When I was younger mental health problems such as depression and anxiety weren't discussed publicly. At least not where I come from. I'd always known there's something about me that isn't quite right or 'normal', so to speak, but I'd never really had the word for it up until I stumbled upon a couple of YouTube videos back in... 2010? It was then, at the age of 18, when I heaved a huge sigh of relief, knowing I'm not the only 'freak' out there. I will be eternally grateful to people who decided to speak up about their own problems and share their stories online, as they definitely played a huge part in me working on accepting myself, and that's why today, I'm opening up myself to spread the awareness and maybe even be the person who unlocks someone else's prison. You never know. Living with general and social anxiety is not easy, especially when people around you try to dismiss your problems, or even worse, ridicule you. Having said that, I'm a firm believer that you can overcome anything and do whatever your heart desires, even if your mind sometimes decides to work against you. My story is not a success story. Yet. But I'm working on it, and one day, I hope it will be.

One of my biggest fears in life is driving. I had this very vivid dream of me being involved in a serious car accident once, and ever since then, I freak out every time I have to get behind the wheel. Summer of 2010, when my parents forced me to go get my driving license, was probably my most stressful summer ever. I remember constantly waking up in sweat - despite the air con - knowing I have yet another driving lesson on my schedule. Even though a relative of mine who I think is awesome was my driving instructor, it didn't help the situation one bit. 

Call me a silly billy, but you know what was one of the things I was most looking forward to when I found out I was moving to London? Public transport. You need nerves of steel (and an actual car) to drive around the city, so for now, I'm sticking to trains, buses and the tube, trying to convince myself London public transport is the best thing ever, despite having been stuck under someone's smelly armpit way too many times. Yup, summers in London can be very fun. Especially when we have a heatwave on our hands. 

I think the reason I'm so freaked out about driving is the fact that I feel like I don't have everything under control. I'm afraid of the other drivers' actions on the road (there's a lot of maniacs out there) and I'm also not confident in my own skills. I'm afraid I wouldn't know how to react in a potentially dangerous situation, be able to park my car, remember an important road rule or even what one those dashboard lights means, which brings me to the infographic below. 

When I came across it for the first time, I couldn't not laugh, because 'shouting at the passangers' is exactly what I did when I saw that brake system warning for the very first time. I thought the car was about to explode. I still remember the day. I was driving my sister and myself to my grandma's birthday party, without my dad, who had always been the one sitting next to me while I was driving up until that point. I was shitting myself. Everything that could go wrong did. I didn't completely release the break, I drove forward instead of backwards while trying to get the car out of the garage (obviously hitting the junk in front) and, of course, my car switched off when I got the green light at the crossroads and was supposed to drive away. That was also the moment I swore to myself I was getting an automatic if I ever needed to get a car of my own. What can I say, it was an intense 10-minute journey. That was the last time my sister went in a car with me and I can't even blame her, haha. I'm still surprised we managed to come out alive. 

Anyway, I just thought I would share this funny infographic with you, because it's actually very informative and might come in handy if you're an anxious new driver yourself. For detailed explanations, you can also read this article. I'll definitely be referring back to it if - or should I say when - I give driving another go. By the way, what's your biggest fear? 

Have you ever watched Mary Poppins? Do you remember the scene with her purse containing everything but the kitchen sink? That's how mine is most of the time, especially since I started vlogging. Some of my friends got so used to it they even stopped taking half of their stuff with them, because they know I'll always come to the rescue if we're out and about together. Oh, dear! To give you an idea of what I carry with me on a daily basis, check out my 'what's in my bag' video below or over here. Do you carry such a ridiculous amount of things with you as well?

I've been planning to put together several Christmas gift guides throughout the month of December, but as it seems to be a common theme here on my blog this year, I ran out of time. It's been a very busy month with a lot of failed plans, actually. Another one of them was getting my Christmas shopping done on time, before the frenzy began, yet here I am, still running around like a crazy person, looking for some last-minute bits and pieces. If you're the same as me, you might appreciate today's post! I gathered some of my favourite items I like to receive or give for Christmas, so fingers crossed I can help you get some ideas!

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1) FASHION
Unless you manage to find the absolute perfect outfit for someone and get the size right as well, cozy pajamas, loungewear, underwear and cute slippers are the way to go in my opinion! Primark and Victoria's Secret are my usual destinations for such items. Primark always carries adorable and fuzzy PJs which don't break the bank, while Victoria's Secret is on the pricier side, but their PINK panties and leggings are definitely worth the occasional splurge.

If you're looking for something more basic, but still of high quality, though, check out Boody. I was introduced to this brand earlier this year, and I'm sure their eco garments would be the perfect gift for any Earth conscious person in your life. They are made from organic bamboo, are super soft and have a whole bunch of other amazing properties you can read more about here. If you do end up making a purchase, don't forget to use the code PUZZLE15 to get 15% off!

On another note, jewellery could be an amazing present as well. My sister and I love wearing dainty necklaces and you can never have too many of those. They go well with casual as well as fancy outfits and are great for layering!

2) ENTERTAINMENT
Books, movies, music... you can never go wrong with that! You just have to know the person's taste and you're good. If you know any makeup addicts, consider getting them Lisa Eldridge's Facepaint. It's a highly sought after book about the history of makeup, and I'm pretty sure it's brilliant, even though I haven't started reading it yet. Lisa Eldridge is my biggest inspiration when it comes to makeup artistry, and I've been trying to get my hands on her book since its release in August! I'm glad I can finally call it mine, and I can't wait to read it from the first to the last page.

When it comes to movies and music, there's obviously more than plenty to choose from, but my personal recommendations would be Adele's 25 (no explanation needed) and Whiplash, by far the best film I've seen this year. Everything about it is brilliant.

3) FOOD
Everyone likes food. Need I say more? To make it a little more special, I always try to hunt down some items that are not available where a person lives (yes, buying presents for my family is a lot easier now that I live in England) or just something with a twist. One of the things I brought home last year was a set of differently flavoured hot chocolates, which I wouldn't mind receiving myself to be honest. I secretly hope my family didn't drink it all, because I would love to try the vanilla one. And the cinnamon one. And the hazelnut one. And the orange one. And the white one as well. Maybe I should just go buy my own set?!

4) STATIONERY & HOME ACCESSORIES
My school days are long gone now, but shopping for cute stationery is still something I do on a regular basis. Here in England we have a store called Paperchase that makes me feel like I'm in stationery heaven every time I step inside. They always have cute notebooks, list pads, desk accessories and yearly diaries, which can be super convenient gifts to receive right before the beginning of a new year.

They also carry lots of little home accessories, which is another category worth exploring when you're looking for gifts. Mugs, phone cases and candles are all great choices! If you're looking for delicious Christmassy scents, check out these. Not only do they smell amazing and last for ages, but they also look cute! Think glitters and mini crystal stones. Very festive.

5) BEAUTY
I know this category doesn't apply to every single person out there (hey, not everyone is crazy about makeup), but since this is a partially beauty blog, I thought you guys might appreciate my suggestions, especially if you're not a make-up adddict yourself and have no idea what to get one!

I personally am happy with any beauty item I get, because I love trying out anything and everything, but the products I think are especially appropriate to give as gifts are eyeshadow palettes, high end lipsticks, perfumes, nail polish and hand creams, the last two being safer and more affordable options. With plenty of shades and scents on offer, they're the perfect stocking stuffers!

However, if you're looking for the 'main gift', the first three options are better choices, as they're slightly more expensive and usually considered a treat. Some of the most popular eyeshadow palettes out there are Urban Decay's Naked Palettes, the Lorac Pro Palette and theBalm's Nude 'Tude Palette, each costing around €40. But don't worry if that's over your budget. Some companies offer high quality make-up for much lower prices. These Wet'n'Wild palettes are just as good as the high end ones! The packaging doesn't look as sleek, but it's what's on the inside that counts, right?

I don't have any super specific recommendations as far as lipsticks go. They're so many different formulas and shades out there, it's hard not to find the perfect match, but if I'd be treating myself to one this Christmas, I'd probably look into Charlotte Tilbury's Matte Revolution and YSL's Rouge Volupte lipsticks. The packaging of both is drop dead gorgeous, while the formulas couldn't be more different. Bold, matte look is what you'll get with Charlotte Tilburry, whereas the YSL ones are on the shinier, buttery side. Oh, and I have one more lip product recommendation - the famous OCC Lip Tar liquid lipsticks! Most suitable for my fellow make-up artist or vegans, they come in every shade imaginable and have the strongest pigmentation!

Last but not least... perfumes. I only have one advice when it comes to fragrances. If you know the exact scent/perfume a person wants to add to their collection, go for it. Otherwise, don't bother. I'm very picky when it comes to scents, so most of the ones that were given to me or bought with my own money just because the bottle looked cute unfortunately have a decorative purpose only now. I need to give them away, really. Free perfume, anyone? My actual collection of the perfumes I use on a daily basis is tiny, and so is my perfume wishlist. The only one I have on my to-buy list right now is Jo Malone's English Pear & Freesia. I've been wanting it for a year now, but I'm not allowing myself to buy it before I use up all the others! Or at least one of them... 

A few weeks ago there was quite a discussion going on online about social media. It all started with an Instagram/YouTube influencer Essena O'Neill , who annonced she's quitting social media, because everything about it is 'fake' and 'evil'. As you know, social media is a huge part of my life. I have a full time job in social media, and my hobbies all revolve around it as well, so there's no surprise I just had to throw in my two cents. Here's what I have to say. 

I'll be filming my October favourites video soon, so I guess it would be smart to share my September favourites first, right? I've been neglecting my blog yet again - sorry about that - but I just got my computer fixed and completed some time-consuming projects, so my blog should go back to (the old) normal very soon. I just need to share some already published YouTube videos first! By the way, make sure you're subscribed to my YouTube channel to be up to date at all times. 

It's September and I am not ok with this. This summer has gone by way too quickly. In fact, I don't even feel like there was one. We had not more than TWO full summery days in London, I didn't go on holiday this year, and I didn't dip my toes in the ocean either. So yeah, summer did not happen for me this year, but fingers crossed I can somehow become a millionaire (meaning, not completely broke) before next one arrives and ditch the rainy, cold mess that England is for a few weeks. Ahhh, who am I kidding. Anyway, I actually just wanted to tell you I'm here with the last favourites video of this summer. I feel incredibly proud of this one, because I managed to keep it short! Ha! I bet you thought that was never going to happen...

This month was all about great beauty and music (re)discoveries. See what I've been loving in the video below! Oh, and there might also be some singing involved. Don't say I didn't warn you! 

Ever since I moved to London, my inbox has been overflowing with messages, mainly from acquaintances and you guys, asking me for advice regarding 'the big move'. Most of you are interested in job and flat hunting, and today, it's time for me to cover one of the topics - how to go about finding your new home. While I always try to respond to all your e-mails (unless they're mean), giving such advice to every single person separately can be very time-consuming, so I felt like gathering your most-asked questions and including my own points in a shareable video format would be the most efficient way to go about it. Having moved three times in the past ten months and having seen it all, I like to consider myself quite an expert, haha. I truly hope the knowledge I've gained so far will help you out at finding a place in London or deciding whether or not to even move here. As always, I'm happy to help anyone, so if you do have any more questions, drop me a line and I'll make sure to get back to you. And also, don't forget to share this post with people who might find it useful.

We all have those movies we grew up with and have somehow shaped us as a person, if only for a little while. I'll take a stroll down the memory lane today and talk about my absolute favourite ones. Even now, I still drop everything I do and get glued to the screen when I randomly catch them on the TV. They just make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside! I would love to know what your thoughts on the movies I liked to watch are and which were your go-to movies when you were younger. Please leave your 'lists' in the comment section below. It would be so interesting to have a read and try to figure out what kind of children you guys were!

As you can imagine, living in the most expensive city in the world is not the easiest thing to do when you're not a millionaire. I've always been quite good with money. I've never had problems saving for whatever I wanted to spend my money on. Having said that, I used to live with my parents before making the big move, which means that paying for rent, bills or food was something I didn't have to worry about at all. In the past few months, I certainly had to make some changes in terms of my spending habits to adapt to my new lifestlye, so I thought I would share what I do to survive living in London with all of you. I hope some of these tips will come in handy! 

Happy 4th of July to everyone who celebrates it! I can't believe half of the year has already passed. Crazy! Time really does fly. I feel like I've just filmed my May favourites video, but here I am with a June one, as always, talking about beauty and random things I've been recently loving. 

I can't believe it took me over two years to finally film what it seems to be the most popuar type of video on YouTube - My Morning Routine. This is the realistic portrayal of how I'm starting my summer days now that I'm still looking for a job. Are your mornings any similar?

I'm a bit late with my May monthly favourites because I realized I had a piece of bean stuck between my teeth when I went on to edit the video, so I obviously had to refilm it. Welcome to my life, haha. 

Your questions answered! Today I'm discussing my homesickness, which food my family have to bring me from back home when they come to visit me, and even my accent. 

I have some awesome beauty products and other random items to talk about! You know the drill. Also, can we appreciate the fact that my video is less than ten minutes long? That's quite an achievement for me! 

It's my sister's fault! I was doing really well at avoiding all the shops (despite working next to Oxford Street), but then she came over to visit me and shopping was unavoidable. I do need to update my wardrobe with some spring pieces, though, so I don't feel too bad for throwing things into my shopping basket. At least I didn't do any major splurging. Thank you Primark for being cheap!

Since I haven't filmed any favourites videos in quite a while, I thought I would put together a winter one and talk about all beauty products and random things I've been loving during the past few months. You know the drill. Now watch the video! :D

What's in My Bag?' is along with 'My Room Tour' and 'My Makeup Collection' one of those videos that every beauty/fashion youtuber eventually ends up filming. I took me two years to put mine up, but here it finally is! 

Finally a new video! It's been a while, I know. With that in mind, I hope you have nothing against long ones, because today's got a bit out of hand, haha. What can I say, I had a lot of awesome things to talk about. Oh, and there might be a secret giveaway half way through. Just saying... :)