan. I also love the colour, as it goes with pretty much anything! Here's a close-up of the jewelled collar: 

Onto stripes! I have to admit I fell in love with this jumper as soon as I saw it. I was in Primark and when you come across quality like this in that shop it's quite exciting! A stripey jumper like this is always on trend and this one in particular is very thick,  comfortable, warm and ... cheap! I'm pretty sure this cost £8 ... It may have been £12 but either way that's a bargain for such great quality! 

Now for some homeware steals! These cute green and purple tea-light handles were £1 each at ASDA which is beyond cheap! There are also other colours such as red and pink. 

This sweet polka dot storage basket was £6 from ASDA. It's great for things that need to be close at hand, but also need to be stored somewhere, as the polka-dot pattern makes it decorative as well as useful. 

Last but not least, this rather festive tea-light holder is from NEXT and it's £3. The pink thing is a reflection of my mini piggy bank by the way! There are loads of other lovely candle holders in NEXT at good prices so check them out if you feel that your room is going to need a festive make over soon! 

P.S I realised that I haven't mentioned it for every product, most of these should all still be available where I got them :) 

That's it for today guys! Thank you for reading, I really appreciate it. If anyone would like me to discuss anything particular on here, please let me know at [email protected] :) X 

Hey! So I wanted to share with you something which has really helped me with pain caused by Endometriosis. Before I was diagnosed, I would have nights of unbearable pain despite taking all the painkillers I could and having a bath etc. It was so bad I can't even describe it. In fact I've later discovered that that pain is the same that women experience when they have contractions. I'm sure any Endo sufferers reading this will know exactly what I mean! Anyway, I bought this little gem last year for around £2, and I can't praise it enough for its pain relieving qualities! When I would get these nights I would put this all over the painful areas. It gives out a cooling sensation that carries on, well, giving, I suppose the word is 'pulsating'. It would soothe the pain enough for me to relax enough to go to sleep, which is AMAZING considering the pain was so unbearable I wanted to either scream the house down or die beforehand. 

So, why is such a cheap moisturiser that you can get in the supermarkets so good for Endo pain?
It may not work for everyone, as I've discovered that my mum and brother (who do not suffer with pain) don't feel this sensation when they put it on. Maybe it only works if you're in pain, who knows. HOWEVER, it is certainly legitimate that it DOES work! Here's the reason: 

The moisturiser contains eucalyptus which is known to actively reduce pain and inflammation with conditions such as arthritis and fibromyalgia. In fact it has been said that it relieves as much pain as morphine does (better than morphine in my case, as it doesn't help my pain). It also contains menthol, which is what gives that cool feeling and produces a numbing effect. This is because when used in a moisturiser it acts as an analgesic. It also helps the Eucalyptus to work faster as it increases blood flow in the area of which you apply the moisturiser. Menthol also helps your body to recognise temperature changes, meaning that the heat caused by your inflammation is brought down. 
Here is where I got this information: 

http://www.examiner.com/article/menthol-for-pain-relief
http://healthiseverything.com/shop/pain-relief-cream/

So far, along with my post about Camomile Tea, it seems that nature is winning when it comes to pain relief! 

P.S It doesn't have to be Vaseline moisturiser, that's just the one that I have. Eucalyptus and Menthol combinations are widely available online etc, just be careful that you're getting the right thing! It can also be prescribed for you by your doctor :) 

I hope this helps somebody! :) 

Louise x

Hey! So recently I had a job interview for a Restaurant Customer Assistant role. I won't say the name of the company for confidentiality purposes. Anyway, I knew that the interview had gone well when I left, and this morning I received an e-mail saying that I'd got the job. I'd like to share with you some tips on how to secure a job in this harsh economic climate Britain is facing! 

1. Dress code. 
This can be tricky. For the interview that I had, the dress code was 'smart/casual' so I wasn't sure how smart or casual to dress! After doing my research, I discovered that jeans/sportswear are pretty much prohibited! So, do we go full on smart with a suit or try to pull off a casual outfit by making it look 'smart'? That entirely depends upon your gender! For men, a suit is a must, as the only alternatives you guys have to jeans/sportswear are chinos, combats and shorts etc. These are all FAR too casual for a job interview, as this is the first impression you are making on the company. You need to show your willingness to get this job! Turning up in a relaxed outfit gives a 'carefree' impression to the employer, and it will seem as though you're 'popping in' rather than being interviewed. I hope that makes sense! For the girls, it's somewhat easier. Fortunately we have the option of wearing a skirt or dress, which is what I did. Combine a SMART (no garish patterns or colours!) day dress with a blazer and smart/plain dolly shoes, and voila, you have nailed smart and casual! Here some examples of what I would call acceptable dresses (when combined with a blazer) to give you some inspiration: 

All dresses are from New Look, from left to right the prices are as follows:
£23.00, £25.00, £17.99, £26.00 
PLEASE NOTE cheaper dresses of this style can be found in other shops, mine was £5 from Primark. Also, it is better to have a dress that comes down to the knee or no higher than a fist above it. 

Now if the dress code is 'smart' full stop, that means a suit with a tie for a man and a suit for a woman. If there is no dress code specified, it's safer to dress smart than casual. When I attended an interview a couple of years ago, in the queue there was me and another applicant in a suit, along with others in sportswear. Out of all of us, I was successful. This interview was for position in a sports shop, so it really doesn't matter where you apply to, it's better to be safe in a suit AND have the necessary skills for an interview than to casually risk it! 

2. The interview - MANNERISMS
During the interview, you MUST listen to everything the employer is telling you! They can test you at any time by questionning you, and if you don't have an adequate answer you're not likely to get the job. You must also keep strong eye contact with the employer, to let them know that you are not only taking in everything that they're saying, but that you're confident. If you look all about the room nervously trying to avoid eye contact, it's clear that you're not going to cope working for this person. It also helps to nod and make noises like 'mmhmm' as they're speaking, to let them know that you're keeping up and that you understand what they're saying. If you don't understand however, ask them. They would rather explain something to you in the interviewing process than for you to not know what to do when you get the job. 

3. The interview - QUESTIONS FROM THEM AND YOU
During the interview, you're obviously going to be asked a few questions to establish that you understand your roles in the job, and how to do them properly. Depending upon where you apply to, they're likely to be questions like:
'Why do you want to work for us?'
'Where did you hear about the job?'
'What does customer service mean to you?'
'What is your greatest weakness?'
'How do you feel about team work/working on your own?' 
'What are your future ambitions?'
'Do you have any questions?'

Now, when telling them why you want to work for them, don't state the obvious point that you want to earn money. They want to hear why you want to work for them rather than other companies which offer the same pay, as they want to know what you can BRING to their company. In short, they don't want someone who's only there for the money. Before the interview, DO YOUR RESEARCH into the company that you're applying for. For example, if you choose to tell them that you like the company because of the work they do for the environment, give examples of this work. They want to see your passion and enthusiasm for this job, and how ready you are for it. 
Now, if this job is for let's say a supermarket, where you're working with people and in a team. I just said it.  If you like working with people, say it! Likewise with working in a team. If you don't like either of these, this definitely isn't the job for you! I think this brings back the point of DOING YOUR RESEARCH. You need to know exactly what's expected of you when applying for the job, so that you can provide exactly that at both the interview and when you start working for them. 

At the end of the interview, the employer will ask you whether you have any questions. You must have a few prepared to ask him/her, as again you need to show that you really are serious about wanting this job. If you have no questions, it doesn't look good. There's a list of questions you can ask here:                                                  
http://www.theladders.com/career-advice/interview-questions-stump-employers-job-interview

Questions are also important as the employer needs to know that you won't hesitate to ask them something important when you have started working for them. 

I think I've covered everything! I hope this helps anyone in need of advice :) Let me know if you think I've missed something or got something wrong by commenting. :-) 

As a sufferer of deep endometriosis, suspected diaphragmatic/pleural Endometriosis and nerve damage, I'm constantly trying to find ways to reduce pain. Other than Amitriptyline for my nerves (which is amazing), no other painkillers that I've tried (including liquid morphine) do anything at all to reduce the pain caused my Endometriosis as it's THAT bad. However, I recently read online that Camomile tea can be very beneficial to Endo sufferers, so I thought I'd give it a try. After a while of drinking and not drinking it (to see the difference) , I can confirm that Camomile tea is AMAZING for Endo! When drinking 3-6 cups a day as well as my nerve tablets each night, my pain is reduced so much that I can often do things like get the bus somewhere when necessary. This is a big deal for me as normally I'm in too much agony to get out of bed. I've even had an interview for a part time job! 

On top of all this, it's very cheap (roughly a pound for 40 tea bags) and can be found at your local supermarket! 

So, why is a simple tea so good for relieving pain that even morphine can't?! 

WELL, this is the website where I found this marvellous information, so instead of stealing it I'll post the link here!

http://www.cureendometriosis.com/why-this-simple-tea-found-at-your-local-supermarket-helps-endometriosis-and-how-to-incorporate-it-into-your-life-to-reduce-pain-bloating-and-inflammation/

I really hope that this helps any Endo sufferers, or anyone with similar pain that reads this :)