WHAT TO WATCH ON TV THIS AUTUMN | PART TWO

Hello everyone! Autumn is that time of year which is that perfect weather outside to simply stay inside during the evenings or a lazy Sunday and just cosy up watching some good TV. Autumn/Winter always seems to be the time when all of the good new/existing TV shows come out, which couldn't be better timing really. With that in mind for today's post i am back with part two of "what to watch on tv this autumn" and i am so excited to share with you some existing/new upcoming shows...

1. station 19 - sky witness | catch up here |

So in part one i mentioned how once September rolls around so does the new season of Grey's Anatomy, which so far has been as amazing as it always is. Now that also means Station 19 is back with another season, which i am so excited because season one ended on a cliffhanger moment. Station 19 is a "spin-off" from the creators of Grey's Anatomy but all about the fire station Station 19 in Seattle and there has been a couple of cross-over episodes now between the two shows. This show has you feeling equally as hooked as when you are watching Grey's Anatomy and has you feeling all of those similar type of feels. 

2. line of duty - bbc/netflix | catch up here |

Next up is a show that i have finally started watching myself and i am so late to the party, but i am pretty sure i am not on my own there. If you watched the Bodyguard (which i featured in part one) and loved it, then Line of Duty is for you as it by the same writer. Line of Duty is a police drama, starting when DC Steve Arnott is transferred to a police anti-corruption unit after he refuses to be part of a cover-up involving an accidental shooting. Line of Duty currently has 4 seasons, with season 5 returning early 2019, so there is definitely plenty of time to get caught up this Autumn. 

3. the little drummer girl - bbc/amc | watch the trailer here |

If you was a huge fan of The Night Manager tv series, then you are probably going to want to be watching the new up-coming six part series also by the same production company and another adaptation from the genius spy novelist John le Carré. What makes me equally as excited for this show, as not only does the trailer make the show look as good if not better than the Night Manager is the fact that The Little Drummer Girl stars Alexander Skarsgård, who is by far one of my favourite actors and i mean isn't he lovely to look at also?

4. dark heart - itv drama | watch the trailer here |

Next is another up-coming show this time to ITV this month and is from the writers of the ever so talked about Unforgotten, which is another detective drama. Dark Heart follows DI Will Wagstaffe who is haunted by the murder of his parents when he was 16 years old. This series is an adaptation from novelist Adam Creed who has written a series of books featuring the main character Will Wagstaffe. This show will also be a six part series.

5. informer - bbc | watch the trailer here |

Next up is yet another six-part bbc drama set to fill that Bodyguard shaped hole in your evening, this time in the form of the counter-terrorism spy thriller Informer. This show is set to show you the messy/boundary-crossing relationship between an informant and police handler, that is set to have you hooked this Autumn as it follows the theme of trust, deception and ever-present danger. This series has a premiere date coming Tuesday 16th October on BBC one at 9pm! 

6. a discovery of witches - sky one | catch up here |

Finally is a new show to Sky that so far has a handful of episodes that has aired called A Discovery of Witches, which is definitely a series for those who love diving into the world of something a little more supernatural. The show is based around a historian Diana who finds herself in a world of Vampires, Daemons, Witches and forbidden love and also comes across something that forces her to uncover her own magical heritage.

Catch up on "what to watch on tv this autumn" part one: here

xo.

MY TOP SIX FAVOURITE PROTEIN WORLD "SLENDER BLEND" RECIPES

Hello everyone! For today's post i am back with another foodie/healthy lifestyle type of post. This time i thought i would actually share some of my favourite recipes that i have been loving to eat for the past few months, which all have "the slender blend" by Protein World incorporated in them somewhere...

So like i said for the past few months now i have been incorporating "the slender blend" by Protein World in to my diet a lot and i have been not only enjoying the taste of everything i have tried but also the difference in the way i feel personally, as i honestly feel really good right now! There is this whole taboo subject about "weight loss" products and if i am being completely honest, i think a lot of these appetite/weight loss products that people get paid for promoting a lot on social media are not a healthy way to lose weight (don't hate me but that's just my opinion). That be said with the Slender Blend you are getting those natural ingredients that you need to maintain a healthy lifestyle, which is high protein, low calorie/sugar yet high in fibre. 

1. post-workout/meal replacement

So first of all is probably the easiest form to use Slender Blend, which is simply by making a shake the regular way with the shaker. You can get the Slender Blend in so many different yummy flavours ranging from Vanilla to Chocolate, Raspberry and White Chocolate and a lot more (personally i like to stick to the Vanilla and then Chocolate). To make this shake you simply add four scoops of powder to 400ml of water or milk (i use Almond Milk) and shake away. - Perfect for an on-the-go breakfast.

2. slender coffee shake

Next up is another shake but this time one that i pop into my Nutribullet, as it is more of a Frappe style shake and still a super quick snack/meal to have. I simply make a shot of coffee up before taking my nutribullet cup, adding Ice, two scoops of Slender Blend, then the Coffee before filling to the max point with Almond or Coconut Milk and then blend away until smooth.

3. chai vanilla porridge

Now that it is autumn i have been loving having Porridge again for breakfast, as it is not only super yummy but also Oats are so good for you. I kind of came up with this recipe by eye-balling it by chance and now i am obsessed with it, as it is full of those perfect cinnamon/chai autumn flavours. I weigh out 30g of Rude Health Oats, add one scoop of  Vanilla Slender Blend, 1/2 tsp Cinnamon, 1/2 tsp Ground Ginger, a handful of Mixed Dried Fruit and then 100ml Almond Milk, before popping in the microwave for 2-3 Minutes.

4. not-nutella overnight oats

Next up is a recipe that i put a spin on from the not-so-nutella shake recipe that Protein World have on their site, the spin being i like to do it in Overnight Oats form. Overnight Oats are that perfect, yet healthy and still yummy meal prep breakfast, which can be made into so many different flavours. To make the not-nutella Overnight Oats i simply take 30g of Oats, one scoop of Chocolate Slender Blend, 1/2 tsp Cocoa Powder, 1 tbsp Almond/Peanut or Hazelnut Butter, 2 chopped up Dates and 100 ml Almond Milk. Then all that is left to do is leave in the fridge overnight to do its magic.

5. berry protein bowl

Next up is another spin on a Protein World site recipe, as i modify it by adding/taking away some of the ingredients i don't like. A lot of smoothies have Banana incorporated into them, but fun fact i hate anything Banana flavoured or Banana in general. That being said to make the Slender Blend Berry Protein Bowl i simply add, Frozen Berries, 2 scoops of Vanilla Slender Blend, 50ml Almond Milk and a handful of Ice before blending all together and adding toppings of your choice. 

6. slender pancakes

Finally we have something that i have been itching to try for so long as they always come highly recommended, so i finally picked some up and i can now see why they are highly recommended. I love traditional pancakes as they are so yummy, so if i can get something that tastes good like they do but be good for you then i am going to take that option. They are also super easy to make you simply shake/mix the mix together with water/milk pour into the pan, flip and you are done within 3 minutes. The fun starts when you have to decide what toppings to serve with them, which you can afford to do as the pancakes are only 85 calories each.

Check out the Protein World site for more fun/yummy recipes: here

xo.

GOODREADS | BOOKS I WANT TO READ THIS AUTUMN

Hello everyone! It only feels like just yesterday that i was sharing my goodreads summer holiday romance reads, yet here we are now talking all things autumn/winter. As i mentioned in my summer goodreads post it is good to switch up the cosy-ing up with a good book for by the pool, but those days are over and we are back to getting all cosy with your favourite autumnal scented candles lit instead. With that in mind for today's post i thought i would share with you the romance reads that i can't wait to get stuck into this autumn...

1. sweet possession - j.daniels | buy on amazon | goodreads |

First up is the second book in a Sweet Addiction series by the author J.Daniels, which i read the first book literally within two evenings i was that hooked on the story and i mentioned this in my september must-buys post. These books follow the story of Dylan and Reese who's relationship to each other started as a wedding hook-up, a one off and is definitely a must read. Book one had me feeling all of the emotions as i laughed, cried, as well as swooning over Reese and i can't wait to pick up where i left off with book two (book one ends in a cliffhanger).

2. dear jane - kendall ryan | buy on amazon | goodreads |

Next up is a book that isn't released until the middle of the month but it is one i can't wait to read, as i have read a handful of Kendall Ryan's books now and i have loved every single one of them (especially Mister Tonight). Dear Jane is kind of a re-kindling romance story as the main character broke her heard and left town ten years ago, now he says he has changed and wants one shot to make everything right again but i don't think things will be as simple as that seems. 

3. hot winter nights - jill shalvis | buy on amazon | goodreads |

Jill Shalvis is an author i know through Passionflix, as her novel The Trouble With Mistletoe was turned into a movie last Christmas time and i have watched it so many times. Almost a year on and she has a new release called Hot Winter Nights, which i can't wait to read also as of course the setting is perfect for this time of year (either autumn or winter time). That being said the story line has a very "protector" kind of theme to it, which has me itching to read more than it being fitting for the time of year.

4. pinch of salt - bethany lopez | buy on amazon | goodreads |

This is one of the book out of many that i have downloaded to my kindle whilst on free promotion, which if you didn't know you can get so many free books from the kindle store. The free books switch and change all the time, so it is worth taking the time and looking often just in-case something takes your fancy. This is a great way to try some books from authors you haven't read anything by before or to try the first book in a series. This book is one where the description made me click download as it has a slightly different theme to the story, than some of your typical romance books as it is good to switch things up from time to time.

5. flirting with forever - kendall ryan | buy on amazon | goodreads |

Another book by Kendall Ryan that is also on my to read list, is a new release by the author at the beginning of last month that i am yet to get around to reading. The theme of the book is all about not realising that the right person was right in front of them all along, in the form of a friendship turned relationship story. If it is anything like all of her other books i know i am going to love this one also, as i mentioned before i am yet to be disappointed. If you are looking for something super sexy, flirty and the perfect mix of funny and serious, then i definitely recommend her books!

6. josh and hazel's guide to not dating - christina lauren | buy on amazon | goodreads |

Finally we have a book that i spotted on my goodreads new releases list and after reading the description of the book. The story behind this book is about two friends who are apparently "just friends", that have reformed their friendship years on. As they aren't dating each other, they are setting each other up on terrible double blind dates destined for failure that means nothing between them apparently (i can already tell i am not convinced that is the case and that makes me want to read it even more).

Catch up on a suggested autumnal post: here

xo.

THINGS TO DO TO FEEL AUTUMNAL

Hello everyone! For today's post i am back with another autumnal inspired post, more specifically to help anyone who is yet to get into that autumnal spirit. I am such a summer kind of girl, but i am also a sucker for this time of year and anything/everything autumn inspired from the scents to food/drinks and decor. With that in mind here is thirty things to do to help you feel autumnal this October...

1. light/buy your favourite autumn scented candles

Catch up on my the best budget autumn candles post: here

2. dig out your favourite cosy jumpers/knitwear or treat yourself to something new

3. switch out your summer nude lipstick for a warm brown nude

4. go for a walk in the park or a forest through crisp autumn leaves

5. switch your instagram theme from summer to autumn/winter photographs

6. do some halloween/autumnal diy

7. give yourself a manicure, painting your nails in a deep red/plum shade

8. pick up a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks

Not everyone loves PSL but you never know until you try it, i personally love them

9. make pumpkin/butternut squash soup

10. create a seasonal display on your fireplace

11. invest in a pair of thick cosy soaks, primark have some amazing pairs

12. diy or buy an autumnal flower/leaves wreath

13. donate some food/tins to your local church for harvest festival

14. switch out your regular tea for chai tea

15. make roasted veggies as a side dish for your dinner

16. shop around for a new winter coat or jacket

17. buy some halloween themed sweeties or food for guests/yourself

18. buy a pumpkin/pumpkins

19. carve one of the pumpkins you bought

20. watch some of your favourite autumnal/halloween movies

21. look out for the sunrise at this time of year, they are simply beautiful

22. go to an Oktoberfest event

23. visit an around the world market local to you

24. take a weekend away somewhere

25. bake some halloween treats or pumpkin bread

26. take a trip to a country estate or village in the countryside

27. add cinnamon to your regular porridge oats to make it seasonal

28. dig out a berry/vamp-y lip colour from time to time

29. go out for a Sunday roast to your favourite village pub

30. celebrate halloween

Catch up on my previous post: here

xo.

MUSIC AT THE MOMENT | MY GO-TO CHILL PLAYLIST

Hello everyone! So for today's post i am back with another music at the moment post, but this time with a twist. I don't know about you but on my Spotify (more specifically the playlists i make myself), i always have different playlists for different music/categories all depending on what mood i am in. That being said at the moment i am loving listening to my more "chill" type of music playlist and i thought why not share with you all of the songs that are on this playlist. This playlist is full of songs by some of my favourite artists such as Majid Jordan, DVSN, Bryson Tiller, Gallant, MIKExAngel, Tory Lanez and Summer Walker...

Want to listen to any of the songs included in this post? Simple click on the song title:

1. spirit - majid jordan

2. all over you - majid jordan

3. with me - dvsn

4. W.E.T - paloma ford

5. complicated - MIKExANGEL

6. ain't nobody takin my baby - russ

7. 2am - che ecru

8. lights out (hymm too) - H.I.M

9. habits - H.I.M

10. manhattan - gallant

11. i like u - NIKI

12. right now - trevor jackson

13. slip & fall - elhae feat. eric bellinger

14. king city - majid jordan

15. coming home - zhu feat. majid jordan

16. deep - summer walker

17. cpr - summer walker

18. anxious - MIKExANGEL

19. acting like - tory lanez, shlohmo

20. better - khalid

21. canceled - bryson tiller

22. we both know - bryson tiller

23. best part - daniel caesar feat. H.E.R

24. TOOGOODTOBETRUE - gallant feat. sufjan stevens

25. the first time - elliott trent

26. keep in touch - tory lanez feat. bryson tiller

27. do me like that - kalin white

28. nov 12 - SoMo

29. neither do i - stwo feat. jeremih

30. body smile - dvsn

Missed my summer favourites post? Catch up on that: here

xo.

NOTHING BUT THE BAREMINERALS | EVERYDAY MAKEUP

Hello everyone! So fun fact i used to switch up my everyday makeup routine products every single month, now it is completely the opposite and i only ever switch a couple of things out every couple of months or so. This might seem boring but i have come to stick to what i like (i know we all do this more often than not) that being said now we are into autumn, i have switched up quite a few different products. With that in mind for today's post i thought why not share with you my current everyday go-to makeup...

maybelline fit me matte + poreless foundation in the shade 220

First up is foundation and of course this is a foundation that hasn't been switched out for a while now, as it is my favourite foundation of all time. What i love about this foundation is it is so reliable and i know it isn't going to let me down, from its finish, the coverage, shade and how long-wearing it is. Talking of foundations i do really want to give the new Conceal + Define foundation by Revolution a try, as i still love love love the concealer.

revolution conceal + define concealer in the shade c6

As i just mentioned i am still completely in love with this concealer and i am currently reaching for it on a daily basis (so much so i am almost out). I honestly can't fault this concealer one single bit, it doesn't crease under the eyes even though it is a slightly thicker consistency as it is still hydrating. The coverage is medium-full/build-able and it comes in a such a wide range of different shades, to match so many different skin-tones.

bareMinerals invisible light translucent powder duo  

You will probably of figured out already but i am loving reaching for a lot of bareMinerals products at the moment, but that is simply because i can't fault their products whatsoever. I just love the finish and feel of this powder to set my makeup in place, it feels super light and looks flawless and as this is a powder duo you have both the matte finish powder and glow finish powder to play with.

bareMinerals gold obsession candlelight glow illuminator

So this product was actually limited edition from last Christmas and i am really hoping they bring it back this Christmas so i pick up another to have in stock, as i have honestly never tried anything like it before. This highlighter is so uniquely beautiful, as it is in fact a cream highlighter that once applied and blended into the skin transforms into a silky powder finish. Once applied you are left with the most beautiful yet natural golden glow to the skin, especially if you apply is with a damp beauty blender/sponge.

bareMinerals invisible bronzer bronzing powder in the shade medium

I had been loving using one of the bronzing powders from Primark over the summer, that being said i am still too caught up on this bronzer by bareMinerals and i always always always go back to it soon enough. This bronzer has probably featured in nine out of ten everyday makeup posts, as just like the Maybelline Fit Me foundation this bronzer never lets me down. The shade medium is the perfect shade for my skin, it applies flawlessly, warms up the skin yet still looks natural and of course it stays looking fresh all day long.

bareMinerals all over face colour in the shade warmth

So i have this small size in the all over face powder, which is the most beautiful deep yet warm bronze shade and i have actually been loving using it not on the face but on my eyes. The reason for this being is i do more often than not just use bronzer on my eyes, for a quick everyday eye look and as this product is more of a loose mineral product it takes zero effort to blend out. This product still leaves you with this beautiful warm/bronze wash of colour on the eyes, before i simply curl my lashes and pop some mascara on.

MAC Pro longwear waterproof brow set

As i always use the Revolution brow tint in the shade dark brown on my eyes two-three times a week, i only ever have to go in with some brow gel to finish my brows off once i have done my makeup. The brow tint has honestly cut the time it takes to do my makeup down by half, it is such a heaven sent product and i don't think i could go without it now. That being said i do still like to apply some brow gel to set the hairs in place and get rid of any small powder bits that might have got onto my brows, that is why i always leave this until the end.

MAC lip pencil in the shade spice + 

bareMinerals gen nude matte liquid lip colour in the shade cult

Finally we have the lip combination that i have been loving reaching for on an everyday basis at the moment, especially the lip liner by MAC in Spice as it is the perfect warm brown-ish nude liner for autumn. Then to lighten it up slightly i like to add a tiny amount of Cult liquid lipstick by bareMinerals to the middle of the lips before blending it in with my finger. The shade Cult is quite a light nude shade worn alone, yet paired with another lip colour it is simply stunning and not to mention long-wearing.

Want something else to read? Catch up on a suggest post: here

xo.

AUTUMN RECIPES | HEALTHY DINNER IDEAS

Hello everyone! So when it comes around to this time of year, there is nothing better than having something warming yet delicious to eat for dinner. That being said just because it isn't summer anymore and you are going to want something a lot heartier, it doesn't mean it can't be healthy still because it can. With that in mind for today's post i thought i would share with you some of my personal favourite healthy dinner ideas for autumn...

1. butternut squash and chickpea curry

So i recently picked up a copy of the October Slimming World magazine, not because i follow Slimming World unlike i know a lot of people do but because i have seen so many people create yummy syn friendly/free meals created by Slimming World and i wanted to give them a go. One recipe from the magazine that really caught my eye, is this delicious butternut squash and chickpea curry. Curry is a favourite of mine as i love anything spicy and it is perfect for autumn time, with some wholegrain rice or even lentils/bulgur wheat.

2. squash, spinach and walnut linguine

Next up is another squash inspired dish and actually a recipe from a blog post of mine from almost two years ago, still a firm favourite of mine during autumn/winter. This recipe is super simple yet super tasty and packed full of all the good stuff, the only thing i would say is if you are following a certain strict diet switch the olive oil up for a tiny amount of spray oil (which is what i now do also). 

3. one pan healthy sausage and roasted vegetables

This is a recipe that can be done with regular sausages or vegetarian sausages and definitely a favourite of mine, all year round not just autumn time. This can literally all just be thrown into one pan or a baking tray and be left to roast in the oven until cooked, not many dishes to wash afterwards either. Roasted veggies always have this beautiful taste to them, unlike when you would just boil them or steam them which makes them a lot more enjoyable to eat therefor you can get more veggies inside of you. 

4. sicilian-style salmon with garlic mushrooms

Fish dishes are another one of those perfect for autumn time, especially this salmon dish from the BBC food website which is paired with autumn style veggies and yummy garlic mushrooms. This dish is super quick to throw together, doesn't contain many ingredients but is still full of beautiful flavours and full of goodness. 

5. sweet potato + kale chilli

Just like curry to me chilli screams warming/hearty autumnal food, especially this delicious sweet potato and kale chilli inspired from Pinterest. I love how full of autumnal colours this dish is, with the orange of the sweet potatoes, green of the kale and deep red of the kidney beans. This is another one of those dishes that could be either served alone, with some rice or bulgur and if you have any left overs eaten alone is perfect for lunch time.

6. broccoli pasta bake

Two things i love to eat a lot are pasta and anything cheesy and i definitely limit the amount i have so much more than i would of in the past. That being said if you do cut down the amount you eat, a little once in a while will do you good as you do need some of the benefits from the two. Broccoli pasta bake is such a simple yet delicious meal that can be made/tweaked to your own specific diet. Cutting back of cheese and adding maybe some nutritional yeast as a substitute or even just bread crumbs, or a mixture is a great way to cut back on the calories yet you are still getting the same crusty topped effect. 

Want to finish your evening off with a low calorie/syn friendly snack/dessert? Catch up on my recent blog post sharing some of my favourites: here

xo.

MUSIC AT THE MOMENT

Hello everyone! If you saw a recent post of mine, talking all about my favourite pick-me-ups then you will probably know how i mentioned doing an updated "music at the moment" post and how i hadn't done one in a little while. With that in mind for today's post i thought it would be the perfect time to share, the music that i have been loving at the moment. This time i thought i would do things a little different and talk a little bit about each artist/album/track, rather than just listing the spotify link.

the space between - majid jordon

You might of heard of Majid Jordon before if you didn't know who they were initially but if you are familiar with the much loved "hold on, we're going home" by Drake, then you will have already heard of them because the duo featured on the track. That being said i just had to kick things off with their second studio album that was released a couple of weeks ago, as it has fast become one of my favourite albums of the year. I love every single track on the album but like any other album i do have my ultimate favourites, which are "gave your love away", "OG heartthrob", "body talk", "one i want feat. PARTYNEXTDOOR" and "not ashamed".

the thrill of it all - sam smith

Of course this album was going to be next on the list because let's face it we all new it was going to be amazing, after hearing "too good at goodbyes" and it has definitely been an album well worth the wait. This album is so easy listening and will definitely make you feel all of the feels, my favourite tracks from the album are obviously "too good at goodbyes", "say it first", "burning", "one last song" and "baby, you make me crazy".

heartbreak on a full moon - chris brown

After waiting two years for a new album from breezy himself, finally there is one and i was so shocked because it is not your usual 12+ track album, it in fact has 45 tracks and i have listened to all 45. I have love love loved Chris Brown's music ever since he first jumped on the scene with "run it" way back when and i have one been disappointed with a couple of albums, but this one i love! My favourite tracks so far on the album are obviously "privacy", "juicy booty", "questions", "too my bed", "party", "no exit", "high end" and "only 4 me". 

covers playlist - william singe

Finally we have a playlist that i am still obsessing over months later, i had never heard of William Singe until he collaborated on a track with Jonas Blue called "mama" and then i saw a cover on my Spotify release radar playlist which was "wild thoughts". To cut a long story short i am now obsessed with so many of his covers, in fact a lot of them i have ended up loving more than the originals. My favourites are "come and see me", "wild thoughts", "again", "say it", "controlla", "ooouuu" and "flex (ooh, ooh, ooh)". 

other tracks that are current favourites on my spotify playlist:

all the time - ty dolla $ign / faking it - calvin harris / how long - charlie puth / dusk til dawn - zayn & sia / her - majid jordon (i always listen to this song as it is one that is close to my heart) / alone - jessie ware / if i'm lucky - jason derulo / love u better - ty dolla $ign (i actually love most of "beach house 3").

Catch up on my recent "favourite pick-me-ups" post HERE...

xo.

EVERYDAY AUTUMN "SPEEDY" MAKEUP

Hello everyone! So we all have those specific makeup looks/products we go for when it comes to applying makeup in a hurry, or when we don't want to spend a lot of time putting a look together. You know how it is now that the mornings are darker seeing as it is autumn, it is such a task to not press snooze over and over again on your alarm and that means less time to get ready before rushing out the door. (This complete makeup look will take me around 20 minutes or so, all depending how quick i work).

mua prism strobe cream in the shade golden ray

When it comes to primer i am all for the quickest and easiest thing to apply, so i will either go with a primer spray or a strobe cream (usually the one from MAC). That being said i am loving this new one from MUA, as it is super moisturising, easy to apply and gives you the most beautiful almost "glow from within glow" look.

estée lauder double wear foundation in the shade 2N1

So next up is foundation and i have my select group of foundations i love the most, which is either this one, the fit me foundation by Maybelline or the all day luminous weightless by NARS. That being said recently i have been reaching for this one more, as i really like how quick you can achieve full coverage with a little amount of product, how everything applies/blends quickly and effortlessly which is what you want in a rush.

maybelline fit me concealer in the shade 10

If you read my last current everyday base makeup post, you will know that i mentioned that i had misplaced my back ups of this particular concealer as it is my favourite. Long story short, i finally found them so of course i was straight back to using it every single day. I just love how full coverage yet lightweight feeling it is, how it blends out effortlessly and doesn't crease because of how hydrating the formula is. Then all that i do once it is blended out is set it with some powder, recently i have been giving this MUA luxe set and reflect finishing powder out and so far, so good i am enjoying using the powder and the highlighter.

barry m liquid chrome liquid highlighter in the shade liquid fortune

Last month i did a full first impression/review post on this particular liquid highlighter, which you can catch here if you haven't done so already. That being said i am obsessed with this one recently and it has become my new go-to, even if i am in a rush i now never skip liquid highlighter/illuminator as it makes such a difference.

bareMinerals invisible bronze bronzer in the shade medium

This will come to no shock that i am using this bronzer still, i just can't put it down and this is definitely the perfect bronzer to apply when it comes to being in a rush. The reason for that is because of how effortless and flawless this product blends out, leaving you with the most beautiful bronzed up skin all day long. Then i will sometimes go in with a little blush (more often than non i will skip out on it) but seeing as it is autumn, it is nice to add something there and the shade velvet from the nip+fab blush palette is perfect for that.

mua luxe power brow 3-in-1 brow definer in the shade dark brown

As you can probably tell i am actually loving reaching for quite a few products from MUA recently, this brow pencil being one of them. I love how natural this fills in your brows, how easy it is to give them shape without taking too long. I find it super handy as well for being in a rush, that you don't have to search for a spoolie to comb through your brows as it has one on the other end of the pencil. This is honestly the perfect drugstore dupe to the brow definer by Anastasia Beverly Hills, yet this one is a bargain at £4.

makeup geek eyeshadows in the shade creme brulee and frappe

When it comes to an eye look in a hurry i play it super safe, by either keeping things matte with a couple of warm neutral brown shades in the crease and on the lid. That being said if i want something a little bit extra in a rush, i will go with a pigment by MAC as they are super quick to apply and look simply beautiful. Then to complete the look i will quickly curl my lashes/apply some mascara and my current mascara of choice, is my trusty KIKO 30 day lash treatment mascara.

mac cosmetics lip liner pencil in the shade oak, mac cosmetics lip liner pencil in the shade whirl, nip+fab matte liquid lipstick in the shade toffee

Finally when it comes to lips, you know i am going to stick with a nude whether i am in a rush or not because you just can't go wrong with that. In autumn my two favourite lip liners to reach for are the shades oak and whirl, both by MAC as they are definitely more on the deeper nude side and they look great paired with pretty much any nude colour applied on top. At the moment my favourite liquid lipsticks are the ones by Nip+Fab.

Don't forget you can click on the product names and shop to buy...

xo.

WHAT I ATE IN A DAY

Hello everyone and welcome back to another "what i ate in a day" post! So i said that i was going to try my hardest to remember to keep up with documenting this type of post and so far i think i am doing well-ish, as i have done one a month now since September. Just like my previous "what i ate in a day" post, this is also very much so an at home day as i was basically just working for most of the day.

Usually when i first get up is when i will have my morning coffee, but this particular morning i didn't have it until i was having my breakfast as in place of the coffee i just finished off some green juice that was already in the fridge. For breakfast itself now that it is autumn and it is very much porridge weather, so that is what i had made with unsweetened almond milk and cinnamon. Then on-top i just had a handful of berries and flaked almonds, oh and of course my coffee.

I had been wanting to try smashed peas on toast for so long now, since seeing it all over Pinterest and now that i finally got round to trying it, i am obsessed. So as you can probably tell for lunch i had smashed peas on ciabatta toast, the smashed peas are flavoured with a little bit of garlic olive oil and topped with my fave chilli seeds for some heat. I definitely recommend trying this if you haven't before, it is so delicious and fresh tasting.  

So come mid-afternoon i was really craving something naughty, so i decided to have some chocolate. I love love love kitkat's, more specifically white kitkat's and now that they are available in the bites version it just makes it that bit better. I also had another coffee, which i am so proud of myself recently for limiting myself to two coffees a day rather than my usual three to four per day and honestly i have been sleeping so much better at night.

Finally it was dinner time, i was super hungry so i honestly couldn't wait to dig in and for the first what i ate post in a while, i actually had something on the day where i wasn't having some form of pasta dish ha ha. So for dinner i had coconut and chilli rice with king prawns and coriander, almost like a stir fry-ish and it was so yummy!

Catch my previous "what i ate in a day" post HERE...

xo.

FIVE OCTOBER FAVOURITES FROM SUPERDRUG UNDER £5

Hello everyone! Can you honestly believe that come Wednesday, October will be over? It has also been a hot minute since i last did any form of "monthly favourites" post, i believe that last one was my end of summer favourites. With that in mind i thought i would do a little spin on a monthly favourites, by sharing with you five of my recent favourite purchases from Superdrug that all retail for under £5. Superdrug is pretty much my go-to to get the everyday essentials from shampoo, to toothpaste, makeup etc and i always tend to order them online as it is free (with a beautycard), the delivery is quick and you don't have to wait in the busy queues.

garnier ultimate blends maple and castor oil shampoo 

So i just had to start things off with probably my favourite of the bunch i am going to talk about, because it is a must have product this autumn to have in your shower. First of all how rare is it to see any form of autumnal hair/body product in the UK? This is why i got excited and because it is actually by one of my favourite brands for shampoo, which i have to thank for keeping my hair frizz-free this summer (ultimate blends review). The smell of this shampoo is simply beautiful, with its sweet but not too sweet maple syrup fragrance. This shampoo and conditioner retails for £2.50 half price each currently at Superdrug.

garnier ultimate blends marvellous oil hand cream

Sticking with the Garnier Ultimate Blends theme and a new hand cream i have been reaching for this month, because with the weather getting cooler i have found my hands getting dry easier and i need to give them some serious hydration. Ironically now me and both of my sisters are loving this hand cream, because of how instant after application this hand cream leaves your hands hydrated and it has a very luxurious feel/scent to it. I picked this up from Superdrug earlier in the month for only £2, but the full retail price is £3.99.

mua luxe powder brow definer in the shade dark brown

For the longest time i have always stuck to my trusty Anastasia Beverly Hills dipbrow pomade and not really bothered giving anything a try, because i just found that worked for me so well. Until recently that is anyway as started reaching for brow pencils more, i found myself buying a few to put to the test and this one being one of them. This is probably the perfect dupe for the brow definer by Anastasia Beverly Hills, as it is dual ended with one end having a spoolie and the other having that angled shape with the product. Although as i say "dual ended" it took me a while to figure out there was a third part to the pencil, with a thicker tip in the centre and when i discovered it i had one of those "oh that's why it says 3-in-1 brow".

t-zone charcoal and bamboo nose pore strips

So i have tried nose strips out by this brand before but it was a long time ago and they wasn't the charcoal bamboo ones, i think they was the normal strips. That being said i decided to pick some up from Superdrug a few weeks back, as for some reason my pores were quite blocked and i had a few more black heads appearing and honestly from the first use these were so effective. I know you can get some by Biore but honestly if you are thinking of giving charcoal nose strips a try, just go for these ones as they are so affordable at £3.99 for 6 and the Biore ones are almost £10 for the same amount.

nip+fab makeup matte liquid lipsticks
I have mentioned in so many posts before about my love for the liquid lipstick by Nip+Fab in the shade Tart, as it is one of my favourite go-to and the most perfect pale beige/pink toned nude shades. That being said this was the only shade i owned, so i decided to pick up a couple of other shades and they were such a bargain on offer for around £3 each rather than £7.95 (current offer £5 for beautycard members). The two shades i opted for are Toffee (brown/beige nude) and Biscuit (pink/mauve beige nude), which i think are both perfect for this time of year. The formula of these matte liquid lipsticks are super pigmented, long-wearing and comfortable to wear as they are enriched with shea butter and vitamin e.

Catch my perfect nude lip combination post HERE...

xo.

MY FAVOURITE PICK-ME-UPS

Hello everyone! So we all have those moments from time to time where you are feeling down, not ourselves, stressed from work etc or you are just having one of those bad days when nothing is going right and feel like you need a serious pick-me-up. We all have those go-to little things that we do to, either shake off the bad day/mood or simply just to make ourselves feel better. With that in mind i thought i would share some of my personal favourite pick-me-ups, that always help me out when in need.

1. have a relaxing pamper night.

There is honestly nothing better sometimes after a tough day, than having a nice relaxing pamper night and giving yourself the full works when it comes to beauty treatments. Kicking things off with a nice hot shower, bath bomb filled bubble bath and a good face mask. 

2. giving yourself a mani/pedi.

Sticking with the beauty/pamper theme another thing i like to do to not only relax but also to give myself a boost of confidence is giving myself a manicure and pedicure, because there is nothing like having nice and freshly painted nails. I always tend to be the happiest when my nails are a nice nude shade or a vampy autumnal shade, which is very fitting at the moment.

3. applying fake tan.

Another confidence booster for me is being tanned, as i always tend to feel a lot happier in the way i look when i am tanned/have some colour and not feeling ghostly pale. You might think this is more of a time consuming pick-me-up but honestly it is totally worth the up keep, even in the autumn/winter months.

4. listening to music.

Music for me is definitely the quickest form of a pick-me-up if i am feeling down, as i will simply put one my favourite artist/songs/albums at the moment. So i will either listen to music whilst doing other things about the house, or with headphones in. I have so many new artists/tracks that i am loving at the moment, so expect an updated "music at the moment" post sometime soon.

5. scents: candles/room sprays.

Something that is so simple yet so relaxing to me is simply by being in a beautifully scented room, whether that be from lighting a candle or spraying the room with a scented spray. Seeing as we are in autumn at the moment, those are the scents i am opting for such as the "warm cashmere" scented candle by Yankee Candle and the Frosting With Love room spray by Glade that i picked up recently at Home Bargains. 

6. reading a book/magazine.

Reading a good book is a great way to help you relax and get out of your head for a little while. For me there is nothing more relaxing sometimes than lighting a candle, putting on some cosy pyjamas, making yourself a hot drink/glass of wine with a good book. When it comes to books i am a suck for a romance book and The Forbidden by my favourite author Jodi Ellen Malpas, is definitely the read of the year for me.

7. binge-watching your favourite show/movie.

I love to binge-watch tv shows, i have always been a season a day kind of girl (well not so much these days) maybe more like two or three episodes now. I always have those specific tv shows that i watch/re-watch to cheer myself up and that is usually some form of sitcom like Will & Grace, Friends or Full/Fuller House. Another go-to of mine and a show i have re-watched from start to finish probably as many times as Friends and that is Sex and the City, because lets face it you can't beat the classics.

8. shopping/online shopping.

Finally probably the most dangerous pick-me-up of them all but sometimes the most effective and that is going shopping/online shopping. I am pretty sure we have all looked into our wardrobes full of clothes, shoes, makeup and accessories and thought "i have nothing to wear", then you spend the whole night/whole of your bank account on buying new things. Then the added little pick-me-up you get when the package arrives at your door.

Have you seen these posts yet?

things to do this autumn / binge worthy tv shows / halloween eyeball cupcakes 

xo.

HALLOWEEN EYEBALL CUPCAKES

Hello everyone! If you read last Monday's post where i talked about pinterest halloween treats inspiration, then you will know that i was looking for some serious inspiration to create something fun/new to bake this Halloween. With that in mind and after shopping around to find some different Halloween inspired toppings other than sprinkles, i finally came up with this super cool yet creepy eyeball decorated cupcakes.

to make the cupcakes you will need: 

175g caster sugar

175g butter

150g self raising flour

25g coco powder

1tsp baking powder

3 eggs

12 cupcake cases

250g mascarpone cheese

2tbsp icing sugar

1/2tsp vanilla

red icing pen

eyeball jelly sweets

method:

First before you start on the cupcake mixture, you are going to want to pre-heat your oven to 180c/350f/gasmark4 and line the baking tin/s with the 12 cupcake cases. Taking a bowl/mixer, sift in the flour, cocoa powder and baking powder before adding in the butter, sugar and eggs. Mix all of the ingredients together until well combined and a smooth-like consistency. Divide the mixture into your pre-lined cupcake cases (i went with these super cute halloween designed cases from Sainsbury's), filling each case around 2/3 full and bake in the oven for around 20-25 minutes or until springy to touch. Once out of the oven leave to cook completely before decorating with the mascarpone topping and design. To make the mascarpone topping, take the mascarpone, icing sugar and vanilla into a bowl/mixer and mix under well combined/smooth texture. Pipe or spoon on the mixture to the cooled cupcakes, this is going to be the "white part" of the eyeball. Taking your eyeball sweets (i picked mine up from poundland) and placing one in the centre of the topping of each cupcake. Then finally taking your red icing pen and roughly drawing "blood-shot" looking lines around the eyeballs for a spooky effect.

Catch up on my previous post HERE...

xo.

THINGS TO DO THIS AUTUMN

Hello everyone! I know we are over a month into Autumn now, but it is still only the beginning really as we still have a couple of weeks left until Halloween and then November after that. I have already done a handful of Autumnal inspired posts this year (which i will link at the end), with that being said i still think we have a room for one more. So for today's post i thought i would share with you some activities perfect for this Autumn.

1. stock up on your favourite autumnal scented candles.

2. make pumpkin or butternut squash soup.

3. go for a walk in the woods/forest, who doesn't love walking in autumn leaves?

4. make hot chocolate with marshmallows

5. bake some autumnal/halloween cupcakes or desserts.

6. switch up your lip colour to a deeper nude or berry/vampy shade.

7. make an autumnal wreath, with leaves/pine cones.

8. throw a halloween party.

9. invest in some fairy lights, to give your home a cosy vibe.

10. read a feel-good book.

11. decorate your house with autumnal decor.

12. visit a pumpkin patch farm.

13. carve/decorate a pumpkin.

14. bake an autumnal flavoured pie/cake, such as pumpkin or pecan.

15. go shopping for some things to update your autumnal wardrobe, with a scarf or boots.

16. visit a beer/farmers festival on a weekend.

17. take a weekend trip to the countryside, with friends, family or a loved one.

18. go to a bonfire/fireworks night.

19. cosy up with a blanket, binge watching your favourite movies/tv shows.

20. watch hocus pocus.

21. go on a ghost walk/scarefest night.

22. make your favourite winter comfort dinner.

23. have all your friends round, make popcorn and watch scary movies/rom-coms.

24. make smores, with biscuits and melted marshmallows.

25. listen to acoustic music, to me this gives a real autumnal/cosy vibe.

26. drink as many pumpkin spice lattes/autumnal drinks as you can.

27. visit a stately home.

28. treat yourself to an autumnal nail colour.

29. have a relaxing bath, with an autumnal scented bath bomb.

30. change up your instagram theme to autumnal themed photography.

Catch up on my previous autumn themed posts here:

makeup switch up for autumn / four simple ways to switch up your home for autumn / pinterest breakfast recipes i want to try this autumn / autumn candles: the best scents 

xo.

EVERYDAY WARM AUTUMNAL EYESHADOWS

Hello everyone! So last week i shared my current everyday go-to base makeup and in that post i mentioned how i had been loving wearing a warm matte brown shade, simply buffed out in the crease as well as on the lid. With that in mind for today's post i thought i would share with you some of my current favourite warm autumnal matte brown shades, that i have been reaching for on an everyday basis.

dose of colors baked browns eyeshadow palette

Ever since i first got my hands on this particular palette, i have been completely obsessed with this one particular shade in the palette which is called "deserted". The shade deserted is the most beautiful/perfect warm caramel/beige shade, that looks amazing either just in the crease as a transition shade or for an all over look. This particular palette is amazing for makeup in a rush, as these shadows blend/apply beautifully and effortlessly. This palette is more on the expensive side at £28 for just five shadows, but for this shade worth it.

too faced chocolate bar eyeshadow palette

So i love love love this palette, but i only ever tend to reach for these two particular shades that happen to be perfect for the warm matte brown eye look, that i am loving recently. These two shades are salted caramel and semi-sweet, the first is the most beautiful medium warm caramel/beige matte shade and then following up with semi-sweet which is slightly deeper but still on the warm side. These particular sized eyeshadow palettes by Too Faced retail for £39, but for the quality/amount of shadows and not to mention how amazing the shadows smell, well worth investing in either this one or the sweet peach one.

freedom #proartist sweet life, freedom #proartist brown sugar, makeup geek frappe

Next up we have a few of my go-to warm shades from my well loved custom palette, which has eyeshadows from MAC, Freedom, Makeup Geek and Morphe. That being said at the moment these three particular ones are my favourite, the Freedom #ProArtist eyeshadows are such amazing value for money as they only retail for £1-2 (£5 for 5 pack) and they are equally as pigmented/easy to blend as high-end eyeshadows. Makeup Geek eyeshadows are also another great affordable eyeshadow brand, the shade frappe has been a favourite of mine for so long now. All three of these shades are super warm and more on the orange/burnt side of brown, which is what makes them perfect for this time of year.

urban decay naked heat eyeshadow palette

Finally we have two of my favourite shades from the most talked about eyeshadow palette recently, which has also been branded the perfect autumnal palette by so many people (me included). This palette is great for creating both matte and shimmer eye looks, but the shades sauced and low blow are perfect for creating that effortless warm brown eye look. Just like the Too Faced eyeshadow palettes, the Naked palettes are also more on the expensive side at £39.50 and i would definitely say if you haven't ever tried one of the palettes before, this one is a must-try along side the Naked 2 palette.

Catch up on my previous post HERE...

xo.