Sri Lanka may not be the world's number one shopping destination, but there's definitely a few items you need to stock up on while visiting this Indian Ocean paradise. Typical souvenirs and scarves they try to sell you on every single corner aside, the island is just bursting with natural treasures waiting for you to buy and enjoy.

TEA

Let's start with the most obvious one - tea. In case you didn't know, Sri Lanka is one of the world's biggest producers and exporters of tea. Its Ceylon Tea is supposed to be the best in the world, and while I can't say I'm a tea expert, I can assure you it really is something else. I normally drink only herbal or fruit tea - which shouldn't even be called tea, as I have learned - but when I tried 'the real one' in Sri Lanka, I was sold immediately and even took some silver tips (white tea) home with me. Silver tips, along with golden tips, is unblended tea of the best quality, but does come with a hefty price tag. If you're not prepared to splurge, I suggest you to look out for cheaper options instead. Green tea and the tea marked as BOP are your best bets in this case. Others are either blended or not of the best quality, and end up in teabags we normally buy in grocery stores across the world. BOP can be found neatly packaged even in regular and souvenir shops, unlike the other three, which are easier to come by in tea factories. I bought mine at the Geragama Tea Factory.

SPICES & OILS

Sri Lanka is also a home to many plants that spices and oils are made from. The most popular produce include coconut, pepper, cardamom, vanilla and cinnamon. The Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) is considered 'true cinnamon', unlike Cinnamomum cassia, which is usually sold in our stores. Are you noticing a pattern here? So yes, cinnamon is the one to stock up on for sure. We didn't buy any, as we still have some left from Bali, but we did buy quite a few 100% natural products. All of them are an integral part of Ayurveda, their holistic medicine. I went for Sandalwood oil and cream to sort out my skin, while my mom went a bit crazy and bought the whole store. Jokes aside, I don't remember all the things she bought, but can recall her buying pepper toothpaste and cinnamon oil, which is supposed to be good for circulation. 

PRECIOUS JEWELLERY

If you like sparkly jewellery, then Sri Lanka is the place to be. And shop. If you have the big bucks. They have an abundance of precious stones, from topaz and moonstones to rubies and the blue sapphire, the king of Sri Lankan gems. Just make sure you do tons of research on where it's safe to buy them, otherwise you might be tricked into buying fakes. Oh, and don't forget to bargain. It's totally acceptable even in proper shops.

P.S. In case you're interested in what I brought home from Sri Lanka myself, you're more than welcome to give this haul of mine I posted on my YouTube channel a watch. And don't forget to follow me here on Instagram for some amazing shots from Sri Lanka if I can say so myself. 

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... 

I have another haul for you, yay, haha! I went to H&M and Brandy Melville the other day to pick up a few summery pieces, so I thought I would show you what I got. I filmed a try-on version for the first time ever in hopes of you getting a better perception of how the clothes look like on a (plus-size) person. Please let me know if you find this type of hauls more enjoyable to watch and useful so that I know how to film my future ones.

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!

To finish off my Bali series, I have a haul for you! No trip abroad is complete without a little bit of shopping, am I right ladies? You won't be seeing any makeup items in this video for a change, but I have tons of other things to show you. From bags and shoes to surf wear and even undies. Oh, so scandalous! :D

You know how it goes... When us girls are stressed out, we resort to shopping, the cure for all the problems in the world and the biggest enemy of our bank accounts. I don't even want to think about the amount of times I ended up putting things in the basket at two in the morning during the past few weeks. Luckily, a great majority of them stayed in the imaginary basket (my wallet is thankful), but some still managed to escape the warehouses and make their way to my home...I have no idea how! :P

Who likes hauls? I hope YOU do, because I have another one for you today. It would be a crime not to get my hands on some amazing French skincare items when I was visiting France, especially because the products are much cheaper there. Don't you agree? Unlike last year, I was a little more organised with my shopping this time. I had a list full of recommended and hyped up products and focused on checking out those only. Last year, I was a crazy mess. I got really overwhelmed and couldn't decide between throwing everything in the shopping bag or getting out of the store empty handed. This year, however, I was on the top of my game and only got confused about one particular product. And that's just because I don't understand French. Ha! I think even the cashier lady was impressed with my shopping skills. And the amount of money I left at the place probably. I need to rethink the spending part of my stragedy for next year... 

Please check out my lovely sponsor DressLoop.co.uk for amazing party, prom, wedding and bridesmaid dresses.

I haven't filmed a haul since January when I came back from London, so I thought I would share with you a few bits and pieces I've picked up during the past month. I have fashion, beauty and even home decore items to show you! :)

Please check out my lovely sponsor DressLoop.co.uk for amazing party, prom, wedding and bridesmaid dresses.

I thought this video would never go up, beause I was uploading it all day long yesterday, but luckily, my internet connection decided to cooperate with me this time, so here is my London beauty haul! I hope you like long videos. :P

The first part of my London haul is finally here! Sorry that it took me almost two weeks to put it up, but as you probably know, I got sick and unfortunatelly couldn't film at all. Anyway, in today's video, I'll be showing you all the clothes, shoes and accessories I've picked up during my trip to London. I was a little bit disappointed with this year's offer, because the knitted sweaters seemed to be the main theme of all the stores I went to, but I still managed to find some cute pieces for myself. I hope you'll enjoy watching the video! Let me know if you also like any of the items I've picked up. :) 

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It is no secret that I am obsessed with London. It is my favourite place on Earth and I always get that warm feeling in my heart as soon as I step on the London soil. Or should I say concrete? Anyway, I'm determined to call this city home one day, and am already trying to save up as much money as I can so that I'll be able to afford at least a few months' rent before I take the plunge and try to find a job there. Hopefully somewhen in the next two years. But until then, all I have are my yearly visits, which fill me up with joy every single time and make the wait a little more bearable. 

Last year/this year, my sister and I visited London during the New Year's holidays and in a little bit over a week, I'm visiting London again for my birthday. I can't wait! I'm not going to lie, I definitely prefer London during the warmer months, because the green parks make it look ten times nicer, and I love the whole picnic and lying on the grass culture, but that doesn't mean that there aren't tons of things you can still do despite the cold and sometimes gray weather. Here are some of the activities I personally enjoy doing in London during this time of the year:

1) Winter Wonderland: Winter Wonderland is something that you can't miss during the Christmas time. It's magical! For those of you that haven't heard about it yet, it's basically some sort of an amusement park with attractions, Christmas markets and food stands. My sister and I visited it last year and we had a blast! We did some shopping (remember my panda hat?), went on a few rides, and treated ourselves to some waffles and hot chocolate. It was the perfect evening! Well, if you disregard my pre-roller coaster freak outs. Let's just say that I'm not an adrenaline junkie. Unlike my sister. 

2) Museums: I can't say I'm much of a museum-goer, because I usually find them boring, but London museums are really good. And free. And warm, haha. They're the perfect place to learn something new, escape from the rain, and get yourself warmed up for your next outdoor adventure. My personal favourite would be the The National History Museum. Even if you're not planning to spend a lot of time in there, I think it's worth a visit just for the architecture. I don't know if this is just me, but I find the building stunning! Oh, and the British Museum is great too in case you're interested in history. The only museum I don't think I'll be visiting again any time soon is the Tate Modern. I just don't get it. To me, blank walls splattered with black paint are not a masterpiece. :D

3) Ice-skating: This is something that I actually haven't done yet in London, but I desperately want to go do it one day. I just don't know when. Last year, my sister and I ran out of time (too much shopping), and this year, my knee is injured, so I'll have to kiss ice-skating goodbye yet again. Oh, well. One day, I'll definitely go do it. The ice-skating rinks are set up all around London, so you can't miss them. They look really pretty and festive with all those Christmas lights around them!

4) Musicals: There is no better place to go see a musical than London. Ok, maybe New York, but in Europe, London definitely wins. Especially in winter, when days are short, I think an evening show is more than welcome entertainment. The only musical I've seen so far is The Lion King. I went to see it three times already and I'm still not tired of it. I always get goose bumps when I listen to the music and I may also shed a few tears every single time. Shhh, don't tell anyone! This year, though, I'm going to break The Lion King spell, because we're going to see Mamma Mia. I'm sure I'll love it as well. And the next one on my list? Les Miserables. 

5) Shopping: Last, but definitely not least, is shopping. I'm sure every single person on this planet knows about the famous Oxford Street, but in winter, I actually prefer shopping in one of their shopping centres. You still get tons of different stores in one place, and the best thing about it is that you don't have to take your coat on and off all the freakin' time. Last year, my sister and I were shopping a lot at Westfield London. It was way less crowdy than Oxford Street and there are also a lot of great restaurans around in case your stomach begins to growl. I just wish they had Primark there! I saw that they have one at Westfield Stratford City, though, so I might go to that one this year. Does anyone know if there are any other great shopping centres in London?

Phew, finally made it to the end of the post. But wait a minute, I still have one more tip to share with you! It's regarding the London accomodation. During the winter, I think it's essential to stay at a hotel that's as close to the tube as possible. Trust me, in case of a snow storm or any other type of unpleasant wintery weather, you'll be thankful that you don't have to walk for ages to come (back) to your hotel room with feet full of blisters and hands full of shopping bags or enormous suitcases, which are by the way essential if you're visiting London after the Christmas time. Because, you know... SALES! ;)

Guess who finally managed to upload the haul video I've been promising you to put up for the last two weeks? Sorry it took me so long, but as you probably already know, I got sick and lost my voice, so I couldn't film for more than a week. Also, I hope you don't mind long videos, because this one is super long. Like half an hour long. Sorry! But you know, I kind of picked up a lot of products at the event, so I couldn't make it any shorter. Oopsie! Let me know if you end up watching it and whether or not you've made it until the end. :D

A few days ago, in my USA Beauty Haul, I showed you all the beauty items I picked up while I was in the States, and today I'm here with the second part of my haul. It mainly revolves around the fashion bits and pieces that made their way into my shopping baskets, but there are also some random stuff making their appearance. 

Here it is, the video everyone's been waiting for! I ended up splitting my USA haul in two parts, so today I only have the beauty part for you. I uploaded the beauty haul first, because most of you told me you wanted to see  it first. I hope you'll enjoy watching it, and don't forget to leave me some comments and give this video a thumbs up if you like it. :) 

P.S. I'll have the fashion & random haul up in a few days. 

From one shopaholic to another, here is a video about my shopping habits or should I say about my shopping problem? I would love to see you do this tag even if you are not making videos. You can just copy the questions that you can find under this video and answer them on your blog. Oh, and of course send me the link once you publish the post! :)

QUESTIONS:
1. Would you consider yourself a shopaholic?
2. How would you classify your style?
3. What store can you not leave without buying at least one thing?
4. Where do you find the best deals?
5. What designer are you willing to splurge for?
6. Do you have a go to shopping outfit?
7. What is your guilty pleasure? (Not including makeup)
8. What is one staple clothing piece you cannot live without?
9. What is a trend you hope never goes out of style?
10. What trend did you love that passed way to quickly?
11. Who is your fashion icon?

Today I have a haul for you! Everyone seems to love this kind of posts/videos, so I decided to show you the things I've bought throughout the month of February. Just to let you know, some of them are really random! :)

PRODUCTS MENTIONED:
♥ H&M Jacket - avaliable here
♥ Bioderma Cleanser - avaliable here & full review here
♥ Candle Holder from Müller
♥ Montagne Jeunesse Cucumber Peel-off Face Mask - avaliable here
♥ Montagne Jeunesse Dead Sea Mud Face Mask - avaliable here
♥ Montagne Jeunesse Passion Peel-off Face Mask - avaliable here
♥ Essence Deeply Moisturizing Cucumber Paper Mask
♥ Essence Purifying Nose Strips
♥ Maybelline Rocket Volum' Express Mascara - avaliable here
♥ Logitech Mouse - avaliable here
♥ Moo Mini Cards - avaliable here
♥ H&M 100 DEN Shiny Tights
♥ Revlon Lip Butter Sweet Tart - avaliable here

First of all, THANK YOU SO MUCH for all the nice comments regarding my first youtube video. You really motivated me to continue filming and improving my videos. Right now the biggest problem is the lighting, because there's usually already (quite) dark outside when I would have time to film, so I'll probably need to get some studio lights. They really expensive, though, so I'm not sure how this will work out. Anyway, today I have the second, fashion part of London haul for you. Thank you for watching! Oh, and by the way, video suggestions/requests are more than welcome! :)

The time has come. I finally filmed my first youtube video! I was really nervous, so it is far from being good, but everyone needs to start somewhere, right? I hope you'll still enjoy seeing my London beauty haul despite the repetitive phrases and my weird facial expressions, haha. Sorry! Oh, and don't mind the cheeky animals in the background. One of them is my dog Benji and the second one my crazy sister...

Even though I haven't slept in two days, I didn't feel tired at all, because I was too excited to finally see Dubai. We didn't have much time to do anything special that day because we already had a desert safari booked for the afternoon, so we decided to go to The Dubai Mall for a few hours to have lunch there and do a little bit of shopping.

I really didn't expect the mall to be so huge! We got lost a couple of times in there and it probably took us about 45 minutes just to find the food court, haha. We first had lunch at Nordsee and then took a quick look at some of the shops, the aquarium, the fountain, and the ice rink. Yes, they have an aquarium and an ice rink in the middle of the mall! :O

As I have mentioned before, the afternoon was reserved for the desert safari. This was definitely one of the highlights of my trip. I had so much fun! We first went on a crazy ride through the desert and then settled at one of the desert camps where we watched some performances, ate traditional arab food, smoked shisha and got ''tattooed'' by Henna Lady.