My work and travel America experience with BUNAC

hi, hope you are all well 

OK, where to begin...

So this summer I spent four months in America, working and travelling.

I will start of with how I found out about this opportunity, and my experience

A close friend of mine worked and travlled america the previous year and i was unaware of how he got the chance to do such an amazing thing. Throughout his time in America i would constantly see posts on his facebook of him in LA, Toronto and so many other amazing places.

I asked him the obvious ... was this like 'camp america' ? 

NO , NO it wasn't...

I would much rather be working in a shop or an amusement park than camping in the middle of nowhere with no shops around and no beach to go sunbathing in your spare time.

He told me one word, and with that one word i have taken full advantage of it...'BUNAC'.

BUNAC

Taking part in a BUNAC overseas work/volunteer program gives YOU the chance to live and work in a new and exciting country, doing something really worthwhile with your time off from work or studies.

BUNAC programs not only provide you with memories that will never be forgotten, but they provide an experience that can seem impossible.

MY EXPERIENCE

I am currently in my third year of University studying for my Psychology degree, in the previous summer that I had off, I had 4 months spare.

I decided to sign up with BUNAC's work and travel america programme as america has always appealed to me and their are so many places that i wanted to see. I paid around £350 at the time, that allowed me to enter the job zone so that i could start sending my CV off to american companies. The jobs ranged from working at amusement parks to working on ranches. I then paid for my VISA and insurance. My return flights from London to JFK where 340 on STA travel. Wich is absolutely amazing. Check them out!

Numerous companies got back in touch with me however one stood out the most and that was 'Candy Kitchen'. Candy Kitchen is self explanatory really, a candy shop but was something like willy wonka's chocolate factory, they had everything. They just had one rule...we could eat it all...whenever we wanted. UHOH

I accepted the job of which was in MARYLAND, OCEAN CITY, a few hours away from NEW YORK. My friend Sam also accepted the job offer he received from them and so we flew out together. We spent a few days in NEW YORK, shopping and sight seeing and then we got a GREYHOUND to OCEAN CITY. When we arrived after 7 hours, we moved into our accommodation 'CASA MIA' which was right behind the candy kitchen shop I worked at. So it was brilliant on the days I overslept haha.

I started work on the 1st June and finished on the 2nd of September. I did three days out of the week working 14 hour shifts as I signed an over time contract to earn more money for travelling. It was tough but worth it. On the other days i worked either from 9am till 5pm or 5pm untill 12.30 am.

Throughout working at candy kitchen i made friends from allover the world who where also on student working visas. Candy kitchen was great and our manager was just the nicest, always willing to help and offer advice. Often she would bring in cakes and treats (not that we didn't have enough) for peoples birthdays.

This was seriously the nicest thing I have ever ate, I must of had around half to eat haha.

I don't think I will ever forget the friends I made, they where amazing and it was so cool learning about all their different cultures and learning some new languages. They where always their to help and so so kind. I miss them terribly, we where such a close family.

 Iv never had to say goodbye to a group of people knowing that I will never see them again, it was very difficult and so hard.

We shared some good times.......

Throughout working I took days off and went to Washington, Philadelphia, Niagara Falls and New Jersey to see maroon 5.

few snaps from WASHINGTON DC.

few snaps from PHILADELPHIA 

NIAGARA FALLS

MAROON 5 GIG IN NEW JERSEY

CALIFORNIA 

Las Vegas - Grand Canyon - Los Angeles - Hollywood - Santa Monica Pier - San Fransisco - Alcatraz - New York

I am so in love with travelling, I don't think I will ever settle for normal life!

I will be leaving the UK for two years on august the 28th!!!
and moving to AUSTRALIA...on my own!
and then I am off to THAILAND!!!

www.bunac.org/SCUSASunderland

click on the link and you can start your adventure...

A 'BizR' Christmas Meal and 'OOTN'

ALOHA 

Spending time with great company over a glass of wine and gorgeous food is my favorite thing to do, and once a year the time comes for the work's Christmas meal.

I have now worked at 'BizR' for around three years now, and if you didn't now already its an amazing coffee shop in the heart of Sunderland town. With its homemade pastry's and yummy coffee you wouldn't think a little shop would attract so many people. However passion and thought is put into everything we make, so its no wonder the customers are so friendly and pop in everyday for their cappuccinos and blueberry muffins.

I have made so many great friends working here, all of which are crazy...but they know that! 

So its no wonder I get excited for our Christmas meal plus its an excuse to buy a new outfit (not that I need many excuses)

'What to wear oh what to wear ???

GET READY WITH ME

Shower time

foundation NARS SHEER GLOW 


powder Rimmel stay matte


Concealer under eyes  - collection in fair 1

Eyebrows - Rimmel eyebrow pencil

Allover eye base with MAYBELLINE 24 HOUR COLOUR TATTO METAL  - 70 barely branded

I then grabbed for my NAKED palette and used my SEPHORA PRO shadow brush and put SIN allover my lid.
I then grabbed my SEPHORA crease brush and used NAKED in my crease with SIDECAR over the top to enhance the crease and then I blend blend blend.

using TOASTED I dragged this under my lash line
to enhance my eyes.

Then reaching for my NAKED 2 palette I used BOOTYCALL for my highlighter under my brows and down the centre of my nose. 

Using my URBAN DECAY eye shadow in MIDNIGHT COWGIRL I patted this on top of my lid again to add more glitter and shine. The more glitter and sparkly at Christmas time the better ;)

Then using my BARRY M dazzle dust I also patted this on top and in the inner corners of my eyes. super sparkly.

For my eyeliner I like to use a gel liner as i think its not as harsh and looks subtle. I only drag it half way as I like my eyes to look fuller on the outer parts rather than the whole eye.

(sorry for the crap quality photos, my DSLR camera is at home :( )

I then used my MAC eyelash curlers,  then brushed my lashes with MAXFACTORS eye brightening mascara. I love this mascara as it really separates the lashes.

AFTER the eyes where complete I used NARS LAGUNA on the hollows of my cheeks to give me some definition, following this I use MAC's mineralize skin finish in 'soft and gentle' highlighter to give me a glow down my nose, under my eyes and cheek bones.




NOW FOR HAIR

I dried my hair up side down to give it some volume, I then added a few curls with my straighteners and flipped it up side down and finished with some hairspray ( my favorite - SILHOUETTE - SCHWARZKOPF - £10.00). With my straighteners I also curled my fringe backwards.

LIPS - MAC LIP LINER - DYNAMO (£18.00)
MAC LIPSTICK ON TOP - RELENTLESSLY RED ($15.00 when I bought in the states)

WHAT I WORE

TOPSHOP - pink velvet top - £25 with 10 %discount
TOPSHOP - dog-tooth high wasted trousers - around £40

 

NAILS

TOPSHOP- barefoot
Rings - PANDORA - £65
Urban outfitters both £6.00

Vintage plate from boot sale!

HOPE YOUR LIKE MY TUTORIAL

oh and whilst getting ready I was listening to ... MIKHAEL PASKALEV - I SPY <3 great song, give it a listen

byeeeee

xoxo

Tartan and Sparkles

Oh gosh its been a while and I am sorry

America was amazing and I shall blog about that when I have a few hours to spare...its difficult to sum up 4 months of my life in a few paragraphs.

So for now lets talk fashion, beauty and Christmas

Christmas is just around the corner, so ladies its time to pull out that big bundle of fur coats you have hiding behind all of your summer clothes and start wrapping up. Fur is such a statement at Christmas, whether its printed or simply teddy brown I think it can jazz up any outfit and keeps you so snug in the winter chills.

One of my most favorite patterns at Christmas/winter time has got to be the old school tartan look. I absolutely love it, I think it looks so edgy and its definitely a girls best friend. Paired with a red lip it is simply the best combination for me. Preferably MAC - RIRI WOO / RUBY WOO 

Velvet, another one of my favorite fabrics at Christmas as it compliments any outfit and looks so sophisticated. I am loving TOPSHOPS range right now, they have a great range of velvet dresses and tops of which i am dying to purchase...but for now I have settled with one

Scarf - urban outfitters - £16.00

Top- TOPSHOP- £36.00

What tops of a great outfit at Christmas time is definitely a few sparkles, whether it be glitter eye shadow or nails, this gives the party look to any outfit. Glitter leggings and tights are so in right now...so head down town and pick these up!!!!!

Urban Outfitters leggings - 36

TOPSHOP TOP - EBAY - £4.00

I seem to spend a lot of time in coffee shops over christmas, and i guess it dosnt help that I work in one either. However I LOVE Quilliam Brother Tea House in Newcastle. A friend of mine recently took me and we had cakes, tea and coffee and enjoyed chatting in the relaxing atmosphere. I love cute little coffee shops rather than Starbucks/Costa, I feel they are more personal and passionate towards customers/drinks and think less about the money.

Oh and I bought some DrMartens....I think these boots are great at winter.....I stood in the shop for around an hour deciding whether to choose red or black. 

Black it was...basic, original and most of all.......classic.

£72.00 with 20% off YAY

much love    xoxox