Modesty

The second nude lipstick to arrive at my home and again, I love it. FML, lipstick addiction is a real thing ok! 

Modesty is a slightly deeper nude, with more of a pink finish that Shy Girl had. As a Crème Sheen lipstick, they are packed with colour but also don’t dry out your lips like matte lipsticks do, so I’ve alternating between this and Shy Girl as part of my daily lipstick routine! 

My MAC collection continues to grow, I just wish it was easier to fund! 

What do you think of Modesty?

Shy Girl

Black Friday ruined me and my bank account! 

As soon as I saw the 20% off code for Selfridges, I headed straight over, typed in MAC and the rest in a blur… 

Shy Girl arrived at my door 3 days later and I’m in love! I am really quite fond of nude lipsticks at the moment and this was just one of 2 nude lippies I’d bought from Selfridges… *addict*

From the Crème Sheen family, this lipstick is a really soft ‘coral beige’ and boy is it impressive! It looks absolutely gorgeous on and I just can’t get enough of it! I wear it to work as well as when I’m out and about – it doesn’t budge one bit! 

What did you all end up purchasing on Black Friday? (Too much in my case!)

Bottle Green

Well my nail biting has been in full swing recently. I have no idea why but growing my nails has been a real struggle recently, maybe it's the stress of Christmas shopping...

These Elegant Touch Bottle Green nails were on offer in Superdrug and I couldn't resist. I also got a gorgeous creamy coral set as well that I'm going to pop on when these pop off. 

They were a tad too long for me to start with so a bit of filing was necessary, but that was easy enough and I also avoided using the sticky tabs that come in these packs as, well, it's as effective as sticking them on with blue tac...utterly useless!

So yeah, these nails are gorgeous! They are a lovely shape and the colour is very festive for this time of year! I can see myself adding a bitor glitter to these in a week or so.

Green Smoothie #1

I recently bought myself a Blend Active and I think it might just be the best thing I have bought this year! With over 1000 reviews on Amazon stating how much everyone loves their new blender, I couldn’t resist and I will never look back.

 The Blend Active consists of a compact (for a blender anyway) blender base with not 1 but 2 takeaway bottles that you simply screw the blender blade onto, blitz, screw off, twist your lid on and you’re on your way! They blend everything including ice and every time I have used this, I’m always left with a really smooth, great tasting smoothie for my Breakfast. 

I’ve really enjoyed getting into my Green Smoothies recently, they provide you with so many benefits from your skin to your energy levels so it’s really transformed my day swapping my usual breakfast for one of these vitamin/nutrient packed smoothies. 

After a bit of research and scrolling through endless recipes I finally landed on SimpleGreenSmoothies.com. If you sign up with them they send you a starter guide for your green smoothies and they post fresh, interesting and seasonal recipes regularly; so your green smoothie will never be boring. 

So here is my first Green Smoothie recipe for you to try with a little info on what each ingredient can do for you. 

Spinach – A great source for vitamins, filled with Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Thaimin, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6 as well as Iron, Magnesium and Calcium, Spinach is a great all-rounder for skin clearing as well as aiding digestion.

Romaine – This type of lettuce is packed with vitamin, minerals, phytonutrients and fibre that can help keep illness at bay throughout the year. An excellent source of Vitamin A and Vitamin K makes your smoothie super heart healthy. 

Grapes – High in water content and antioxidants, Grapes provide numerous benefits from eye health to clearing skin whilst remaining low in calories.

Bananas – Low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium, Bananas are not only tasty but are a great source of dietary fibre, vitamin C, potassium and Manganese. Although Bananas contain a bit of sugar, this doesn’t mean you should avoid them, use them in smoothies that are meal replacements and you’ll find it easier not to go over your recommended daily sugar allowance. 

Raspberries – One of the best benefits of raspberries is that they can increase your metabolism in fat cells through their phytonutrients especially in Rheosmin (aka raspberry ketone). These little berries are also packed full of antioxidants, so these don’t just add great flavour to your smoothie. 

Water – We all know that water is just THE best thing out there when you’re trying to get healthy. The reason I choose water in my green smoothies is for the endless amounts of goodness that it provides. From skin to energy levels, water is key to keeping hydrated and to aiding weight loss. 

1 cup spinach

1 cup romaine lettuce

1 cup grapes 

1 medium ripe banana

1 cup raspberries

Add water to your preferred smoothie thickness

Nails Inc + Glamour

Don't you just love getting freebies in magazines! Especially when they are from such good quality brands like Nails Inc. 

This Tate nail polish is a gorgeous deep red that, like all Nails Inc polishes, goes on smooth with a super glossy finish. With even just one layer, it's so highly pigmented that you feel you don't need another layer. 

It'll look really nice for Christmas, just add some green or glitter and you're set. 

Starkers

Apologies for the state of this lipstick, but as you can see it has been very well used since I got my hands on it. 

I had always walked into Selfridges and immediately gone to the MAC counter, always bypassing everything else to get my hands on a new shade.

 However, on this particular day I must have been feeling quite adventurous as I stopped by Illamasque to see what they had on offer. As I had never owned anything from them before, I quickly asked for a little help in choosing a nude lipstick. 

 After sampling pretty much they’re entire Nude collection all over my hand, I put my money towards Starkers! 

I love it! Like, obsessively love it! It’s probably the most I have ever worn a lipstick in my make up wearing history. 

Its formula is creamy and the colour is quite possibly the most perfect nude ever! I wear it all the time too as it never dries my lips out and suits both the pale and tanned version of myself! 

 I have my eye on Buff next and I’d have to say I’m a true Illamasque convert!

Bulk Powders - Protein Smoothie

After starting a new gym routine, I quickly learned that I needed to add something extra into my diet to keep my energy up as I was really flagging. 

 Introducing the Complete High Protein Smoothie from Bulk Powders. 

 Yep – that’s a Strawberry Smoothie that’s high in protein and contains real fruit pieces!

The fast absorbing protein aids in recovery once I have finished my workout or works great in the morning if I need to shoot off to work. This protein packed smoothie contains amino acids that are vital when you are working your muscles, with a combination of cardio and weights being incorporated into my daily workout, this smoothie has been warmly welcomed!

 The naturally occurring vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants in the fruit pieces and powder also provide you with energy and health benefits that can be quickly absorbed – not to mention that it’s delicious!

 Worlds apart from your standard Protein Shake, this smoothie offers you something that feels a little more natural into your routine. The strawberry flavour is something I really look forward to once I’ve finished my workout and even after just a week of drinking this I feel more energised. 

You can get the Complete High Protein Smoothie in Strawberry and Blueberry – yum!

Elle + Benefit Push Up Liner

I’m a bit late to the Benefit party aren’t I?

Nethertheless I will proceed with this blog post in high hopes that somebody will enjoy it. 

As I walked into my local corner shop for some much needed chocolate, I came across the new edition of Glamour and with it… the Benefit Push Up Liner!

A lot of bloggers had raved this product so I was really keen to try it. My first thoughts were ‘what the hell’! because this liner looks a bit weird and complicated for me. So the first time I picked it up and pushed up the liner, I immediately placed it back in my beauty drawer… guilty as charged! 

 However, I decided to sit down with it and really give it a go – in the name of beauty research.

I didn't like it at all! I'm sorry, but I just couldn't work it. I love my liquid liner too much and this was a bit too much faff for 6.30 in the morning! It just dragged across my skin, leaving a blotchy black mess in it's wake. It might work well for people who blend their liner but this is not for those who like something a bit sleeker. I really wanted to like this product but you can't like everything!

What are your thoughts on the liner? Have I missed a trick?

Christmas with The Body Shop

Oh gosh, is it really only a month until Christmas!?!

How did that creep up on us? 

Over the last week I’ve managed to order 80% of presents for my nearest and dearest online (I refuse to take on the Christmas shoppers), but I love the little treats out there that you can always partner with main presents – especially if they’re beauty related!

 Everyone knows The Body Shop and has most likely owned an item or two, so they know that when they unwrap something from renowned ‘smellies’ company, they are in for something special. 

I have a few items that I picked up that I think would make great Stocking Fillers or little gifts for your Secret Santa.

This Frosted Cranberry Body Polish reminds me so much of cranberry sauce that always gets served up at Christmas dinner. As it's a polish, you're treated to some pretty amazing exfoliation when you use this. 

This little tub of Vanilla Lip Balm gorgeousness hasn't left my side since I got it. It tastes just like vanilla ice-cream, leaves a lovely subtle shine on your lips whilst ensuring they are protected against the cold, winter weather. Elliot told me it reminded him of 'school custard' which meant nothing to me, but if you were a lover of this... then this is perfect for you.

I'm not really a hand cream kinda girl but recently, with the winter being extra cold and my office not being warm at all, I have found much comfort in using this Glazed Apple Hand Cream. It has a lovely, light scent and it doesn't leave you with that greasy feeling that has put me off hand creams in the past. Definitely a great stocking filler!

This lip stain is both subtle and easy to use - plus how nice is that packaging! This would be a great present for somebody a bit younger in your family who's just getting into their make up. It's not too over the top and the colour is really natural. 

Then I met this little guy... I think he might be related to another famous penguin called Monty, but this cutie is here to help you get clean in the shower. I haven't yet used him for that as he is sitting quite snug with my other teddies!

Review: Daisy Dream by Marc Jacobs

I have grown up loving fresh, floral perfumes. With my first few coming from christmas and birthday presents, introducing me to the likes of Tommy Girl, the DKNY apple and even... a Katie Price Besotted. I think every young girl grows up with these types of scents and as an adult, my choices have come from these experiences.

Thierry Muglar Alien sits firmly on my dressing table as the best fragrance for fancy occasions or when I want to be remembered; Nicki Minaj's debut fragrance Pink Friday was also a favourite for a while, I am a big fan of Nicki and when she released this I just had to have it and most recently... Daisy Dream from Marc Jacobs has entered the frame.

I've had the other Daisies before and loved them, so I've enjoyed returning to this designer fragrance with it's gorgeous baby blue, white and gold packaging and a bottle that makes any table looks beautiful.

As for the scent, it contains top notes from Blackberry, Fresh Grapefruit and Succulent Pear; with a heart of Jasmine, Lychee and Blue Wisteria and base notes of White Woods, Musks and Coconut Water. However, my nose is not that advanced and although I can't pick out what White Woods smells like exactly, I know that this scent is gorgeous.

It's light, zingy and the perfect fragrance for daytime wear as its not over facing in the slightest. I challenge anyone to try this out and not like it. It's a refreshing change to the distinct scent of Alien and doesn't fall too far from where the original Daisy first started for Marc Jacobs.

I got my Daisy Dream from Boots for £35 as a treat to myself. Next on my list is Nicki Minaj's Onika!

The Lazy Girl's Guide to Fitness Apps

I know I’ve not blogged for a little while, but it’s felt quite nice to have a break. It’s allowed me to really focus on my fitness and so far I’ve lost 6 lbs in 3 weeks from becoming more active and eating healthy. 

However, much of this exercise and eating business wouldn’t be even half as easy if I didn’t have my collection of apps behind me. They keep me on track and motivated which is all you need when you’re starting out. Like everyone says – the first step is always the hardest! 



MyFitnessPal 

MFP to those more acquainted with this beauty of an app, allows you to monitor your calorie intake as well as noting activity levels and weight progress. When you first sign up to MFP you are introduced to your new and improved calorie intake. This is based on a number of things including your weight, the amount of activity you do during the day etc, it doesn’t cut you down to ridiculously low amounts like 500 calories a day; it promotes a healthy approach to eating. 

Food – this aspect of MFP is brilliant. With a huge database built up of products from every supermarket and brand in the world, you’ll struggle to come across a product that hasn’t already been listed for you. Within this it not only lists the calorie content, but the nutrition within the food too. So when you add your meal in, you’re informed of whether there’s too much fat in it or its low in sodium… which is great! You can also quickly review how much carbs, protein and fat you’ve eaten during the day. This part of the app really starts to make you think about what you are eating for each meal. I like to put in all of my food in the morning, it then shows me how many calories I can or can’t still eat, meaning that if I fancy a little bit of something extra (usually chocolate), I can account for it properly. 

For the exercise part you can input the activity you have done with estimated or precise calories burned alongside it (which then automatically deducts from your food intake meaning more food for us hungry lot). Or you can sync your MFP with any compatible apps out there to record this activity too. 

Best of all – When you’re done with the day and tick it off in the diary, it gives you an estimate of how much weight you’d lose if you ate that many calories for the next 5 weeks! Talk about motivating! 

This app is free up to a certain point, then it’s £3.99 a month. I would give the free version a go first as I have been using this for months now and not felt the need to update yet. 



MapMyRun 

Which brings me on to MapMyRun, my second favourite app on my phone! This super responsive fitness app is brilliant! Running is something I have turned to, to lose weight since I was 16 and for the last 3 weeks I have well and truly fallen in love with it again. 

This app allows you to record the type of activity you are doing, be it interval training like I have been doing or a brisk dog walk, it uses google maps to monitor how far you are going, your pace and the amount of calories you have burned in the process. And even better, now that it’s getting a bit darker and let’s face it, far riskier for running, the app can also connect you to your friends or family so that they know where you are too. Getting lost is near impossible with this app. 

It also syncs with your music so that you can have a little more motivation when on the move and gives you an update throughout your run too, letting you know where you are at before you decide to give up and go home. 

I love this app because it syncs with MyFitnessPal so easily. Before I know it, it’s there in MFP, having taken off the calories I have worked so hard to burn off! 





Couch to 5K 

Now let’s not kid myself too much. I am a couch potato and love pizza, so my fitness level is worse than that of a snail, however in the last 3 weeks I have seen a vast improvement in my running and it’s all down to C25K. 

An interval training app that’s very user friendly, you are encouraged to run 3 times a week with rest days in the hope that in 9 weeks you’ll be able to run 5k. You are given a 5 minute warm up and cool down followed by various periods of jogging and walking that is all timed for you. 

In my first week I struggled running nonstop for just a minute… where I’d be left really out of breath and sometimes not even being able to make 60 seconds. But now I can do 2 minutes of brisk jogging without even thinking about stopping. It’s promoting a healthy incline in activity no matter your fitness level! What’s great about the app is that when you feel that you’ve conquered one stage, you’re given a new challenge straight away. You’re not stuck in a rut just running at a the same level where you are comfortable, it really wants you to be out of breath so that when you do it next time, you aren’t. 

I plan on doing the Colour Run next July in Manchester, so I have full faith that this app will get me where I need to be for that! 





My Top Tips for Starting Out 

* Don’t be too hard on yourself 

I am a great advocate for the cheat day! If I didn’t have those days where I can eat pizza, chocolate and pasta without feeling guilty then I would have given up after a few days. I eat well during the week and let myself off on the weekend! I try to sneak in a dog walk with Elliot’s pooches too so that it’s not TOO crazy as well. 


* Find a Fitness Buddy 

I have been extremely lucky in that I have landed myself a job sitting next to a likeminded girl who is using the same apps as me to lose weight. We constantly keep on top of eachother and motivate eachother to go on our runs. There’s also nothing better than finding somebody who can appreciate a big bowl of pasta after a hard week of running and eating well. 


* Plan Ahead 

One thing that I’m finding difficult at the moment is finding the time to run now that it is dark at 5pm. So I now plan my runs in the morning, having early nights before hand with my running gear all lined up ready by the door. Before this, I planned my running between seeing my friends to make sure that I definitely did them and had good rest days.


Are there any fitness apps that you've been using? 

Competition! Go Ombre with Bblonde!

I have an exciting competition for you!

 I'm giving two of you a chance to win 1 of these BBlonde Maximum Ombre Kits each and all you have to do is follow the instructions below to be in with a chance of winning :)

So tempted to go ombre myself now! eek! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Why I've Been Quiet...

If you read my blog a lot you may have noticed that I've been away for a while.

I could say it was writers block or bloggers block, but I think I just needed to step back and think about my blog a little more.

I'm on Bloglovin' pretty much every day and this is where I started to notice that a few bloggers were experiencing the same blogging blues that I was getting. I start questioning why I was writing? Were my posts looking how I wanted them to? And the answer was no.

Posting every day had left me burnt out, because balancing a full time job and a blog 5 days a week is bloody hard work. So I decided to take a break, make some notes, enjoy other blogs and think about how I want my blog to be.

So from now on, there will be less posts but more heart and effort. I want my passion for photography to shine through and my love of all things beauty to remain an enjoyable part of my past time. I'm really looking forward to taking more time on my blog and I hope all of you who read my blog will enjoy the change.

Have you experienced this feeling before?

Sharing The Love

It's been another month and I've enjoyed cooling down from July's heat by reading a few blogs that have inspired and interested me whilst sitting in the shade. 

Most of these are beauty blogs I've followed for years now as well as a few I've just got started with. I do love a good food blog, and as a vegetarian, Love & Lemons is ideal. There are loads of healthy, tasty and rather photogenic foods on there that make your tummy rumble at the mere thought of them. So if, like me, you love a good bit of food porn, then this is a blog to add to your reading list.

Thumbelina Lillie

                                           Love & Lemons

                                      Milk Bubble Tea

                                         Love & Liquor

                                         As Seen By Bea