Monday 8 July 2019

WHAT I EAT IN A DAY

Hello everyone! So for today's post i am back with another what i eat in a day post and of course it is another healthy one, as i am still trying to stick to whole 80% good, 20% maybe not so good lifestyle. I am finding that this "diet" which i hate using the term diet (i would much prefer to use the work lifestyle because diets are classed as temporary), is working so well for me and i am finding myself not craving bad foods all of the time. Today's what i eat in a day is in the 80% section, that being said i would love to share at some point more of the 20% section too because we all have those days from time to time...


As i mentioned in my previous what i eat in day post, i usually switch between one of four different breakfast options and even though it is summer this day i went with porridge. This porridge i made 40g of oats, one scoop of chocolate brownie flavoured diet protein blend from MyProtein, 150ml of unsweetened almond milk and then i topped it with some mixed nuts and seeds, as well as a little bit of honey. 


Lunch time and i am actually having the same as i did in the last post ironically, all though i have also been obsessed with having hummus on toast or even hummus on the ryvita thins you can get. So of course this is another one of my favourite lunches, which is smashed peas on wholemeal seeded bread toasted and topped with dried crushed chilli.


Finally for dinner i am having one of my favourite "summer" dinner dishes, which is roasted veggies, bulgur wheat and halloumi. For the roasted vegetables it is basically just mixed peppers, squash or sweet potato, red onion, garlic and of course mixed in to the bulgur wheat and then topped with some pan done halloumi and some more crushed chilli because i just love anything including chilli.

This particular day for drinks i had around 3 litres of water, an unsweetened almond milk iced latte, a peppermint tea and a raspberry pepsi max.

Catch up on my previous what i eat in a day post: here

xo.

Monday 1 July 2019

WHAT I'M LISTENING TO ON SPOTIFY AT THE MOMENT

Hello everyone! I think it has been a good few months now since i last did a music at the moment update and so much has changed in those months, as every artist that i love seems to finally have released new content and it couldn't of come at a better time with this warmer weather because lets face it summer isn't summer without music. With that in mind for today's post i thought i would share with you what music i am loving listening to Spotify at the moment, which is going to put you in that summer mood for sure...


( click on the song title to play song on Spotify )


Catch up on my previous post: here

xo.

Monday 24 June 2019

BOOKS I WANT TO READ THIS SUMMER

Hello everyone! So for today's post i thought i would talk all things summer reads, in the form of a books i want to read this summer. To me summer and winter and the two perfect seasons for reading, winter for getting cosy with a good book and summer for a good read for your holiday/reading in the garden. There are so many new/upcoming books to read this season, so i am excited to get reading the following...


1. my life in shambles by karina halle | buy on amazon |
They say bad things happen in threes, after my boyfriend broke off our engagement, I lost my apartment, and was laid off from my job, I can definitely attest to that. So when my two sisters invited me to ring in the new year in Ireland, I decided to throw all caution to the wind and go for it. I was going to let “saying yes” be my new resolution. Little did I know I’d spend New Year’s Eve having a hot and dirty one-night stand with Padraig McCarthy, one hell of a sexy Irishman. I also didn’t know that the brooding and intense sex god was one of Ireland’s top rugby players.

2. the two-week arrangement by kendall ryan | buy on amazon |
Dear Sexy AF Intern, I know you don't particularly care that I'm the CEO of this company, and you're just an intern. I also know you're not impressed by my power or my wealth, and that's fine. You think you've got me all figured out from working alongside me for two weeks, but you don't know me. Not really. You don't know that I'm a single dad to twin toddlers, or that those two little girls matter more to me than this entire hotel chain. I'm not interested in starting something deep and meaningful, but what I am interested in is the way your body reacts to mine when we're in the same room. You probably assume the concentration on my face is work-related, when in reality, I'm figuring out which I want more--to nail you against the wall, or to bend you over my desk. While you're too disciplined to act on it, I'm not. And the night you stepped into my limo, all bets were off.

3. seven nights of sin by kendall ryan | buy on amazon |
Part two to the two-week arrangement. He's the powerful CEO. I'm the know-it-all intern. Things went further than they should have, but I don't have any regrets. Well, maybe just one... I went and did the one thing he told me not to – fall in love with him. Now I have seven days to prove my trust and devotion. Turns out money is a powerful drug, but love is even more addictive.

4. imperfect match by corinne michaels | buy on amazon |
Rule number one for a professional matchmaker? Don’t fall in love with your client. I screwed that up when I fell for my best friend, Reid Fortino. He’s gorgeous, successful, and sexy as hell. I figured it would be easy to find him a match and save the family business at the same time. But the more time I spend attempting to find the perfect girl, the more I realise how much I want him for my own. What’s the harm if we give in for just one night? I should have known that would never be enough. Now I’m on the verge of losing my job and my heart. We were an imperfect match from the start, but I don’t know how to let him go.

5. kickin' it by rachel van dyken | buy on amazon |
Successful, high-profile sports agent Matt Kingston thinks he can handle anything. Then soccer player Parker Speedman shows up at his door. She is young and gorgeous, has natural talent, and is looking for a team. She’s also a hothead with a punchy past who floored her last coach on live TV. Despite his misgivings, Matt agrees to be both her agent and her coach. Professional common sense says she’s off-limits. But what can he say about the raw attraction between them?

6. faking ms. right by claire kingsley | buy on amazon |
Everly Dalton is a walking, talking, martini-drinking dating disaster. Forget kissing frogs. She can’t even get past the first date. But at work, she’s a badass the longest-running assistant billionaire Shepherd Calloway has ever had. Her coworkers wonder how she handles the big bad wolf and never gets bit. Shepherd Calloway isn’t interested in being anyone’s sugar daddy. Tired of women who only want him for his money, he swears off dating, determined to focus on running his empire. Until his gold-digging ex hits him where it hurts, putting him in a difficult position. His solution to have Everly pose as his live-in girlfriend is obviously crazy. But the timing is uncanny. It just so happens Everly needs a favor from her boss a big and awkward one and this could ensure everyone gets what they want.

7. butterfly in frost by sylvia day | buy on amazon |
Once, I would never have imagined myself here. But I’m settled now. In a place I love, in a home I renovated, spending time with new friends I adore, and working a job that fulfils me. I am reconciling the past and laying the groundwork for the future. Then Garrett Frost moves in next door. He’s obstinate and too bold, a raging force of nature that disrupts the careful order of my life. I recognise the ghosts that haunt him, the torment driving him. Garrett would be risky in any form, but wounded, he’s far more dangerous. I fear I’m too fragile for the storm raging inside him, too delicate to withstand the pain that buffets him. But he’s too determined…and too tempting. And sometimes hope soars above even the iciest desolation.

8. unexpected by kelly rimmer | buy on amazon |
The next three decades of Abby Herbert’s life are as carefully planned out as the last three were. Best career ever? Check. Great friends, one of whom she lives with in a stunning Tribeca apartment? Check. Perfect man to share her dream family? Surely just a matter of time. But then she gets devastating news from her doctor—if she wants to get pregnant, she needs to get started on that by…well, yesterday. On the bright side, she has the perfect person in mind to be the father. Tech entrepreneur Marcus Ross has been harbouring decidedly not-friends feelings toward Abby. He doesn’t want to lose her and, knowing his feelings are one-sided, he’s been trying to move on. When he learns about the curve-ball Abby’s just been hit with, he promises to be there for her however she wants him to be, even if the idea of fatherhood is a little complicated for him right now. But it isn’t long until boundaries start to blur, and a deal struck between friends starts to turn into something perilously close to feelings that could change everything.

Catch up on my previous post: here

xo.

Monday 10 June 2019

WHAT I EAT IN A DAY

Hello everyone! So we are half way into the year and i am finally getting around to sharing a what i eat in a day post, which i did mention that i was going to try and do more of. That being said one thing i have been committed to this year as i mentioned back in January, was to continue eating as healthy as possible just as i did back in 2018. I tend to switch up what i am eating a lot of the time, which i feel is key when trying to follow a more healthy lifestyle and this way you aren't going to get bored and reach for the more unhealthy options...


For breakfast i do tend to switch between one of four things, which consists of either yoghurt, porridge, protein shake/smoothie or cereal and today it was a yoghurt kind of morning. This yoghurt is the 0% fat greek style with honey and i had around 4 or 5 tablespoons of this before topping with some dried mixed fruit, homemade no added sugar granola, sunflower seeds and a little peanut butter on the side. 


Lunch time and this particular day i had a favourite of mine, which i have shared in this style of post in the past and that is of course smashed peas on toast. This particular bread is a wholemeal seeded bread, which i of course toasted and topped with peas that i simply cooked and smashed with a fork before topping off with some chilli flakes for some added heat and flavour.


Dinner time and probably one of my favourite dinners at the moment, which is of course stir fry. Stir fry is not only tasty, quick and easy to do but also a great way of getting all your veggies in for the day in one go. This particular stir fry had chicken breast, a ton of mangetout, sweetcorn, fresh red chilli and rice. I also can't help myself from added a lot of sriracha mayo, which is one of my favourite things at the moment and i put it on anything. 

This is everything i had to eat on this particular day, some days i will also have a snack in the evening time but this day i didn't as i find rice super filling and i still full up. I have also been giving intermittent fasting a try recently, i usually go around 12-14 hours. I also drink just under 3 litres of water every single day, as well as one coffee or iced coffee and a regular tea or a peppermint tea.  

Catch up on my previous post: here

xo.

Monday 3 June 2019

SUMMER BODY-SUITS: MY MISSGUIDED BODYSUIT PICKS

Hello everyone! So this particular piece of clothing has its pros and cons but for me personally there are more pros than cons, of course i am talking about the bodysuit. For me they are a key item to have hanging in your wardrobe and Missguided's bodysuits are definitely a winner for me, whether that be casual, dressed-up or somewhere in-between. With that in minds for today's post i thought why not share with you a selection of my favourite bodysuits from the Missguided site for this coming summer...


1. red tie front ditsy floral bodysuit - £15 (click to shop)
So first up we have this stunning ditsy floral bodysuit, which for me screams summer vacation vibes with its tie up front and slightly ruffled straps. Personally i would style this bodysuit as it is on the site with either white shorts, white jeans or even a light wash denim.

2. mustard yellow popper knitted bodysuit - £22 (click to shop)
I am obsessed with this mustard yellow colour at the moment and i have a selection of different items in my wardrobe already for this summer, including a cute also knitted crop vest which i picked up from New Look. That being said back to the bodysuit, i love the style with it being off the shoulder yet still long sleeved it makes it more summer appropriate.

3. white ribbed popper knitted bodysuit - £18 (click to shop)
When it comes to clothes in general i am such a basics kind of girl, as i have mentioned many times before and you really can't go wrong with basic bodysuits. What i like about the Missguided bodysuits is that the majority of them are a high legged/thong style back, which is perfect if you want to pair them with trousers rather than denim and you haven't got to worry about seeing any vpl through your bottom of choice. This particular bodysuit is available in black, white, mustard, nude and pink. 

4. black harness lace bodysuit - £22 (click to shop)
If you are stuck with what to wear to either a nice dinner or a night out, then you can't really go wrong with a classic black lace bodysuit to either pair with a skirt, leather look trousers, cigarette trousers or shorts then you are good to go. I love the harness detailing on this particular one, as it adds something a little different. You could also dress them down slightly with a pair of light blue wash jeans and a leather jacket.

5. black stripe button front bardot bodysuit - £15 (click to shop)
This bodysuit is super similar in style to the mustard yellow one but obviously this one has a striped pattern, which comes in black or pink. Sometimes bardot style tops can be a little annoying when it comes to moving your arms a lot but the material of these bodysuits are soft and not restricting whats so ever, as well as being true to size.


6. blush pink rib cami bodysuit - £12 (click to shop)
Another basic bodysuit Missguided stock is this beautiful blush pink ribbed with thin straps number, which is also available in other colours such as: black, lime, neon pink and white. This particular bodysuit is super similar to one of my favourite bargain bodysuits from Primark at just £4 but you can only pick that up in a couple of colours.

7. black rib high neck bodysuit - £12 (click to shop)
So this might be another basic looking piece but this is definitely one that can be used to dress up or down, as it has this super flattering high neck line. Just like most of the other bodysuits it comes in a high-leg style with a thong back. If dressing this bodysuit up i would pair it with some high-waisted or paperbag shorts, then dressing down with a simple pair of jeans or even joggers.

8. brown leopard slinky one shoulder bodysuit - £18 (click to shop)
Something on the little less basic side of things is this stunning leopard one shoulder number, which is another item you could either dress-up or down. Personally i think i would pair this with a pair of faded black ripped/distressed jeans. I am still loving the whole leopard print trend at the moment, even though i know it is a love or hate look.

9. sand knitted pointelle bodysuit - £22 (click to shop)
Finally is a bodysuit in another shade i am loving at the moment, especially on me personally with my dark hair and a tan. I love how this is still very much a basic piece but it still has some detail with the soft knitted material and subtle pattern. Once again this could be dressed-up (especially on holiday) or dressed down.

Missguided currently have 20% off everything.
When it comes to sizing i opt for a size 8 for tops and size 10 for bottoms (true sizing).

xo.

Monday 27 May 2019

CURRENT EVERYDAY MAKEUP ROUTINE: STEP-BY-STEP

Hello everyone! It has been a good few months since i last shared my everyday makeup, which of course changes ever so slightly from month to month. That being said i thought it was time for an updated version, which i also thought i would share not only the products that i am currently using but also a step-by-step run down of the order i apply the products and so on...


So first things first is primer and if you have read my posts for a while, then you will already know i find that facial oils/primer oils work best for my skin personally and creates the perfect base for any other product applied on top. I have been using this particular one from MUA for a good amount of this year already, pretty much every single day so i would say that i like this product. It gives me the perfect base for makeup as i mentioned, it is super hydrating and it is a bargain product costing just £4.

After primer comes foundation and i am back to reaching for my all time favourite foundation on an everyday basis, i honestly think this foundation will take some topping for me. I just love how it applies, the colour shade 220 is perfect for me, it wears so well and still looks pretty much the same towards the end of the day. I personally always like to apply my foundation by dotting some product all over my face before going in to blend it out, using a damp beauty blender/sponge. Doing this just gives it a much more natural and flawless finish.

So when it comes to higher end makeup we all definitely have our favourites and bareMinerals products are up there for me, as i just find they work so well for me. This particular powder duo is a go-to for me, as it is super light/non cake-y once applied and it is super handy that is is a duo product. This particular powder has two different finishes, one side matte and the other glow, which allows you to either use the products separately or both together. I personally like to use the glow side of the compact in the centre of the face and then the matte side of the compact everywhere else, to keep my makeup in place.

For brows i was using the Revolution Pro Precision brow pencil but i recently decided to switch things up and go back in with using my trust Dipbrow from ABH, which is another product i have loved for years now that gives you all weather proof brows. Along side this a product that i haven't switched up in well over a year, as i just keep buying the same one is the Pro Longwear brow gel by MAC and this product just keeps everything in place.

So for eyes i like to keep things super natural and simple of everyday, as it is super quick and natural looking. This Dose of Colors Baked Browns eyeshadow palette is definitely my favourite eyeshadow palette in my collection and i use it pretty much every single day, especially the shade Outdoorsy which is the most beautiful warm peachy brown shade. For everyday makeup i just apply this particular shade, blend it out and then apply some mascara to my top lashes. I really like this particular MUA mascara and i have done for some time now, it separates, lengthens and gives volume to your lashes all in one.

For highlighter at the moment i am back using for an old favourite of mine, which of course is the ever so famous Oh Darling shade. When it comes to highlight for me i definitely prefer a golden/bronze toned highlighter, as they just suit me better over something more pink toned. What i love about the Extra Dimension Skinfinishes from MAC is not only how pigmented and stunning they are, but also how finely milled/light-weight the formulas of the different shades are.

The final step for the face/base makeup is bronzer, which for me i love how it just warms up the face and gives some dimension to the face also. For the past month or so i have switched up what i have been using, swapping the higher end bronzer for a drugstore alternative. This particular bronzer is in the shade Long Weekend by Revolution, which not only warms the face up but also gives it a subtle "beach-like glow" at the same time making it the perfect product for the summer months.

Finally we move on to lips, which of course is a nude lip combination. I have really been loving a glossy nude lip for this spring/summer, which has been one of two different combinations. This particular nude lip is a trio of the Oak lip liner pencil by MAC, Yash matte lipstick also by MAC and the Gen Nude Far Out lip gloss by bareMinerals. These three particular products all together create the perfect beige-nude lip with a hint of pink.

Catch up on my new-in travel beauty post: here

xo.

Monday 20 May 2019

TRAVEL BEAUTY: NEW-IN FOR SUMMER

Hello everyone! So it is coming up to that time of year that a lot of us love (me included), that time being summer/summer holiday time. When it comes to this time of year there are always a bunch of new products available from makeup to skincare and also body products, which are perfect for those summer months. With that in mind i thought i would share a selection of my personal favourite new-in products for this summer... 


1. maybelline dream urban cover foundation | click to shop |
So i have always been a huge fan of Maybelline foundations, especially my all time favourite foundation the Fit Me and naturally when they launch a new foundation, i am going to want to try it asap. This foundation is an all new concept where makeup meets skincare, as the foundation is full coverage yet lightweight and has SPF50 which couldn't be more perfect for summer or whilst travelling to a hot climate. 

2. mario badescu summer shine body lotion | click to shop |
It is not just the winter months that tend to dry your skin out, the summer months can be just as bad if not worse as your body is more likely to become dehydrated quicker. That being said it is super important to keep your skin super moisturised and hydrated, this Mario Badescu body lotion is the perfect candidate for not only ticking those boxes but will also leave you with a beautiful summer glow.

3. mac cosmetics x aladdin friend like me lipstick | click to shop |
First of all i literally can't contain my excited for going to see the new Aladdin movie at the cinema this coming weekend, second of all this new limited edition lipstick by MAC couldn't be any more perfect if it tried. I am obsessed with nude lip shades in general but when it is the most perfect almost cool neutral beige toned nude, i was sold immediately and the packaging is also beautiful.

4. revolution glow revolution timeless bronze | click to shop |
If you have beauty products on your radar regularly, then you will have probably seen the ever so Instagram famous Iconic London glow spray and you might also know that it isn't the most affordable spray out there. That being said Revolution to the rescue once again, launching a dupe style product which will leave you with the most beautiful glowing skin, bronze finish and with money left in the bank as it costs just £10.

5. fenty beauty pro filt'r instant retouch primer | click to shop |
I have been wanting to try something from Fenty Beauty for a while now, so the fact you can now get your hands on the entire range at Boots now is great. Out of all of the products this is the thing that catches my eye the most, as if you can suffer from shine (and not the good kind) during the summer months then this primer claims to have your back but still leaves your skin looking radiant. Also how stunning is the packaging?

6. charlotte tilbury glowgasm face palette | click to shop |
I know i mentioned before about having a product that didn't break the bank, this new-in face palette by Charlotte Tilbury is the complete opposite but it doesn't stop it from being anything but beautiful. Unlike a spray i feel like powder palettes last a lot longer and give you more value for money, this palette is filled with four equally stunning shades and of course they are encased by the most stunning signature Charlotte Tilbury packaging.

7. rimmel candy queen jelly highlighter | click to shop |
Finally we have another highlighting/glow related product (you can't have enough glow during the summer) this time a jelly formulated highlighter, which is new-in by Rimmel. I already have a jelly formula highlight from Revolution which i love the formula of, so i also think this stunning almost rose gold shade called candy queen. I am hoping this product will be another summer favourite, that will leave me with a lovely natural summer glow.

Want to know what some of the makeup products that i like to travel with? Then you can catch up on some of my previous travel beauty posts for more...


xo.