OVERNIGHT OATS | PINTEREST INSPIRED RECIPES

Hello everyone! So ever since the start of this year i have become obsessed with having overnight oats for breakfast, probably around 2 or 3 times a week (because i like to switch things up everyday) and i know quite a few other people also love to have them for breakfast too. Ever since first giving them a try, i have found a ton of different flavours/toppings to make them in and a lot of those recipes have come from Pinterest. With that in mind for today's post i thought i would do something a little different, by sharing some of my personal favourite overnight oats recipes and they are all healthy/can be modified to your own diet preferences but the most important thing is they taste good/are super quick to throw together...

1. pumpkin spice

| 2 tbsp pumpkin puree | 1 tbsp maple syrup | 40 g oats | 1/2 tsp mixed spice | 1/8 tsp vanilla extract | 1/2 tbsp chia seeds | 1 tbsp granola or nuts | 100 ml almond milk | 2 tbsp yogurt (optional) |

2. pumpkin + vanilla (super quick)

| 40 g pumpkin spice quaker oats | 1 tbsp dried mixed fruit | 100 ml aplro vanilla soya milk |

3. coconut latte

| 40 g oats | 50 ml brewed coffee | 2 tbsp maple syrup/honey | 50 ml coconut milk | 

4. almond + honey

| 40 g oats | 1 tbsp honey | 100 ml almond milk | 2 tbsp alpro almond yogurt | 1 tbsp almonds |

5. peach cobbler 

| 40 g oats | 100 ml almond milk | 2 tbsp vanilla or peach yogurt (dairy or dairy free) | 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon | 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg | 80 g peach diced |

6. espresso + salted date caramel

| 40 g oats | 1 tbsp chia seeds | pinch salt | 50 ml almond milk | 50 ml brewed coffee | 2 tbsp maple syrup | 1 tsp vanilla extract | 4 medjool dates (puree with water + pinch of salt) |

7. carrot cake

| 40 g oats | grated carrot | 1 tsp ground cinnamon | 1/4 tsp all spice | 1 tbsp chia seeds (optional) | 2 tbsp raisins | 1 tsp vanilla | 100 ml almond milk |

8. peanut butter (you can also add banana)

40 g oats | 2 tbsp smooth peanut butter | 100 ml almond milk | 1 tbsp honey | 1 tbsp vanilla |

9. vanilla, almond + blueberry

| 40 g oats | 75 ml vanilla soya milk | 2 tbsp almond alpro | flaked almonds | blueberries |

10. gingerbread cookie

| 40 g oats | 1/4 tsp ground ginger | 100 ml almond milk | 1 tbsp maple syrup | 1 tsp cinnamon |

11. cinnamon chocolate

| 40 g oats | 1 tsp cocoa powder | 1 tsp cinnamon | 100 ml almond milk | 1 tbsp maple syrup or honey | 2 tbsp chocolate milk/dark or cocoa chips | 

12. cherry bakewell

| 40 g oats | 75 ml almond milk | 1 cherry bakewell muller light or cherry flavoured yogurt |

Catch up on my quick/easy Pinterest breakfasts post HERE...

xo.

HOW-TO | UPDATE YOUR WARDROBE ON A BUDGET FOR SUMMER

Hello everyone! If your wardrobe needs some serious TLC and updating for this upcoming summer, but you don't really want to be spending a ton of money. There are so many great tips and tricks that i have learnt to not only save money when buying clothes, but also different ways to work with some things you already might have sitting in your wardrobe. With that in mind for today's post i thought i would share with you some of my personal favourite tips, on how to save money on a wardrobe update...

1. have a wardrobe de-clutter

First things first before you make a start on shopping to update your wardrobe, have a de-clutter/a look through what you have already got in your wardrobe. Keep pieces you think you could still wear during the summer, such as basics jeans/t-shirts etc and either store away for the next season or sell items online for a little extra cash.

2. write a note/list on what you actually need

By writing a list of what you actually need, you are more likely to stick to it and not go off course buying things you don't necessarily need and just wasting your money in the long run. 

3. when shopping online, search for discount codes

If you are choosing to pick items up from online stores such as ASOS, Missguided, Boohoo or PLT, always save your favourite items for later and shop when there is a discount available (which is on a regular basis). Other ways to get a hold of discount codes are by downloading discount apps, the store apps, signing up for email subscription and also by following the brands on social media sites. 

4. shop the sales section

Sticking to the online shopping theme, a great way of finding the bargains is to shop sites sale sections or view each section using the low-to-high pricing filter. Going in-store a lot of them also more often than not have a sale section, as well as so much money off selected items (such as 10%, 15% and as much as 30% off).

5. shop around for the most affordable "dupe"/style steal pieces

Really want a Chanel handbag? Who doesn't but we can't all always afford that or justify spending that much right now, then pick up a dupe or style steal version (Shein is a great site for designer handbag dupes). This works with pretty much any item of clothing or accessory, the high-street or affordable sites.

6. invest in items that can be worn with lots of different outfits

By picking up new key pieces to pair with some either new basics or basics you might already have in your wardrobe, rather than just buying things that only work well with one specific outfit. 

7. take a trip to Primark

Everybody loves a good trip to Primark right? I know i do, especially when you find some real gems. You can pick up some basics for as little as £2.50, they also currently have some great summer pieces costing between £4 and £12. Primark is also the perfect store to visit to pick up your holiday pieces, like swimwear for under £5 and their bargain trusty 90p beach flip flops. 

8. if you aren't 100% sure on something don't buy it or keep it

We have all been there when you buy something, then when it comes to trying it on you either don't feel like it suits you or it doesn't fit quite right but you keep it because you simply can't be bothered to send/take it back. This is such a waste of money as it is more than likely just going to sit there, un-worn with the tags still on in months or years to come. You could use that money to get something that does suit you and does fit you.

9. DIY what you already have

Looking for the perfect pair of ripped jeans or a mini/midi skirt rather than a maxi then DIY some pieces you already have in your wardrobe, that could just be sat there going un-worn. There are so many great videos/tutorials online and on Pinterest for clothing DIY.

10. make the same outfit look different

Of course we all wear the same outfits multiple times, because they tend to become favourites of ours and we feel nice in them. That being said you don't always want to look same old same old in something too quick, make an outfit look different by switching up your hairstyle, makeup (especially lipstick colour). You could also switch up the shoes and accessories you pair with a specific outfit, to either dress up or dress down the occasion. 

Catch up on my previous post HERE...

xo.

TIPS & TRICKS: HOW TO SAVE MONEY & GET ORGANISED FOR CHRISTMAS

Hello everyone! Now that we are almost a week into November, it is the time when the majority of us all start to think about Christmas shopping and what we are going to get, for who we are going to get gifts for (unless you are one of those extra organised people who do their shopping mid-year). That being said if you aren't one of those super organised people, yet you want to be this year then i thought i would share with you some tips and tricks on how to get organised for Christmas, as well as how to save yourself some money along the way.

1. always make a list(s).

Before you start absolutely anything, always make a list whether that be on your phone or in a notebook. By making a list of the people you need to buy for, it allows you a clear vision rather than just keeping it in your head and you are less likely to forget anyone. Also to be extra organised, write down next to the persons name a rough idea of what you want to get them and roughly how much you want to spend on that person.  

2. shop around online first.

So once you have an idea on what you are going to get someone, always type into google the item and shop around for the best deal. This doesn't mean you have to buy it online, you can still head into the store to buy it but just don't buy the first one you see from the first place, as you could be wasting money and you could be saving getting if from somewhere for a little or a lot cheaper.

3. pick up a Christmas catalogue.

A lot of stores from around September onwards, have free catalogues available to pick up and they are filled with both Christmas gifts/gift sets and also inspiration for things such as gift buying, food ideas or even homeware/decorations. If you see one pick one up (especially a Boots one), you can even mark in/fold pages on items you see that you think might interest you or be a great gift for someone.    

4. take advantage of discounts/store offers (such as 3for2).

So we all know when it comes to Christmas a lot of stores like Boots and Superdrug have 3 for 2 deals on Christmas gift sets, which is perfect when picking up either stocking fillers or a larger gift for those beauty lovers in your life. As they are on a 3 for 2 deal you are saving money on one gift, because you only ended up paying for two and you get the cheapest one free. Also if you have a present in mind for someone and the store has a discount offer on such as 10 or 20% off, don't hesitate pick it up whilst the deal is on and you'll save yourself some money.

5. do NOT over buy.
This is when sticking to the list(s) you made comes in handy, as you are less likely to over buy especially when it comes to gifts and the food shop (just remember they are only closed for one day) and there is just no need. Also when you have finished gift buying for someone, make sure you check them off of your list as you don't want to double buy, as this is just a waste of money.

6. do your shopping in November/the first week of December.
Rule number one when it comes to being organised, never leave your shopping until the last week or minute as more often than none shops will have increased their prices, they won't have anything you wanted left and most importantly you'll end up spending more time queuing up to pay than you will do shopping. If you are wanting to get someone a fairly expensive gift (such as something electrical) wait until Black Friday (27th November) as you could bag yourself a bargain or two. 

7. ask family/friends what they would like.
Another way to not waste your money and to give you an idea on what to get someone, it to always ask them a rough idea on what they would like to receive for Christmas (especially those hard to buy for people - every family has one). By doing this like i said you are not only not wasting your money on something they are never going to use or what they don't have an interest in. Sometimes this is also when giving them money or a gift card can come in handy and there are also some places where you can get money off on gift cards.

8. browse to find the cheapest way to get your gifts.
Another thing we don't always take into account is the money we spend actually getting the gifts to us, whether that be shopping in-stores or online. If something is free delivery online, always opt for that option because even going to buy something in-store sometimes costs you more in the long run, as you have had to spend money on transport like petrol or the trains/bus. Another tip is to sign up to 30 day free trials for delivery such as Amazon Prime, as once you have completed your gift shopping there is no need to sign up/pay for another month/yearly subscription (unless you want to that is).

Catch my "the best new-in beauty gift sets" post HERE...

xo.

TIPS & TRICKS: HOW TO PACK A SMALL HANDBAG

Hello everyone! I used to be one of those people who always carried a larger handbag, which nine times out of ten just used to end up being full of unnecessary rubbish and would get on my nerves because it was just so heavy. Then last year i started to carry a much smaller handbag and i have not looked back since, just because the bag is smaller doesn't always mean you can't fit all of the essentials inside. With that in mind for today's post i thought i would share with you, my personal tips and tricks on how to pack a small handbag.

1. choose the right "smaller" handbag, this one from Topshop is perfect for packing items inside of it as it has different zip compartments, card slots and can either be worn as a clutch or chain bag.

2. only pack the lip products or lip combination you need for that day, i always used to end up carrying around about ten different lip products that i didn't need to.

3. invest in a small coin purse/pouch to hold all the little bits and bobs you might need, but don't want to have lying at the bottom of your bag to get lost such as hair pins, hair ties, coins and notes.

4. as i mentioned this bag has card slots which is super handy, but still only ever pack the cards you might need whilst out and about so if you're shopping only take the essential cards.

5. invest in a roller ball perfume or a refillable mini perfume, these save so much room in your bag and save your favourite perfume from getting lost/damaged.

6. save samples/buy sample sized products to keep in your bag such as hand creams/hand gels, as they save so much room (i have a samples tips & tricks post here).

7. keep essential items that won't fit inside a coin purse, such as tampons, headphones, gum/mints and keys in the zip compartment this way they are hidden away/less likely to loose them.

8. if you are going to want to touch up through-out the day/night, invest in a face powder that has the product, applicator and a mirror all in one, this way you don't need to carry them separate. 

9. an essential when buying a smaller bag, make sure you phone fits inside or it has a safe place for it to go, because let's face it we can't go without our phones right?

10. arrange items inside your bag in a certain way rather than just throwing everything in, this way the bag is more likely to close easier and look less bulky.

catch my previous handbag related posts here:

blogmas day ten: what's in my bag

my handbag essentials

xo.