As the weather gets colder my mind starts to wander to the best smelling shop on the high street: LUSH. This time of year means plenty of hot baths, and that means plenty of bath bombs and bubbles. I do love me some LUSH treats, but due to the quality and fair trade of their ingredients, they are pretty pricey, so I like to find ways to make them work hard for my money. I've partnered up with lifestyle blogger Katy, from The Lilac Scrapbook, to bring you my top 5 hacks to do exactly that, while she shares her 5 favourite products to pick up.

1. If your hair feels congested or flat, use a salt scrub like Rub Rub Rub before shampooing to thoroughly cleanse and invigorate the scalp while the salt boosts volume. You can also use the scrub to massage and exfoliate tired feet, then dunk them in a tub of hot water. The salt will dissolve to make a lovely soak, totally rejuvenating your tired tootsies.

2. If you haven't got enough face mask left to cover your face, pour in some coconut or almond oil and mix. You can use this as a mask or cleanser then wipe off with a hot flannel, and your skin will be moisturised from the oil as well as benefiting from the mask.

3. I hate the soapy feeling of bubble bars on my hands, and I don't like holding them under hot water, so I pop them in a sieve! The force of the water dissolves them perfectly, making mountains of bubbles and keeping my hands happy.

4. Before you hop into a bath with your favourite bomb or bar dissolved in the water, swish a scarf or knot wrap in it, then leave it to dry. It will smell just like your favourite bath fragrance! You could even put some in a spray bottle to scent your home.

5. I have a tiny sample tin of Gorgeous face moisturiser, and when I've used it up I will use the tin to hold hydrocortisone cream for my handbag first aid kit. You could fill them with any ointment or cream to take on your travels, or use it to hold tablets or hairbands. The screwtop lid will keep them secure. The same goes for their little glass lip scrub jars.

Have you tried any of these hacks? Let me know if there are new ones I need to try, and click over to Katy's blog to see her top LUSH picks.

One of the best perks of blogging is getting opportunities to treat my loved ones, and last night I was lucky enough to do exactly that at Peter Jackson the Jeweller's Preston store. They carry ranges from a huge variety of brands including favourites like Links of London and even Gucci, and we were very kindly given Thomas Sabo bracelets and charms to personalise with their laser engraving system.

I chose my cousin's initials on one side and a star on the other because, well, she is a little star. She's won awards for her involvement with St John's Ambulance, and she's off to uni in January to start her journey to becoming a kickass critical care nurse. I really couldn't be prouder, and it's lovely to know that a simple, dainty charm can remind her of that.

That's what I love about jewellery. It can complete an outfit, but it also says a lot about the wearer and often carries great meaning for them. My everyday jewellery all signifies something, from the opal ring I was given for my 21st to my Freddie Mercury inspired bangle. Another thing that they have in common is that they are from smaller businesses, which I love to support. It just feels good knowing that buying an item which means a lot to me also means a lot to the sellers, rather than just being a drop in an ocean of profits. 

Very wrongly, I had assumed that Peter Jackson was one such huge corporation, and the name was just that, a brand title like Jack Wills or Miss Selfridge. He is, in fact, a very real and lovely person with an MBE for services to charity, and a huge passion for jewellery, which he displays through 4 stores in the North West: Preston, Bury, Blackburn, and Carlisle.

Alongside learning about Peter and his brand, we also got an insight into the diamonds on sale. Can you believe I'm 23 and I thought they came out of the ground in that classic diamond shape?! They actually come out in crooked lumps from mines which reach underground to around the length of the Eiffel tower. Once they're retrieved from the rock they are assessed by skilled workers who have passed their knowledge down through generations. They cut each facet of the diamonds by hand, and with 58 facets on a brilliant cut, that really does take patience and precision. Once the mine is empty, it's recovered to become a habitat again.

Diamonds are not rare, but high quality ones are, and they can be found in The Perfection Collection, which really is full of bobby dazzlers, as we like to say up here. More elusive still are coloured diamonds, which take their hues from minerals infiltrating them. Green diamonds are the rarest of all, so I felt very special trying on a ring worth £29,000, set with a stunning lime stone that glittered with every movement of the light.

If diamonds aren't your thing, there are plenty more pieces to tempt within the store. Call me basic, but I do love me some rose gold, with particular favourites being the Royal Clogau acorn and oak leaf pendant, a Thomas Sabo watch with a deep red face that looked very vintage, and the rose gold pearl collection, which put a modern twist on very classic pieces.

Whatever your style, Peter Jackson the Jeweller can cater to you by bringing big brands to their North West stores and website, where you can take 15% off almost anything you fancy using the code WLDID18.

Thankyou to Peter Jackson and his colleagues for hosting and kindly gifted the Thomas Sabo jewellery, Bite Club (great name!) for feeding us, and Jenny Higgins for snapping memories of the night.

"Let's go to the Royal Armouries" they said.

"It's not all armour, they've got a bit of everything!" they said.

'They' refers to my mother, and 'they' were very wrong, as I found out for myself when I visited the museum on Saturday. 

The museum is a few minutes from the motorway, right next to Leeds dock and just around the corner from an (expensive) car park. As we arrived there was a wetsuit-clad crowd preparing to dive into the canal itself as part of a triathlon- not something I would do on any Saturday morning, let alone a chilly September one! Luckily I could watch them through the museum cafe's floor to ceiling windows while I warmed up with a hot chocolate.

Sufficiently sugar fuelled, we began to explore the museum. The first exhibit is possibly the most amazing of all, and a really innovative example of design. The staircase leading to the other floors wraps around a tunnel which is hung with hundreds of pieces of armour and weaponry on the inside. Directly beneath it is a sort of table with raised mirrors, each facet reflecting the artefacts above it.

Climbing the stairs themselves, we reached a floor where we could see the pieces close up, read their descriptions, and find full suits of armour. It was at this point that I suddenly realised that these were real tools of wars and battles that had most likely injured or even killed real people, which was quite unsettling. There were such detailed, intricate designs, incredible engineering, and even examples of how swords were created hundreds of years ago, and it made me quite angry to think that humankind created weapons of torture and destruction before electricity, vehicles, and even vaccines.

I appreciated that the museum made me think more deeply about what was in front of me, and visitor engagement was encouraged throughout. There were virtual reality helmets where you could see through the tiny eye slits of the helmets, and stations to watch and listen to films depicting battles. To further bring them to life, there was a wall hung with pieces like a bill, a mace, and a dagger, which triggered a knight to explain how they could hurt him when they were touched. Not only was this exciting for younger visitors, I liked that it was a good way for visitors with impaired vision to feel for themselves and hear a description. The sensory element continued through the use of light scents in certain exhibits, such as a cinnamon and clove fragrance in an area paying mention to the spice trade.

Currently the museum puts the focus on a different legend each weekend, such as Mulan and Boudicca. This weekend was all about Arjuna the Warrior Prince, and children were invited to watch an animated film, create their own crowns, and watch a storytelling performance from a lady in traditional Indian dress. It wasn't a story I had heard as a child, so it was fantastic to see visitors of all backgrounds learning it, and of course it was a brilliant way to entertain the children. 

The Royal Armouries really does cover all areas, encompassing everything relating to armour under one roof. Aside from weapons and legends of the past, the museum touched on modern day, with exhibits for anti-war, including arms being made into art, crime and the battle against guns, and even a little case on the swords from Lord of The Rings! Despite every artefact relating to violence, I felt that the curators had done a really good job of presenting the information without making it upsetting or fearsome, which is further helped by the building itself being spacious and bright, and visitors speaking normally instead of in hushed museum tones.

I hate to say this, because entry was free and I really do appreciate what the museum do, but by the end I was all armoured out and very, very bored. We were there for 4 hours, lunch included, and each sword and breastplate began to look the same. It's so worth a visit, but unless you are a huge history or battle buff, I'd suggest either taking a lunch break in one of the two cafes or picnic area, or skipping sections altogether. The only one I'm sad to have missed is the crossbow range, where, for a small charge, you can give the bows a go- a sure fire way to pack some action into your visit! 

Would you visit Royal Armouries?

Meat replacements have been hitting the shelves hard over the past year or so, with supermarket own brands, Oumph, and Vivera all offering alternatives to popular meat items and meals. Iceland impressed vegans and omnis alike when they brought their No Bull burgers to the ring, complete with beetroot 'blood', and recently they expanded their line to include plenty more plant based products.

The one that caught my eye was their No Chick No Porkies paella. I understand that traditional paella varies across Spain, with some regions adding rabbit or seafood, but as the name suggests, Iceland kept theirs simpler with slices of soya chorizo and alarmingly realistic chicken. The mixture also included courgette, pepper, and peas, to introduce more flavours and texture.

I'll start with the negatives, because it's always nicer to end on a high, isn't it? The chicken and chorizo really did not float my boat, and I can't see many people enjoying them to be perfectly honest. Most of the chorizo was bordering on mushy, with only a few chewy edges that felt closer to meat. The chicken was the same, some chunks were soft and spongey, then others were harder. If you've ever had chicken that has dried out a little in the oven and become tough, I can liken it to that.

The inconsistency in textures is what leads me to believe this won't be for everyone. If you're a omnivore used to tougher meat you might find the softer pieces odd, and vice versa for vegans, who may find the realistic chewy pieces unappetising. Personally I didn't hate it and I wouldn't label it disgusting or gross, but it did surprise me as I was expecting a close comparison to meat after the hype surrounding their burgers.

This may be me being fussy, but I'm also not a fan of the packaging. As I browsed the store I saw three other paellas, all with boxes or bags depicting juicy prawns, zesty lemon, and fluffy rice. The No Chick No Porkies version was just in a beige and green bag that clearly showed which range it belonged to, but also made it look quite boring. It would be nice to have a transparent area of the bag or perhaps an illustration, something to add colour and make it more exciting.

Negatives aside, let's weigh up the positives. The paella costs £2, and I think this is fair for what you get. It microwaves in 6-7 minutes, and while it may not be the healthiest of meals, it is still more nutritious than its meaty counterparts, and it's really handy that vegans can have a quick, convenient option available. It is labelled as a meal for one but could also be used as a side for a stuffed peppers, a tomato bean stew, or roasted vegetable kebabs.

The flavour of the dish is pretty good overall. The mock meat pieces aren't total dupes of chorizo and chicken, and are a little bit salty, but they're not bad at all taste-wise. I was surprised that the paella tastes very rich and authentic, like it would if the fat from pork chorizo had melted in to the cooking. The vegetables also helped to add bursts of fresh flavour but if I had this again I would include either more vegetables or a salad for some crisp texture.

Overall, I wouldn't rush to buy this again but I wouldn't turn it down if someone put it in front of me, you know? If you enjoy paella and you're happy to try new textures, this is a good one to stash in the freezer, but for me the textures were a little offputting and they were the only thing in the meal that varied. It started to feel stodgy and same-y halfway through, so I'd much prefer it with the aforementioned sides. I'm still open to trying the rest of the range, and it's always great to see more well priced, accessible options out there.

Have you tried this range?

Any of my family members reading this will be in stitches, because I can be a right Moaning Myrtle. I don't mean to be, I just say whatever I feel, both good and bad, and I tend to get uncomfortable a lot because I'm highly strung and anxious. I get through life by making plans in my head, and if things interfere with them I go into meltdown.

However, a few weeks ago my friend Jessi, who is truly a ray of sunshine, the kind of person that makes the most simple things special, told me that being positive really is a choice she makes every day, and that resonated with me. In every situation it is up to us to find the upside and brush off the downside. I'm not sure how much I subscribe to the theory that thinking positively brings positive things to you, but I do know that there are already way too many negatives in the world without me adding to them.

It's no secret that I struggle with my own mental illness, so it would be glib of me to tell you to 'just think positive!' if your illness makes that difficult, and I'm not suggesting it can cure you, but in my own experience I have found that making the effort to see the good, even if I see the bad too, has made me feel more in control of my own thoughts and emotions.

First of all, I've simply been cutting out the negative nellies. It sounds simple, but it can be hard with real life friends and family. Online, however, I've learned not to worry too much about unfollowing, muting, or blocking people who aren't positive or helpful, and constantly moan about the Tesco man, their cup of tea, or other trivial matters instead. They absolutely have a right to say what they like, I won't stop them, but I will stop listening and choose to remove that bit of gloom from my life.

On the flip side, I try and put out positivity myself. It's a lot harder to give out compliments in real life because unfortunately we live in a society where they can be met with distrust, so I like to do my bit through social media. I'm part of local groups on Facebook for rock painting, the community cafe, and village news, and I'll leave nice comments on there helping people or leaving compliments where I can, and the same with Twitter and Instagram. Another way I like to spread the positives is by filling in feedback forms, leaving good reviews, or tweeting companies if I receive good customer service or enjoy the experience.

I'm sure I've said it before, but I personally find it really worthwhile to write down the good things that happen in my day or week. I'm quite literally taking note of them, and it's nice to reflect while I write them and when I look back. For my Instagram stories I made some '5 Good Things' templates which you are more than welcome to download and use, and each week in my diary I have a prompt such as 'lucky to have', 'a memory made', and 'best thing I saw this week'. If I know that those questions need answers I find myself actively looking for them and allowing myself to be open to more good things.

While those methods all help me to welcome as much positivity as possible, I accept that there will still be tough situations, so I search for lessons and opportunities within them. Recently I had to have a blood test, and although I'm wary of blood, needles, and pain, I saw it as a chance to prove that they don't hurt and use that as encouragement to give blood. Only yesterday I chickened out of an interview and loathed myself for giving in to anxiety, until I decided to remember that disappointment next time I'm anxious to push me to go for it. 

This doesn't mean I'm a zen guru who rides around on a rainbow unicorn by any stretch of the imagination. I'll admit that I'm quick to anger and slow to let go of grudges and things that hurt me. It's part of who I am as a person, I'm passionate and I feel things strongly, and quite often I want to scream at/shake people, but this whole process is about learning to accept those emotions then deal with them or let them pass, making more room to focus on feelings like gratitude, comfort, and joy.

What makes you feel positive?

I love it when I find something new, unexpected, and beautiful. One of the reasons I'm not fussed about travelling abroad is that there is so much still to see on home turf, and even in my own region there are still plenty of hidden gems like Heysham, which I saw for the first time last weekend.

We started the day in Morecambe, somewhere I have mixed memories of. I remember crabbing there as a child, shouting with delight when I pulled them up on my line and scooped them in my net, but I also recall that the town itself was, like many English seaside towns, feeling the effects of its heyday having passed.

Maybe it's because our visit happened to fall on the day of Vintage On The Bay but change seemed to be in the sea air, with a few new developments on the way and hundreds of people enjoying the beautifully maintained beach, playgrounds, and seating areas along the coastal path. The vintage festival had brought plenty of clothing stalls, classic cars, and even a circus tent hosting dance classes. Next year I will definitely be pulling on a petticoat and joining the many, many people dressed up in their finest retro glad rags.

After racking up thousands of steps exploring the rock pools and hunting for sea glass, we called in to Kerry's Coffee House for lunch and sat out in the sunshine to enjoy more people watching over panini and the most amazing tiffin I've ever tasted, made with mint Aero. I would happily drive back just to grab another piece or five!

It was while we were people watching that we spotted an old red bus labelled 'Heysham Village'. Anything with 'village' in the title screams cuteness to me and on this occasion my instinct was 100% correct. Just a short drive from the centre of town we saw a National Trust sign and followed it down a winding road full of quaint cottages. There was plenty of space to park and a brilliant playground which I would have definitely taken full advantage of had it been quiet. Luckily for my dignity it wasn't, so we walked down the main street instead, oohing and ahhing at yet more chocolate box properties. 

At the end of the row we found a garden made by the residents, complete with an insect hotel and a working water pump. I would have looked at it longer and waited for the bees and butterflies to visit, but a banging, crashing sound distracted me. Following it, we found a copper beating workshop in the church hall! They also had a tea shop, so we enjoyed treacle tart and tea, shouting to one another over the hammering. On (another) sugar high, we walked up to the National Trust property, the remains of an ancient chapel. I don't blame them for building it up there, the views were blooming beautiful. Well, if you overlook the ferry port and focus on the beach and bay, that is. Tourists are cleverly encouraged to make the most of those views with a cluster of polished steel structures, people and pyramid shaped, reflecting the nature all around them. It would be the perfect place to take a picnic.

My history-loving mum was in seventh heaven, as back down the hill there was a church still standing, with stones dated from the 1600s. It's not my bag, but tucked to the side of the graveyard is 'The Glebe Garden', a community garden where rockeries and shrubs have become home to all sorts of ornaments, like a tiny Humpty Dumpty, toadstool houses, and even a bust of Tutankhamen. Who needs a pyramid when you can spend your days under a holly bush in Lancashire? That's what I say.

You certainly wouldn't go hungry in Heysham with all the tea rooms and cafes, and there's even a posh pub if a sit down dinner is more your thing. Next time I'm there I'll be making a beeline for The Mad Hatter's Tea Shack, which is decorated with Alice In Wonderland characters but sadly not open on Saturdays. It's right near a flat coastal walkway that wraps right around the bay. Despite the tide coming in, I couldn't resist scrambling on the rocks, making a new furry friend, and fishing out tiny crabs that the water washed in.

If you ever find yourself in the Lancaster/Morecambe area, I'd definitely recommend dropping in and seeing Heysham for yourself. I felt a real sense of community, and I'm already planning on returning in the Autumn to get my steps in on that coastal path then try the Hatter's finest hot chocolate.

Have you been to Heysham?

When I think of the top bloggers, I can't help but feel that part of their success has to be from being that little bit out of reach. They're the girls next door who could be your best friend, but they carry a Mulberry handbag, drink champagne for breakfast, and roll out of bed looking ready to hit the runway. 

I don't necessarily see that as a bad thing. If 'top blogger' were listed on a job search website, those enviable possessions and qualities would be the requirements, that's just the way it is and I'm happy for those girls who get the balance right between having those things while also building a real relationship with their readers. But I don't want to be one of them. 

It would all be a lie, I would be showing you a lifestyle so different from my own. I carry Primark bags, eat Greggs doughnuts for breakfast, and roll out of bed with cystic acne and a moustache that's coming along nicely. It's not Insta-glamorous, but my aim isn't to curate glossy images of a perfect life, but to share my own in a way that makes my readers laugh or feel inspired and supported, like some of my own favourites, CodieKinz and BrummyMummyOf2. Neither kind of blogger is superior, and I am hoping that we will see the goal posts widen and there will be room for both at the top table- them photographing their avocado toast, us wiping chocolate off our dresses. 

If I want my readers to be inspired by my writing, I have to be first. Looking back over my 200+ posts I see them as a learning curve, but I'm not proud of them all. Some don't fully represent who I am now, some were clearly written in a rush to have content scheduled 3 days a week, prioritising quantity over quality. That has to stop, I need to love every piece I put out to the world, and the best way to do that is simply to write about the things that I really love, the things that show you who I really am. 

Any lifestyle blogger will know the gamble of asking your audience to read purely because they're interested in you. It feels narcissistic to say 'come and read about my life!' but I'm hoping that I can share my loves in a meaningful manner, and make this blog a cosy, positive place. I'd like to inspire people to spend time exploring coast and country, loving nature the way I do. I want to highlight small shops and local events to celebrate the hard work behind them. At the very least, I want to make people smile or smirk as they read. Maybe that will never be as popular as the top bloggers, but at least I'll be being true to myself and recording memories that really mean something to me. That's the blogger I want to be.