"Photography is a Scrapbook of your Life" ...

Hi everyone! Todays post isn't about beauty or fashion but something I want to share regardless. Lately I got thinking about the world (wow, you'd think I was ninety) and it made me realise that lots of people, myself included, don't own 'proper' photographs anymore. What I mean by proper photographs is actual printed images that you put in photo albums. Nowadays its all about iphones and digital cameras and although they're fabulous, flicking through photos on a laptop or phone isn't the same as holding a real photograph in your hands.

When I was younger I remember my family taking photos and videos at every opportunity they had. Whether it was a special occasion, family holiday or just a relaxed day at home, they'd be there, capturing every moment. They still have those photos now, tucked away in neat photo albums, and looking back at them fills me with joy and happy memories. I travelled home to the Lake District recently and my Mum, Nanna, Sister and I decided to take a walk down memory lane looking through old photos and watching old videos (yes videos, remember those?). It was so lovely to see images from years and years ago that were still there, albeit a little bit worn out, to flick through and enjoy, decades later.

Image: Source

It got me thinking that although I take hundreds of photos (I'm the girl thats constantly taking photos wherever she goes. Yes, even of my food), I haven't had any of them printed and put into photo albums for a good five years. It actually made me really sad to think that if my laptop were to crash or I lost my phone, years worth of happy memories and photographs would be gone. Just like that, in the blink of an eye. 

With this being said, I immediately decided that I had to print lots of my favourite images, sooner rather than later. The thought of losing them all made me shudder - it might sound dramatic but the thought of having no images to look back on when I'm old and wrinkly made me really upset. I want to be able to show my children and grandchildren old photos and re-live the 'good old days'. 

I didn't want to pay a fortune to get my photos printed (which is the only downside to 'real-life' photographs) so I took to good old Google to see which sites would print me a big batch for a reasonable price. I was shocked by how many amazing photo-printing websites appeared in the search results and two of them really stood out to me - PhotoBox and TruPrint. I was amazed when I saw that Photobox are offering 60 free prints when you sign up to their website and TruPrint were offering 50 free prints if you signed up to theirs. Thats 110 free printed images for signing up to a couple of websites - amazing right? I must admit going through the thousands of images on my laptop and phone and only selecting 110 was quite a mission but it was lovely to look back at old photos and pick out the ones that were special to me.

After I'd chose my 110 free prints I proceeded to the checkout expecting there to be some sort of hidden catch. Luckily, there wasn't, just a small delivery fee. I think I paid around £1.99 for delivery on both websites and as simple as that, hundreds of memories were on the way to me in the post. They both arrived only two days later (big thumbs up for speedy delivery) and I'm absolutely thrilled with them. I got such a huge sense of satisfaction looking through them all and I can't wait to organise them all into albums. That will be my next photo project - finding a website that sells cute and affordable photo albums. If you know of any, do let me know.

This is quite a spontaneous post and not one I'd planned to write but I hope it gives you that little nudge to go and get some of your favourite photographs printed. The current deals on the PhotoBox and TruPrint websites are just too good to miss so do make sure you go and check them out, you won't regret it! They do lots of other cute bits and bobs too like photo books, canvases and calendars.

"Photography is a scrapbook of your life". Don't lose any chapters from yours!

Lots of Love,

Instagram Diary & Rambles ♥

 ♥ Costa Hot Chocolates  ♥ 2500 GFC Followers.. WOW!  ♥ Boots Goodies  ♥ Real Techniques Brushes  ♥ Christmas tree at the Metro Centre  ♥ Napoleon Glitter Eyeshadow  ♥ Amazing meal at The Living Room  ♥ R.I.P Porsha  ♥ My new dress  ♥ Me posing  ♥ Trying to overcome the flu  ♥  New work outfit from Primark  ♥ Revlon 'Crush' Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain  ♥ Downloading Taylor Swift's album  ♥ Sephora goodies  ♥ Reading 'The Beauty Myth' ♥ 

 ♥ Instagram - 'kayleighjcouture'  ♥

Hi Ladies! I haven't done an Instagram diary post in quite a while now so I thought it was about time I made a cute little collage of my latest insta-snaps. I personally love these kind of posts as I feel like I get to know a little bit more about the blogger each time I read them and it also gives me an excuse to ramble away to my hearts content. We all know how much I love a ramble now don't we?

I've not been well lately so the past week has consisted of me going to work, almost overdosing on cold and flu medication and snuggling up on the sofa. I'm finally getting over the flu now but now my ear has now decided to cause me a lot of pain - great! I had to leave work yesterday after the dizziness and pain from my ear became too much. I took myself along to the nearest walk-in centre and had to wait over two hours to see a nurse :(. It turns out my ear canal is inflamed meaning I have an outer ear infection so I'm having to use ear drops three times a day until it improves. I really hope thats sooner rather than later as feeling deaf in one ear isn't the nicest thing I've ever experienced. So other than feeling unwell I've had a lovely couple of weeks chilling out with my nearest and dearest. My boyfriend was away in Las Vegas with his friends last week so my Nanna and Grandad came to visit me and keep me company for the week. We had a lovely time - good food and good giggles at the latest series of I'm a Celebrity get me out of Here. If watching Helen Flanagan eating genitals and Rosemary Shrager farting isn't entertainment then I don't know what is 8). 

Although we had a great week, I was very upset to hear my dads cat Porsha has sadly passed away. I grew quite close to her during my time in Australia (see photo of me holding her above) and she was the most beautiful, timid cat I've ever come across. She was so nervous around people but I'm glad I got to give her some cuddles before she passed away. She certainly entertained me in Oz and I enjoyed giving her sneaky bits of chicken from the fridge haha. I've never actually owned a pet of my own but I can't even being to imagine how upsetting it must be to lose one as they become part of the family. I'll miss you next time I'm in Oz Porsha but I hope you're having a great time in Kitty heaven. ♥

On a more positive note, Matt returned from Vegas on Sunday and it was so lovely to see him. It was weird not seeing him every day like I normally do but it sounds like he had a fab time and he very generously brought me back some NARS goodies from Sephora. I've always wanted to visit Sephora (beauty blogger heaven?) so I was super excited when I was handed the cute black and white bag. It will be going on display somewhere in my bedroom no doubt. Is that sad?

I'm going to a work party tonight, it's my first at my new job so I'm quite nervous but looking forward to it all the same. The company I work for are celebrating their 10 year anniversary so we are having a glam night at a fancy hotel in Newcastle. I imagine we will have a great time and I'm very excited to wear my beautiful new dipped hem dress from Miss Selfridge. I asked for your opinion on Twitter/Instagram and everyone seemed to like it so I hope it will go down well with my new work chums too. I probably won't have chance to get any proper photos wearing it but I will pop any photos I do get up on my Instagram.

So thats all from me for now, I hope you are all doing well and thanks again for helping me reach a massive 2500 GFC followers. I still can't believe it.

I'm super busy for the next two days so I'll be back with a review on Sunday.

For now, Lots of Love,