Southport: Britain's Favourite Family Day Out

There are few things us Brits enjoy more than a great day out. When it comes to making family time extra special, what better way to share the moments than in a town that offers a treasure trove of stuff to see and do!

When you picture your fun-filled day out, what springs to mind... a trip to the fun fair, taking in beautiful scenery, delicious food to fill your tum, or perhaps a combination of everything? Visit Southport and you can expect to find the hallmarks of British culture at your disposal, all within one convenient location.

If you're already a regular visitor of Southport, this quaint seaside town needs no introduction. But if you're new to North West England, from out of town, or you just need some inspiration for a vibrant place to go sightseeing, you won't be disappointed - that's a promise!

Southport dates back to 1792 and was originally a Victorian town centred around leisure and tourism. While the town used to be part of Lancashire, Southport is primarily known as a place that's close to Liverpool's heart, in Merseyside. Easy to access by car and public transport, this lovable British hotspot is a must-see if you and the family fancy a change of scenery from big cities.

Southport Tourism and Redevelopment

Today, Southport is famous for its holiday resort look and feel, and has undergone lots of development over the years. From the magnificent Marine Way Bridge next to Southport Pier and a revamped theatre on the promenade, to eateries, cafes and local businesses setting up shop on Lord Street - there's always plenty going on here. Popular events include Southport Air Show and Southport Flower Show, not to mention a roster of food and drink festivals, street concerts, theatre and live music to look forward to.

So whether you prefer to ogle historic architecture, enjoy a slice of fairground fun at PleasureLand, or you're looking for modern nightlife and entertainment options, you won't be disappointed on your arrival. In fact, once you've had a taste of what Southport's really like to experience, you may find it becomes your go-to choice for fun family days out, any time of the year.

With guaranteed attractions and exciting events coming around often, here's a few things to add to your September social calendar...

'Rip It Up' at Southport Theatre

Happening this evening at 7.30 pm, this fun theatrical production is all about getting involved in a good ol' 50's sing-along. If you love listening to a retro jukebox, complete with live musicians and plenty of high-octane dancing, don't miss this rock 'n' roll stage show tonight at Southport Theatre. More details here. Be sure to check out the arts in Southport throughout September.

Image Source: Stereoboard

Southport Pier

If you want to escape the crowds and enjoy a relaxing stroll, why not head down Southport Pier where you'll have sea, sandy beaches and coastal views for miles. Don't forget to grab a pink and white ice-cream or some fish 'n' chips on the way. Yes, these British treats are sold 24/7 here, so you can enjoy them even after summer ends.

Silcock's Funland

A popular Southport attraction for the whole family, take cover and go nuts on Funland's slot machines, indoor rides, prize vendors and so much more. With free entry all year round, this Victorian amusement arcade is nostalgia that never goes out of season.

*All Photography Credits: Ray Wood @gr8lite (Except 'Rip It Up' Theatre Image.)

Evanesce Coconut Oil - Nature's Miracle Worker!

Howdy Bloggers,

What's new in your world? After what feels like a lifetime away from my beloved blog (yep, freelancer life is all go!) I felt it was about time I got back in the saddle and focused on my own passion project. Sometimes it's good to just brew up a black coffee, pause for thought and let the words pour onto the page...

So today's post is about a fantastic new beauty product which I've had the pleasure of testing out for some time now. Just for the record, this isn't a sponsored/affiliate blog post, and any opinions about the product are entirely my own.

Introducing Evanesce Creme...

Type of Product: Organic antioxidant-rich coconut oil

Country of Origin: Thailand

Main Uses: As a day or night moisturiser for the face and body, hair conditioner, skin-nourishing massage oil, lip balm, antiseptic scar healer, tattoo care and makeup remover (to name a few.)

What do I Use Evanesce for? My bathroom cabinet has seen more moisturising tubs than a department store beauty counter, but that's because I care about what I put on my skin. A LOT. If trial and testing facial moisturisers has taught me anything throughout my 20's, it's that you should never scrimp on your skincare products. Trust me, it's worth investing in the right kind of moisturisers, and if you can find one product that does it all from a pure source, even better!

Why do I Love Evanesce Coconut Oil? Unlike other coconut oils, this one is organic and absorbs into the skin super-fast. There's nothing worse than waiting what feels like an ice age for your night skincare regime to dry. And what's nice about applying Evanesce creme at night is that you can let the oil get to work while you sleep. zzzzzz.

The Results: I've been using this oil for just over 5 months now, and still have half the jar left. For me, it's a natural miracle worker! I love that this product contains only one ingredient, yet it can be used for many different purposes. Multi-purpose beauty products are the way forward my friends. My skin is on the oily side, but feels dry at times too. This wonderful little pot of joy makes my face feel baby-soft straight away - no muss, no fuss. It works wonders on reducing redness and scarring and I always wake up with a smoother complexion than I had the night before. The trick is to really massage the oil into the main areas that are prone to dryness, redness or wrinkles.

Perks: Luxuriously chic black packaging, a far cry from supermarket-brand jars of coconut oil. This oil instantly starts to melt as you warm it between your fingertips, so you won't need to apply a large amount at once. Word of warning: When the weather is really hot and humid, you'll be likely to end up with a much softer (or even liquid) coconut oil. This is completely normal, and the product will revert back to its solid state once the temperature cools down.

Overall Verdict: 10/10.

To help you make the most of today's beauty buy recommendation, here's a handy list of tips that Evanesce published on their own website.

What's your go-to beauty product of choice? Comment me below. :)

Until next time... xx


Images courtesy of evanesce.co

Happy Easter Everyone!

Photo Credit: Pinterest. Effects & Font created by myself (Dawn)

Sex Sells: Do Female Artists Need to Strip Off to Stay in the Spotlight?

Enough is NEVER Enough for Fame

By Dawn Wood.

Image Courtesy of Jack Bruunhammond.

When it comes to the music and entertainment industry, sex sells. There's no denying that sex seems to be everywhere: on the covers of magazines, in music videos, and in marketing campaigns. But the question we need to be asking is, do artists need to strip off in order to try and boost their record sales?

The answer to this is both yes and no – there are two sides to every story, and the music industry is no exception. In fact, now more than ever it has become apparent that if you're a female singer in any musical niche, you should be showing some flesh.

However, this idea is not necessarily a new idea. Take a look at the likes of Madonna, Janet Jackson and Grace Jones - all three ladies are incredibly strong artists who have and continue to take extra risks with how creative and sexual their video content is. After all, they were certainly considered to be at the height of their music careers back in the 80's. This just goes to show that either women have chosen to seduce their audiences with their raunchy dance routines, racy stage shows, and empowering imagery willingly, or their record labels are telling them to act a certain way in front of the camera, with the aim of selling more records as a result.

According to a recent article from Hello Magazine, Madonna admitted that starting out in the music business as a young female was no easy task to accomplish, saying "I became an over-achiever to get approval from the world." 

Women definitely seem to have a shorter shelf-life than men, a fact that has almost become common knowledge. It may sound unfair that men don't seem to have to go to such great lengths in order to 'get ahead' in their careers, but rather they are the dominant gender, especially in the tough world of media. This opinion is expressed in further depth in this article.

Modern artists including Nicki Minaj, Miley Cyrus, Rihanna and Beyonce seem to have stolen the limelight from their 80's icons and taken the meaning behind 'sex sells' to a whole new extreme. For example, in Nicki Minaj's video for one of her most recent singles 'Anaconda', the American star can be seen 'twerking' and lap dancing provocatively in front of male rapper, Drake - her token male interest. But critics have argued that she may have taken her sexuality too far this time. 

Twerking has become a trend in its own right. On the one hand, this can be seen as just a bit of fun for the dance floor, but when female audiences are subjected to constant booty shaking from scantily-clad celebrities, it can actually detract from the credibility of an artist.

That being said, there are some modern day female artists who have stood the test of time and continue to evolve vocally, artistically, and with how they empower us. Beyonce is a perfect example of how you don't have to be 21 and talentless to be able to capture the attention of an audience. She is inspirational in that she always manages to sell records based on her vocal talent. Now of course, Beyonce does experiment with her own sexuality, but she does this in a way that is creative and tasteful, as opposed to cheap and nasty.

As far as the future of the music industry is concerned, we are likely to continue seeing 'the next big thing' in terms of new solo artists, female groups, and reality TV stars, as unfortunately we do live in an ageist society. All we can do is take the positives from our favourite role models and hope that record labels will help to promote women in the best light possible, without having to force them to act in a distasteful manner.

Note: All images not taken by me.

Monochrome Bliss

When it comes to shopping for my love of monochrome, it's safe to say that all logic goes out of the window financially! There's an element to this classic pairing of black and white that just takes my breath away, and it's such a versatile trend. Monochrome is a fashionable look that can be worked all year round, making it stylish to wear in summer AND winter. 

So I've recently been hitting the sales in River Island in search of some wardrobe updates, and I just couldn't resist these chunky black and white ankle boots! Not only were they a bargain on their original price, but they are also incredibly comfortable to wear if you're looking for footwear with some height, but don't want anything that's too elevated. These boots are fantastic to wear in all weather conditions too - I have been wearing mine with footie socks in the hot weather (note the breathable hole in the side of the boot's design), as well as wearing them in the rain (my birthday jaunt around the Lake District yesterday was living proof of this.)

Finally, let's not overlook the sheer attitude these boots add to an outfit! Their striking thick white sole contrasted with a black leather upper, buckle to the sides and zipper to the back scream, 'don't mess with me!' By far the best footwear purchase I've bought this season. 

If you want to read some more of my thoughts on the monochrome trend for summer, and maybe even pick up some styling tips in the process, feel free to have a browse of my article over on Le Reve's blog - you never know, you might just learn a trick or two. 

Thanks for reading! :)

Note: All images taken by Myself (Dawn)

Beyonce “Pretty Hurts”

Never a lady to shy away from starring in a controversial music video or two, Beyonce is back on top form with the newest track taken from her Visual album. “Pretty Hurts” is a powerful ballad which Bey sings beautifully, but the video definitely reveals her vulnerable side. 

Mrs. Carter’s character, Miss 3^rd War portrays the fast-paced ups and downs of beauty pageantry, showing off her first class acting skills in the process. Directed by Melina Matsoukas, the American director wanted to be able to capture what life is often like for young women, and how toxic beauty pageants can be. 

In light of her latest video, Beyonce has also recently launched a campaign entitled #WhatIsPretty. This campaign is inspiring for female fans in particular as it encourages them to upload either a photo or a video of themselves onto Instagram, to promote what the word ‘pretty’ means on a personal note.