Year: 2014

Essence make up haul

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Let’s steer away from food and talk beauty for a moment. A couple of months ago I saw on Twitter Essence were holding a Manchester bloggers day and following the conversation on Twitter, it looked kinda fun! I read the brand was only available in budget store Wilko’s so back in September I took a trip and picked up a mascara for about £2.50. It was one of the best mascara’s I have ever used. So easy to apply, no clumping and made my lashes look so long, great! Since then I have nosey at the stand every now and again and its safe to say, I’m a convert! I’ve now tried the get big lashes mascara both waterproof and non waterproof and the green and gold 3D eyeshadow pallete and just cannot fault them. So long-lasting and so cheap!

Cooking with coconut oil

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In-keeping with my last few foodie related posts, I decided to blog a little more about my new holy grail essential in the kitchen – the groovy food company organic virgin coconut oil. I had been thinking for a while about investing in a pot of the good stuff but I just didn’t realise the full potential of its magical prowess…until now that is. I tend to use it when I’m frying or sauteing my food. Chicken, veggies, tuna steak, sweet potato – you name it and it just works. Without leaving a coconuty taste either, which I was kind of expecting. I told you I’m sold. I used it to fry a home marinated chicken breast earlier this week and it was just so good. I accompanied my chicken with a few leaves of iceberg lettice and one of those rice bags – perfect. Now, what else can I use it with?!

Wonderful winter salads

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Salad, more often than not is deemed a summer dish. Great to be eaten in the sunshine, when it’s hot outside and it can be topped with a multitude of yummy meats, fish and cheeses. However, how many of us tend to dig into a big ol’ bowl of leaves,peppers and cherry toms post-September and particularly this close to Christmas? …Yeah, not many of us. But, in a bid to try and conquer the post-Christmas slump and party season bulge I have taken to mixing up my lunches with an array of coleslaws, pots of potato salad and lettice! I opted to grab a bag of Florette Salad on my last visit to the supermarket and it didn’t disappoint. Crisp and packed with flavour, its the perfect accompaniment to my lunch. I also noticed they do kale too so I plan to pick up a bag on my next trip so I can work it into my evening meals too! Once I had compiled my ingredients I consulted my copy of the ‘a salad for all …

Adding a new watch to my Christmas list…

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Christmas shopping can be such a faf and December is right around the corner… in fact it’s tomorrow! Today I dared to brave the Trafford Centre and pick up a couple of pressies to beat the rush and to prevent any last minute ill-advised xmas purchases! But, when I was browsing I played that fatal game of ‘one for Mum, one for me’. The shops are chock-a-block with gorgeous party dresses and womens’ perfume but there’s one present I would love to unwrap under the tree this year…. a new watch. I browsed in Topshop and Miss Selfridge at fashion watches and spent quite a few hours dream shopping on Diamond Watches London this weekend, but I think I’m looking for something that will stand out in the crowd. Something I can wear everyday but will look lovely on a night out too, maybe even something like this…. 1. Olivia Burton 2. Argos 3. ASOS Now I just need to keep my fingers crossed that Santa reads this post!! *This post contains collaborative links

Recipe // Easy Peasy Guacamole

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Continuing my newly found enjoyment for cooking, earlier this week I decided to make fajitas for inner as it’s fast, easy and just so yummy. I picked up some Quorn spiced fajita strips in Tesco from the whoops aisle and thought I would rustle up a simple tea after a day at work. I lightly fried them in my amazing new coconut oil from The Groovy Food Company -another Tesco find, with onions and peppers. And, this was when I discovered a lonely avocado in the fridge so I decided to whip up a bowl of guacamole to accompany! It’s the easiest recipe to make – I simply diced the avocado, chopped a tomato and mushed both together in a bowl with a fork. Add a touch of salt and pepper and a dab of lemon juice, if you have any to hand and there you have it! I added it to the top of my fajitas with a smidge of grated cheese and I had a yummy dinner in under 30 mins!

Eating well: Recipes for every mealtime

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Following on from my post on Sunday, I thought I would delve a little deeper in my latest cooking ventures and the meals I’ve been rustling up. Breakfasts  My breakfast go-to is either porridge with blueberries, cranberries, a touch of honey and shredded coconut or a banana, apple and a mug of fruit tea. I never used to drink tea, but I’ve started with a mug of forest berries tea in the morning and teamed with fruit, it keeps me satisfied till lunch. Lunches Salads or a cream cheese bagel are my meals of choice lately. They’re really easy to prep and still manage to fill me up till I eat my evening meal around 7 pm. Ham, chicken and tuna salads are on the menu and I decided to make my own potato salad to accompany. I normally buy a tub of reduced fat potato salad or coleslaw to add to my salads but I had a batch of new potatoes to decided to make it myself. I boiled 6 new potatoes and chopped …

Refining my mealtimes

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The past few months have seen many changes occur to my work life and with these changes came a kind of laziness. My love for food and cooking fell by the wayside as I opted to buy my lunches as opposed to take them to work. And, evening meals centered around  a quick and easy jacket spud. But no more. Last week I decided it was high time I got back into the kitchen and made sure I was getting my 5-a-day. There is such an emphasis on ‘eating clean’ these days. All over Instagram and Twitter we are confronted with people on fitness plans eating the same meal on repeat, night after night and loaded with veg and meat, yet little enjoyment in what they’re eating. So, with this came the mind frame of putting goodness back into my body, without restrictions or guilt over a weekend take-away or a good few drinks to unwind. They say it’ all about moderation after all…. Sweet potatoes, broccoli, cabbage and green beans to name but a …

Review: Belissimo lip glitter

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  When it comes to my make-up routine I tend to opt for either a bold lip or stand-out eyes but generally the former wins. So, when Belissimo got in touch to see if I wanted too review their latest lip glitter product, I jumped at the chance! Launching in Topshop as a concession stand and perfect for the party season, I was intrigued by the frosted pink kit. Pink is a colour I dabble with every now and again, but I was pleasantly surprised and pleased with the soft pastel colouring of this set. It will look really nice with grey eyeshadow and a little eyeliner to really show off the difference in colours and make the pink pop! It arrived in a cute black drawstring bag with the lip glitter, lip glue and 4 buds – plus the instructions! I found it was really easy to apply and I’m gutted I didn’t take full advantage it as it’s so playful and fun and wear on Halloween – it would have been perfect! Once I …

Review: Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Fluid Foundation

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Foundation is a staple tool in my make up collection, yet whilst I was a faithful user of Estee Lauder Double Wear for a long time, I have recently started to change my alliances and most recently, I’ve been swayed by Laura Mercier. I’ve read many reviews of the Laura Mercier smooth finish flawless fluid foundation on beauty blogs and during a trip to Liverpool on Saturday with my mum, we nipped to John Lewis and I picked up a sample to try. I was colour matched to porcelain ivory which is really light and quite similar to the Max Factor foundation I’ve been wearing recently. The MUA at the stand stated it is longwear foundation, similar to double wear and is designed to create a smooth, seamless complexion – and it does what it says on the tin! It goes on really evenly when applied over a primer and despite the sample only being a small pot, I don’t need much for even coverage. I like the heavy foundation look so I know I’m covered …

Food glorious food…

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This past week has been particularly lovely. After a month of just taking each day as it came, not really knowing what was around the corner, Thursday onwards brought lots of good news! So, this post is just a snapshot of the things that have made me happy this past week Gaga was indeed only five days ago and my gorgeous new tartan scarf from River Island via ASOS got its first outing The boy in my life and I went to the Fat Olive on Friday night to celebrate with a couple of glasses of rose and the most amazing three course meal. Yesterday I spent some quality time with my mumma and we headed to Bills in Liverpool. We arrived around 2ish so beat the lunchtime rush and tucked into hummus and tzatziki, mac and cheese with butternut squash for me and tomato and goats cheese risotto for my ma. Oh and a glass of house wine each too!

The time I artraved with Lady Gaga…

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In the midst of Hurricane Gonzalo on Tuesday night I met up with two of my favourite people and headed to Manchester to catch the latest leg of Lady Gaga’s Artrave tour! One of my lovely friend’s Caro, who I used to work with, booked tickets for herself, our friend Kat and I earlier in the year. It was so lovely to see them both and catch up on Kat’s gorgeous wedding news and get back to what I do best – mithering Caro and bug her about reading my blog:) So after many months of waiting.. we headed off to marry the night and experience Gaga at her best! I’m actually really annoyed it has taken me so long to see her as she put on one hell of a show. One of my favourite things about going to gigs and watching artists perform live is when they love it as much as the crowd and Gaga gave it her all. Hit after hit, she just kept delivering! With many, many monologues to the crowd on …

Let’s talk shampoo…

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It’s a staple, a necessity and yet there are so many brand to choose from.. yep it’s time to cover the delightfully dull subject of shampoo and conditioner. Whether you choose to grab a bottle and go, use whatever is on the go in the shower or the latest offers in the supermarket, let’s put shampoo and conditioner in the spotlight. I used to a loyal, dedicated fan of Tresseme but lately I’ve found myself swaying towards Sherzy’s favourite, Herbal Essences and classic Timotei shampoo for golden highlights. I have been using these products for the last month and I’m a convert! Having highlighted, dry hair I try to choose products that help put moisture back into your hair. I use straighteners about three times a week so I like hair care products that smell really great and condition and strengthen to treat the heat! I think I will re-purchase all three brands again. Cheap, cheerful and totally do the job!

The truth.

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I feel like it’s been such a long time since I just sat down and wrote. Wrote about my day, my week, things I’ve been up to, plans for the coming weeks, or simply just how I’m feeling. My blog started over four years ago, documenting my life in limbo between finishing university, discovering I had failed a couple of modules and not graduating “when you’re supposed to”. I feel that quoted sentence sums up my life to date and in some instances it makes me sad. Comparing myself to others isn’t something I like to do very often because where is it going to get you? But in the most part it makes me proud. Proud of me, what I have achieved since that time I didn’t graduate “when you’re supposed to” and thankful for my lovely family and friends I have gained along the way. However, whilst four years may have passed and I have steered my way through, building a career, becoming something, I find myself kind of in the same situation. Not …

My make-up collection

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When it comes to keeping my bedroom tidy, I fall down massively. The phrase floordrobe sums me up massively. Clothes, jewellery and shoes are high in numbers and storage space is low, but last weekend enough was enough. A stern talking-to from the boy lead to a bedroom overhaul. I think I might post a bedroom guide soon so I have a purpose to keep it tidy,  but today’s post focuses on my make up dresser. Following my theme of being a hoarder, I overhauled my make up collection and seriously downsized. In the past I have been guilty of keeping samples from magazines, mountains of glossy boxes, old foundations and mascaras and enough lipsticks to change colour twice daily for a week. Following my new found inner-domestic goddess, I have reduced my make up dramatically, keeping only the necessities. Foundation, concealer, lip glosses, primer, powder, eye shadows, brow kit, brushes and toiletries made the cut. Brand wise, I’m pretty loyal to drugstore make up as opposed to bigger brands. Max Factor, MUA, Collection 2000 …

Storing my necklaces

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Statement necklaces are fast becoming a must in my daily dressing. Layered over a denim shirt, a crisp white shirt with jeans or with a simple acid wash tee from Primark, necklaces are the easiest way to dress up your look. The majority of mine, bar just one are from Primark cos they are cheap and cheerful without looking like their price tag. I picked up a new one in Primark on the weekend, a simple gold necklace but I thought I would share my storage ideas. My mum got me this necklace holder last Christmas and its ideal for necklaces, rings and my many pairs of hoop earrings – perfect!