2015 IN REVIEW

Onika Perfume / The Chambray Shirt / DIY Ripped Knees #2 / Sunglasses Season / KIKO Smart Lipsticks / New Balance Black Sonic Trainers

For me, 2015 had been the biggest and busiest year to date - I completed my GCSEs, got my first job, started learning to drive, and began the pathway into A Levels. If you couldn't tell already, all of those were the priority aside from blogging, and it became extremely difficult for me to balance all those things happening in my life with regular posts. Hopefully, it can improve this year but secretly I'm hoping 2016 is just as exciting and busy as the last. I'll try my hardest.

I've got a gym membership (classic move in the new year, let's see how this plays out) and I'm reading to head into 2016. Hopefully on the blog this year I want to even out the fashion and beauty aspects, with more lifestyle posts too. There's a certain style of writing I want to convert my posts to in the future, but I'm not sure how it'll go down so I'm testing the waters bit by bit.

One thing I do plan for this year is to work on my Instagram more, which I have been doing more recently so if you don't already, follow @petitedecember. As I did last year, the most popular posts from this year have been listed above, but surprisingly my 2014 Kylie Jenner Lips post has remained the top post throughout the whole year consistently, so it'll be interesting to see whether that stays the same this year or not.

Another roundup for Petite December, who knows what will be in the 2016 installment...

THE PETITE DECEMBER 2014 ROUND UP

What. A. Year. It seems to have just flown by, especially in blogging terms. I started the year as 'The Beau Bow', progressing into the step of buying a domain under 'Petite December' and really getting to work with my layout, content and pictures, and I've had absolutely no regrets about that step.

This year I've really come to terms with blogging; thinking about my content as well as planning ahead. I've changed up my personal style rather dramatically as well as improved my makeup application alongside my knowledge and I feel far more capable of writing good quality posts (although a tight budget makes things a little more difficult). In the recent months I've fallen in love with fashion and can't wait to (hopefully) get a more 50:50 fashion and beauty regime going on post-wise.

My most popular post of 2014 was the 'Kylie Jenner Esque Lips' in which I explored the slightly overdrawn, staple pink-brown nude lip that Kylie has been coveting over the year. Following that is the 'Half Up Hipster Bun' show and tell in which I expressed my love for a hairstyle introduced to me by Lily Melrose. At the beginning of the year I declared a battle between some of the well known Drugstore Foundations around - some of which I still love today. And one of my favourite post titles of the year, 'On Wednesday's We Wear Pink', of course, exploring my pink beauty selection with a few harmless Mean Girls references.

I've recently got back into Intragram, so for more regular pictures and updates, follow @petitedecember . I've been so proud of my post consistency throughout 2014, and I hope 2015 will see the same, although it is my year for GCSE exams so we will see how things pan out, but scheduling will always be by my side.

I've already been planning plenty of posts for the new year (I have a notebook, and I'm being pretty bloody organised), and can't wait to see where 2015 will take Petite December.

2014 BEAUTY BASED RESOLUTIONS

Every blogger and their mothers have most certainly came up with a list of New Year's Resolutions which revolve around beauty related tasks, and the majority of them have posted about theirs. Today is my turn, in which I am discussing the 5 things I plan to do this year, and at the end of December I will be reviewing my progress.

#1: Buy New Storage
I have well and truly outgrown the current storage for my makeup, and I have already planned and started a spending ban which will be taking place in order for me to buy the IKEA Alex 9 Drawer Unit which I will be using to store all things beauty; hair care, skincare, makeup, and even a little body care. We'll see how the saving goes, as I'm sure a post will come shortly after if I manage to buy the cliche blogger chest of drawers.

#2: Buy a Cleansing Balm
Notice that the first 2 resolutions involve me spending money - oops. But, ever since I got into the blogging world, I have been lusting after the glorious invention which is the cleansing balm. And my goal is to jump onto that bandwagon this year, and really give my face some cleansing balm TLC. Whether I go for the Emma Hardie, the Clinique, or another brand offering, I hope to buy one which I will get on with well.

#3: Stay Hydrated
Now, I think this one is one most of the lists I have seen so far, but I think we could all work a little harder on how much we have to drink each day. I have been working on having as many glasses of water that I can during the day, and I definitely feel more hydrated by doing so. Lets see how long I can keep it up.

#4 Wear Lighter Coverage
This is the one that I am worried I won't keep up. I have bad skin, and so I love my Revlon Colorstay but I am trying to branch into lighter coverage, at least once a week. I just bought the Rimmel Match Perfection and at a first glance it is really nice, so we shall see how this goes. Maybe I will go for light coverage base, with a higher coverage concealer.

#5: Keep Up a Body Care Routine
Since all the Soap & Glory goodies arrived under my tree for me this Christmas, and then I somehow bought even more in the sales, I have been really enjoying taking the time to use a scrub a few days a week, and use a body butter/lotion daily. I want to keep this up throughout the year, as my skin is looking and feeling so much nicer after putting the effort in.

What are your beauty resolutions this year?