I've kept it no secret on my blog that I'm a secondary school student, after writing posts about revision tips, doing back to school posts in September and showing you natural makeup routines that are classroom appropriate. Since attending school, doing homework and revising for tests can take up a lot of my time, I often get asked how I have enough time to upload two blog posts every week and keep Daisies and Delights up-to-date. It's hard work, but I thought I'd share with you my tips for balancing your blog and school.


Have a schedule
It might seem a bit excessive, but I like to plan a rough schedule to make sure I get everything done. This is often a really efficient way to stay on task and achieve everything you want to that day. I tend to allocate a few hours after school every day for homework and revision, so then I have the rest of my night free. You should also have a schedule for blogging and make sure that you stick to it. Apart from one or two occasions, I manage to stick to uploading twice a week, which isn't too much work. Try and find the right times and days to upload your blog posts and be consistent with them.

Keep on top of your work
It will be a lot easier to make time for blogging if you do all of your homework as soon as you get it. I know you probably hear this all the time, but leaving it until the last minute will only cause you to stress and overwork yourself. Try to get any school-related tasks out of the way, as you will be able to spend weekends and other nights doing what you want instead.

Utilise your weekends
Speaking of weekends, make sure you use them to get everything you want done. I know you might want to have a rest, but blogging and school are two important tasks which need more than just a few hours dedicated to them after school. I like to spend the afternoons doing revision and assignments, leaving the mornings and evenings free to take photographs and write posts in bulk.

Take breaks if necessary
Back in 2014, when I was getting used to blogging and how demanding it could be, I had a number of breaks, where I wouldn't write any posts for a few weeks. At the time I didn't miss it, as I was new to uploading and not a proper member of the blogging community. It gave me the time to focus more on school and be organised, without having to worry about disappointing my readers. Now that I've discovered the joys of scheduling posts and followed these tips, I've managed to keep on top of my blog and manage it alongside my school work.

Always be prepared
You never know when a surprise test or late-notice homework might happen, so it's best to be prepared. There's been many times when I've planned to write and upload a blog post one evening, only to find I'm too busy with school related tasks. I'd advise you to always have some posts written and edited, so they can go up if you have no time to work on something new. Likewise, always have photos taken in advanced, so you don't have to rush them on the day your post should be uploaded.

School takes priority
At the end of the day, school is really important and will set out your future, so it needs to come before your blog. I make sure that I try my hardest in school and set out to achieve good grades, even if that means I don't upload as frequently that week or I can't take photographs for a post. Blogging, as I've said many times before, is a hobby that I really enjoy, but it shouldn't interfere or distract you from your school work.

I hope you liked these tips and that they've helped you become more organised. School and blogging are both time consuming and very demanding, so keeping on top of them may seem a bit daunting. If you ever lose your motivation, just remember why you started it in the first place and how much you love blogging. Thanks for reading and I'll be back on Wednesday with a new post.

Love from Daisy x
It's time for me to share some more of my favourite books with you and hopefully persuade you to try some amazing novels that you never otherwise would've given a chance. I get a lot of people asking me to review books, eager for my next book-related post, so I'm bringing you another one today. I'm actually on holiday at the moment, so I've scheduled this post in hope that you'll like it!


The His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman
When Lyra's friend Roger disappears, she and her daemon, Pantalaimon, determine to find him. The ensuing quest leads them to the bleak splendour of the North, where armoured bears rule the ice and witch-queens fly through the frozen skies - and where a team of scientists are conduction experiments too horrible to be spoken about. Lyra overcomes these strange terrors, only to find something yet more perilous waiting for her - something with consequences which may even reach beyond the Northern Lights. 
It seems like ages since I read these three books, probably about 2 or 3 years, but I've recently been reminiscing about how I loved them so much and though they'd be great to share with you. We are introduced to Lyra Belacqua and, later on, William Parry, who meet each other after wandering through parallel worlds. There are lots of fantasy elements in this novel, but it also alludes to ideas from physics, philosophy and theology. This series, which is made up of Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass, is both gripping and interesting, making it a definite must-read!

The Iron Trial by Cassandra Clare and Holly Black
Most kids Callum's age dream of having the natural talent for magic needed to get into the Magisterium - that's where they will learn to hone their skills and control their power in order to pass the first year's Iron Trial. Not Callum Hunt. Call has been told his whole life that he should never trust a magician. And so he tries his best to do his worst - but fails at failing. Now he must enter the dreaded Magisterium. It's a place that's both sensational and sinister. And Call realises it has dark ties to his past and a twisty path to his future. The Iron Trial is just the beginning. Call's biggest test is still to come... 
I actually received this book at the signing, where I was lucky enough to meet both of the authors, learn more about the story and gain extra information on it. I started reading it immediately after this and I was impressed by the quality and storyline. I've read quite a lot of stories about magic and wizardry and they're all fairly similar, but this book takes a completely new view on an otherwise old topic. Although it wasn't too challenging, I still found myself being completely shocked by big reveals and plot twists. Overall, it was a great book and I'm looking forward to the next one being released.

Wonder by R J Palacio
August Pullman wants to be an ordinary ten-year-old. He feels ordinary - inside. But Auggie is far from ordinary. Ordinary kids don't make other ordinary kids run away screaming in playgrounds. Ordinary kids don't get stared at wherever they go. Born with a terrible facial abnormality, Auggie has been home-schooled by his parents his whole life, in an attempt to protect him from the cruelty of the outside world. Now, for the first time, he's being sent to a real school - and he's dreading it. All he wants is to be accepted - but can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, underneath it all?
I definitely think this recommendation is geared towards my younger readers, probably those around the age of 11, but I still think that this is a great book that can be appreciated by anyone. We meet August, who is a loveable character that just about anyone can cherish and feel sorry for. We see the ups and downs of his journey through school from the perspective of many different people and learn how his facial abnormality is the least of his friend's worries. There are a lot of underlying themes and emotional moments in this beautiful book, which you definitely need to read.

The Forbidden Room by Sarah Wray
Taken to live at Oak Hall Children's Centre, Jenny begins a very different life, confined to a wheelchair and dreaming of an earlier time filled with love, family and friends. Then Helen and John Holland offer her a foster home with their son. But when she discovers an old diary beneath a floorboard, she unravels a horrifying secret that she'll never forget.
This book was one that I thoroughly enjoyed and blew me away, especially as I wasn't expecting much from it. Everything from the style of writing to the events were easy to comprehend, enjoyable to read and similar to something that I'd write myself. The story is interesting and has lots of plot twists, meaning it keeps you guessing until the last page. I can't really tell you much about it without giving things away, but I'd really recommend this fairly unknown book.
I hope you liked this new instalment of book reviews and that it has persuaded you to try some of them. If you want more book posts in the future, let me know and I'll try my best to write some for you. That's all from me today, thanks for reading and I'll see you soon!

Love from Daisy x

Images from Goodreads, edited by me.
I know this post isn't the best coming from me, since my writing is nowhere near as good as that of some other bloggers, but I thought it'd still be an interesting topic to write about. I wanted to bring you another 'blogging tips' episode and this is a question that I get asked a lot about. Since I'm currently on holiday and have been scheduling my posts, I thought this would be a good one to include that we can definitely all learn from, so I hope you like it!


Make your introduction concise and to the point
This is the first thing that anyone reads when they visit your blog, so if they don't like it, it's probable that they won't make it through the rest of the post. Due to this, I'd avoid any long stories or anecdotes in this section of the post, as it won't appeal to them at that particular time. Instead, work on making your introduction short and to the point, but it should still draw the reader in. A great way to do this is to talk directly to the reader and use rhetorical questions, as this will push them to continue reading.

Keep it structured and tidy
Your blog post needs to be organised, with each paragraph focusing on a separate point. This makes it clear to the reader what you are suggesting and helps them to follow it. Honestly, there's nothing worse than a blog post that doesn't make sense and has a messy feel to it, so make sure you try your best to keep it tidy. If you struggle with this, write a heading for each paragraph (like what I've done in this post), so you can make sure the content relates to your original idea or inspiration for that section.

Choose your vocabulary carefully
Don't choose words that are too big or sound posh, as it's likely that at least some of your readers won't know what they are. This can be a huge problem in posts like product reviews, as they won't know whether the words you're using are positive or negative. Additionally, try to refrain from using extremely common words often. Words such as 'good' and 'really' can be fine in moderation, but aren't very creative or informative. To help with this, I'd recommend using a thesaurus to find words to use that fit in your sentences.

Have a gripping end to your post
One of the worst things about a blog post is when they abruptly end without any conclusion or resolution. I struggle to write these sections the most, as I never know how to conclude my post in an effective way. A good way to end a post is to summarise what you've said earlier, throwing in the key points and opinions. This is a great way to emphasise something and reinforce it. Also, make sure you politely say thank you to your readers and maybe ask them a question to answer in the comments, as this make your posts more interactive and memorable.

I hope you liked these tips on how to improve your content and that they've opened your eyes to a way of blogging. I'll definitely try my hardest to follow these points, as I really want to improve my content as well. Thanks for reading and let me know down in the comments if you'd like any other blogging tips, and if so what on!

Love from Daisy x

Image from Tumblr, edited by me.
I receive a lot of questions about me and my blog, so it's time yet again to answer some of them. My 'Ask Daisy' posts are always requested by my readers and I really enjoy putting them together. Since I'm on holiday at the moment, I've prepared this post for you, so I hope you like it!


What is your favourite type of post to write?
I'd probably have to say book reviews, as I find them the easiest to write and probably the most enjoyable. Don't get me wrong, I really like beauty and fashion, but books are something that I've had a passion for since I was really young. You may have noticed that these posts have been appearing more frequently, which is because I've truly enjoyed writing them and, from what I've heard, you've enjoyed reading them.

If you started writing blog posts about things other than beauty and books, what would they be about?
I'd love to write more lifestyle posts, as they're one of my favourites to read and always get extremely good feedback. I also love how they are like diary entries, documenting moments of my life so I can read them back in the future. Whether it's about a specific day or just sharing my thoughts, I feel like my readers can get to know me more and I'm storing memories. I'm hoping to write more of them in the future, so you'll have to stick around for that.

Are there any makeup items that are underrated in your opinion?
The Bourjois Cream Blushers definitely fall into this category for me. So many people rave about their powder blushers, but never take the time to appreciate the cream blushers that they offer. The colours are all beautiful and they are quite pigmented. They apply really easily, blend out nicely and, because they have a cream to powder formulation, they tend to last for a long time. These are actually one of my favourite makeup items and I wish people would use them more often, as they truly are great!

Are there any old series' on your blog that you'd love to start up again?
This is actually a really good question, as I've started a lot of things on my blog that I got bored of after a few posts. An example is advice posts, which I used to post a lot of and actually enjoyed writing. They were enjoyed by my readers, but I always found myself pushing them further back in my calendar to make room for beauty posts. Other series' that I stopped are app reviews, blogging tips, OOTD's, tag posts and wishlists. Wow, I didn't realise there was so many!

Did you ever imagine your blog would be where it is now?
Honestly, I never even dreamt that it would be this way. I started my blog just over a year ago and I thought that it either wouldn't last or I'd only have about 10 followers, so I'm extremely thankful to be where I am now. I can tell that my writing and photography has massively improved since my first post, but I've still got a long way to go. I just want to thank everyone who reads my blog and supports me, as it wouldn't have been possible without you.

Do you have any exciting projects coming up?
I'm going to keep this answer quite limited, since I don't really know what will be happening in the future and I don't want to reveal too much of what I do know. However, I can tell you that one of my future posts will be a collaboration with Burberry, which is absolutely amazing. I was given the opportunity to receive one of their products in exchange for a review, so I really can't wait for you to see that and I hope you like it.

That's all of the questions for now, but don't worry as there will hopefully be many more of these posts in the future. Make sure you send me your questions if you want them to be featured in one of the posts. Thanks for reading and I'll see you on Sunday with my new post. Bye for now!

Love from Daisy x

Image from Tumblr, edited by me.
Soap and Glory are a brand that everyone seems to talk about and love, so I thought I'd review one of their products today. I had previously tried a lot of their body products, but these glossy lip crayons were my first venture into their makeup collection. I own them in three shades: Raplumzel, Bashful and Fuchsia-ristic, all of which are amazing, so I thought you'd enjoy hearing about them. Just a note: I'm currently on holiday, so this post has been scheduled.

I love the classy black packaging that these come in, as they look modern and more expensive than they actually are. The bright pink writing evidently stands out and I love the effect that it creates. The base is flat, which is convenient for standing the product upright and storing it. The names of the shades are on the bottom, each one being unique and unlike any other brands. You can also twist up the base to reveal more product, which is a feature that I really like.

These products feel gorgeous on the lips and are incredibly soft, almost as if they were a balm. They have an absolutely amazing aroma, despite smell not usually being a box that I'm looking to tick. They feel light and silky on the lips, not being drying or feeling heavy at all. I find that the glossiness lasts for a few hours and the colour stays after this, which is great for a drugstore product.

Raplumzel is a gorgeous berry colour that I really enjoyed wearing in the winter, but would also look nice all year round. It starts off as a sheer coat of colour but can be built up to be extremely bold and intense. However, it is still glossy, making it more manageable and wearable, as you don't have to constantly reapply it. It's amazing at staying in place and isn't at all drying, so this is definitely a product that I love.

Bashful is probably my favourite out of the ones that I own, since it is a beautiful baby pink that I could wear everyday. It's a really versatile colour that would look nice with any makeup look, which is why I find myself wearing it so often. After applying one coat, you are left with a subtle sheen of pink on your lips, but this can be added to to make a gorgeous lip colour that I love wearing.

Fuchsia-ristic is the final one that I own, which is a lovely coral-orange with a slight hint of pink in it. Although it's a beautiful colour, this is probably the least pigmented of the collection, and looks more pink on my lips than orange. However, it's still a gorgeous colour that can be built up if desired and isn't at all tacky or sticky on the lips. I feel like I don't use this one as much as the other two, which I definitely need to change!

Overall, I really like these products and think that they are great to have in your collection, as they are versatile and will create a variety of looks. They have a great colour pay-off after a few layers, like a lipstick, and are glossy and slightly shimmery, like a lipgloss. I hope you liked this review, so thank you for reading and I'll see you soon!

Love from Daisy x
March is another month that has went by extremely quickly and it's hard to believe that we're already a quarter of the way through 2015. There are only a few favourites from this month, since I've still been loving a lot of the products from February, but I thought I'd still share them with you. I decided to throw in a TV show at the end, just to mix it up a bit, so I hope you like it!


I actually picked up the Makeup Revolution Blush Palette in Hot Spice in February, but I didn't have the chance to properly trial it until a few weeks ago, when I fell in love with it. The formulation is great, as the blushers aren't too pigmented, yet they still give a fair amount of colour after application. The six matte blushers are absolutely lovely and I've also enjoyed using the baked blushers as highlighters. I've been wearing these all the time and are definitely worth the money. If you'd like to see more about this product, I have a review of it here.

An eyeshadow duo that I've been in love with throughout March is the High Society eyeshadows by Bare Minerals. The two shadows included were some of the best selling from the brand, being Débutante and Waltz, but I was apprehensive when I first saw them. They weren't like anything I usually wore and that made me nervous. However, I've thoroughly enjoyed using them and find that they enhance my eyes really nicely. The colours go really well together, creating a gorgeous look that I've been wearing often.

The Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal's are new to me, but I've really been loving this particular one during March. It's in the shade 05 and is a gorgeous nude that looks particularly nice on the waterline. It's creamy and immensely pigmented for a pale colour, lasting for a long time once it has been applied. I love wearing this as it brightens up my eyes and is a great way to finish a look.

I've been trying my best to keep on top of my skincare this month, as I always notice a difference when I do it but never manage to have a proper routine. One of the products that has featured in my new routine is the Gatineau anti-redness cream, which I think has helped me a lot. It feels lovely to apply and I find that it makes a noticeable difference after regular application. Redness is something that I suffer with, especially around blemishes, but I feel like this helps to minimise it.

The final favourite for this month is the TV show Pretty Little Liars. My friends Erin, Daisy and Kaitlin are obsessed with it and recommended it to me, and I have to agree that it's worth watching. It's about four girls who start to receive anonymous messages and threats one year after their friend Alison is abducted. They must try and figure out who the person is and if they are related to Alison's kidnapping. There's many more plot lines and events which I won't reveal as I don't want to spoil it for you. I've thoroughly enjoyed watching this show in March and you'll probably hear more about it.

So they're my monthly favourites! I'd love to know what yours are, so let me know down in the comments or, if you have a blog, share your post with me. I'm going on holiday on Sunday, but I'll try my best to schedule blog posts for when I'm away, so hopefully I'll see you then!

Love from Daisy x