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.

GOODREADS | SUMMER/BEACH HOLIDAY ROMANCE READS

Hello everyone! When it comes to summer who doesn't love to switch out the cosy-ing up reading a good book, to sitting out in the sunshine with a good book and even more so when you are on holiday. With that in mind for today's post i thought i would share with you some perfect new/currently released romance reads from goodreads, that are perfect to download to your Kindle before you jet off for some fun in the sun...

1. all the way (romancing manhattan #1) - kristen proby | kindle |

Finn Cavanaugh is known for being a force to be reckoned with in the courtroom. He owns a successful law firm with his brother and brother-in-law in Manhattan. On the rare occasion that he has down time, he spends it at his home in Martha’s Vineyard. But when Finn’s troubled niece goes to stay with him for the summer in Martha’s Vineyard, he’s reluctant to take time off from work. That is, until he meets his beautiful new neighbour, London. London Watson is a Tony Award winning actress on Broadway. When tragedy strikes her family, leaving her alone and injured, she flees Manhattan for Martha’s Vineyard. Hoping she can figure out how to pick up the pieces of her life, London is convinced that she’ll never be able to return to the stage. But when she meets the charming young girl next door and her sexy uncle, they soon lure London out of her shell as she finally begins to heal from the wounds of her past. (coming August 21st).

2. part-time lover - lauren blakely | kindle |

I'll say this about Christian, he made one heck of a first impression. When I first saw the strapping man, he was doing handstands naked on a dock along the canal. His crown jewels were far more entertaining than anything else I'd seen on the boat tour, so I did what any curious woman would do -- I took his photo. I might have looked at the shot a few dozen times. Little did I know I'd meet him again, a year later, at a secret garden bar in the heart of the city, where I'd learn that his mind and his mouth were even more captivating. But given the way my heart had been trampled, I wanted only a simple deal -- No strings. No expectations. Our arrangement worked well enough until the day I needed a lot more from him...

3. driven series - k.bromberg | kindle |

Our paths should never have crossed. Colton Donavan was arrogant, exuded that bad boy vibe, and embodied everything I never wanted. And yet all it took was one chance meeting, one mistaken identity, and one stolen kiss for me to know I hated him and desired him instantly. My heart was healing. His soul was damaged. There’s no way we could work. But after one impromptu date, one little boy who needed help, and one Ferris wheel ride, pieces of my heart were lost to him. Even though he wouldn’t let me in, I couldn’t walk away. This is our story.  Our fight.  Our perfectly imperfect love. (my current book series read, movie coming to Passionflix soon).

4. worth the risk - k.bromberg | kindle |

This whole contest was supposed to be easy. I know, I know. Famous last words. It’s a long story, but I messed up at work. Big time. To earn back the trust of my boss, I promised to save one of our magazines. Yep. That Hot Dad contest you’ve seen advertised all over the place was my idea. And if I’m successful, if I’m able to increase our online readership, then I get a shot at my dream job. But the one thing I never expected to happen, happened: Contestant number ten, Grayson Malone. Hello, Mr. Difficult. And did I mention sexy as hell? Unfortunately he knows me. The old me, anyway. And while we might be older now, I remind him of before. Of the woman who broke his heart, who hardened him, and who left him alone to raise the cutest little boy I’ve ever seen. But I don’t want a relationship. And I definitely don’t fall for single dads with baggage. Even ones with chiselled abs and killer smiles. But he got to me. They got to me. He and his son and their messy, crazy life. But I got to him too. I see the stolen glances. I feel the walls he built start to crumble. I recognise that there’s an unexpected beauty to the chaos in his life. And now that the contest is about to end, we’re left to decide whether the last six months were just fun or if what we have is worth risking it all?

5. trophy wife - alessandra torre | kindle |

Everyone in Nashville knows Nathan Dumont. That’s what happens when you develop half a town and sleep with the rest. Four years ago, his fiance disappeared. Last night, he proposed to me. I had wanted to escape my life, the seedy strip club and the mountain of bills. I had seized the opportunity to live in a mansion, fill my days with country clubs and caviar, my nights with romance and sex. Maybe I should have done my homework first.

6. sweet little lies - jill shalvis | kindle |

What if you fall for the one guy you can't have? As the captain of a San Francisco Bay tour boat, Pru Harris can handle rough seas - the hard part is life on dry land. Especially when it comes to resisting her growing feelings for her new friend, Finn O'Riley. He's kind, he's gorgeous and he's Mr Right - for anybody but her. Pru has a particular reason for wanting Finn to find happiness and it's what she wishes for at the historic fountain that's supposed to grant her heart's desire. But things get tricky when it becomes clear that, when it comes to Pru, there's more than friendship on Finn's mind - because she's been keeping a secret that could change everything...

Catch up on a similar post HERE...

xo.

SUMMER BEAUTY HACKS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Hello everyone! Let's be honest Summer is pretty much the best season there is, right? I mean there is no better than feeling the sun/warm on your skin. That being said the warm weather can make your skin not be happy, leaving you looking like a sweaty mess when wearing your regular makeup, hair or skincare routine. With that in mind for today's post i thought i would share with you some of my personal favourite Summer beauty hacks, that actually make a huge difference...

 1. switch out your winter favourites, replacing them with summer favourites

Ditch the super heavy smoky eye looks, replacing them with something light/simple like a shimmery gold eye look or a simple neutral shade blended out. Step away from the vamp-y lip shades, replacing them with a simple nude/glossy lip or tinted balm. Natural glowing skin, is a summer must.

2. how to stop your eyelids from creasing

I know for me something i do struggle with when the weather is warm is eyeshadow creasing, which never happens during the winter months. This is where a good eyeshadow primer does come in handy, such as the Urban Decay Primer Potion as nothing will budge if you are wearing this. 

3. how to stop your mascara from transferring

This is such a simple hack but an extremely effective one to stop your mascara from transferring onto your under-eye area or eye lids, which is to switch out your regular go-to mascara for the waterproof version. I know waterproof mascara can be a pain to get off at the end of the day, but with the right eye-makeup remover you will be mascara free in seconds.

4. use the foundation you know works well for you

If you are opting for foundation or a tinted moisturiser in the summer, make sure it is one that you know is going to last in the heat or one that is specifically designed to last the duration. Some of my favourites are the Maybelline Fit Me, Estée Lauder Double Wear or Double Wear Nude.

5. exfoliate/moisturise regularly

When it comes to summer taking care of your skin especially your legs, as you are obviously going to be shaving/removing hair more often than you probably would in winter. Exfoliating your skin is super important as it reduces the chances of getting ingrown hairs, as well as any dead skin. Moisturise your skin straight after shaving, that is going to drastically reduce any irritation.

6. argan oil/oil's will be your best friend

Humidity can be a pain, especially on certain hair types (mine included) you can do your hair perfectly straight until you step out into the heat, then you look more like Simba from the Lion King. A simple trick to prevent/ease frizz is by adding Argan Oil to the lengths of your hair after washing and before styling. Argan Oil is really good for also keeping your skin super hydrated.

7. keep your feet feeling/looking fresh

Obviously in summer you are wearing sandals/having your feet on display a lot more than you would during winter. So keeping your feet and heels, looking/feeling fresh is a must and an easy way to keep the cracked heels away is to simply apply either vaseline or foot cream to your feet every night before bed.

 8. invest in a setting spray

Another great way of keeping your makeup in place all day long, is to invest in a good setting spray. You can apply a small amount before and after applying makeup to help lock it into place, as well as applying more through-out the day to freshen/re-hydrate your skin. Setting spray is a great way of avoiding applying layers and layers of powders, when touching up.

9. use more cream/liquid form products rather than powders

During summer wearing too many powder form products can feel super heavy on the skin, just like i mentioned with the whole using setting spray over powder for touch-ups. The products you can switch from powder to cream/liquid form are blush, contour and highlighter. Cream/liquid products once blended out, also look a lot more natural unlike some powders.

10. disguising those tan lines

Hate wearing a certain outfit that shows off a different outfits/swimsuits awkward tine lines? You can disguise/cover them instantly simply by applying a little moisturiser to the white line areas before applying a little self-tan to the same areas, making sure you blend it out of course to make it look as natural as possible.

Catch up on my previous post HERE...

xo.

THINGS I'M LOVING ON BOOHOO RIGHT NOW

Hello everyone! So for today's instalment i thought i would share with you some clothing, accessories and beauty pieces that i am loving on Boohoo currently. Last month i shared a similar post with you all, but with the things i'm loving on prettylittlething right now which you can catch up on here if you didn't catch it previously...

1. boohoo megan lace trim cami vest | £8 |

One of the main styles of clothing that i always have in my wardrobe is basics, because honestly you can never have too many as they pretty much go with anything and everything. The thing i love about this particular basic on Boohoo right now is how it is a basic but it has this beautiful lace detailing which just adds something a little different. (Also is available in white).

 2. boohoo tess suedette circle eyelet boyfriend belt | £8 |

I still really like the whole Gucci belt dupe style and i also really like how this particular one is a suede finish, rather than leather. I always feel like suede is a little more "dressy" than leather is, as it just adds a different texture to an outfit.

3. boohoo lily woven off the shoulder top | £16 |

One of my favourite style of tops for summer is either cold shoulder or bardot/off the shoulder tops, so naturally i was going to be drawn to this top. That being said the first thing i thought is how beautiful this golden orange colour was, as well as how much i love this style of sleeve and i actually have a top with similar sleeves which i also picked up from Boohoo a month or two ago now.

4. brooke multi strap sandals | £15 |

I have mentioned in several posts before how i literally live in flat sandals in summer time, so you can never have too many pairs. I love metallic finish sandals for when you want something casual but add a little something different to the outfit, these sandals look super comfortable and also come in a rose gold, gold and silver metallic finish.

5. boohoo cosmic dreamer quilted baked highlighter | £5 |

So i am still yet to try anything from Boohoo's makeup range but that being said, i feel like since they launched they have stepped up their game already. I love how they have adapted the whole "nudes" collection vibe, complete with nude pink packaged products and of course this particular highlight was naturally going to catch my eye. I love baked highlighters, as they have the most beautiful texture and i am itching to see if this one is as beautiful as it looks.

6. boohoo holly circle bar and hoop earrings | £5 |

When it comes to jewellery i am all about the little to no jewellery look, so either just some simple earrings or a dainty bracelet. That being said i really love the these circle bar/hoop earrings, which i feel would look really nice with your hair in a nice ponytail when you want something a little extra.

7. boohoo robyn floral tie short sleeve blouse | £14 |

Another style of top that i am loving at the moment is the whole tie/wrap blouse style and i especially love this floral one on Boohoo right now, which could be styled in so many different ways. You could pair this number with either some jeans/denim shorts or even with some blush toned shorts and even some white slim leg trousers.

Catch up on my previous post HERE...

xo.

MY GO-TO SUMMER LIP COMBINATIONS

Hello everyone! For today's post i wanted to share with you another instalment in my "current go-to series", this time i wanted to switch things up a little bit and simply share with you the two lip combinations i am wearing day in, day out this summer. A little heads up, anyone who has read my posts for some time or knows me personally will know i am such a nude lip girl and i rarely wear anything else. That being said i believe every nude lip combination is different...honest!

morphe brushes color pencil in the shade bamboo

Kicking things off for combination number one, we are of course starting with a liner and more specifically this beautiful sand toned almost light-beige/peach coloured liner by Morphe. I actually have been using this pencil so much since around March time, i think and i love the formula of this liner as it is super creamy/pigmented/long-wearing and easy to work with as well as apply. The liners from Morphe are actually super similar to MAC lip liners, so if you are looking for a liner of similar quality but don't want to spend the £14 on one single pencil, then i definitely recommend picking one up for just £4.50 from BeautyBay.

anastasia beverly hills liquid lipstick in the shade naked

So to pair with the Bamboo liner the perfect lipstick shade to match and the one i was wearing non stop, is Peachstock lipstick by MAC but i recently completely used the whole thing up and i am yet to replace but i definitely will do next time i pop into MAC. That being said since then the perfect lip product to go/compliment this liner is the liquid lipstick shade Naked by Anastasia Beverly Hills, which of course is a well known shade by many but it is honestly the most perfect light peachy nude. What i have actually been doing is only applying a smaller amount to the middle of the lips and then blending out with my finger for a much lighter finish.

Sometimes i will finish this lip combination off with some gloss but sometimes i will simply just leave it with a matte finish, if i do opt for gloss i am still living for the primark nudes metallic nude lip gloss.

mac cosmetics lip pencil in the shade stripdown

Moving on to the next lip combination and of course starting with lip liner and no surprises here as i mentioned how MAC lip liners are one of my all time favourites, so much so i have pretty much all of the nude tones. That being said the one i have been favouring a lot this summer so far is the ever so famous/OG shade Stripdown. This is a much darker in tone nude liner, as it is more of a creamy brown-nude rather than peach/beige toned as the other one is. This is definitely one of those nudes that you can wear in so many different ways for each season, all depending on what shade you decide to apply on top.

bareMinerals gen nude matte liquid lipcolour in the shade cult

Recently i have been loving for a more cream/light brown-beige nude lip combination, adding the bareMinerals matte liquid lipstick in the shade Cult on top of the Stripdown liner. I have mentioned in a previous post how this particular shade isn't going to suit every skin-tone as it is super pale, yet paired with a more deeper/darker nude liner it becomes very wearable. Adding Cult takes a more autumn/fall lip shade to a summer look instantly, simply by lightening it up a little bit. I love how comfortable and long-wearing the Gen Nude liquid lipsticks are, as well as being super pigmented/smooth to apply and they also taste/smell incredible.

Catch up on a similar post HERE...

xo.

SUMMER RECIPES I WANT TO TRY

Hello everyone! For today's post i am back with a food related post, more specifically to share with you some of the recipes i am excited to give a go this summer. I have done a similar style of post to this before, which you can catch up on here, if you didn't catch it first time round. Also whilst we are on the subject of food, i was thinking about doing a "what i ate in a day" post sometime soon, as i haven't done one for a while...

1. vegan roasted cauliflower bowl with tahini dressing

First up is this super quick summer perfect roasted bowl style dinner, which is full of veggie goodness and can be made in just 30 minutes. This is definitely one of those recipes, where you think how yummy it looks but then you discover there are one or two ingredients you don't like. That being said i think i would switch out the cauliflower and replace it with broccoli, as i hate cauliflower and i am also not a fan of avocado.

2.  satay sweet potato curry

As well as anything pasta related, i am also obsessed with curry/rice dishes and anything chilli flavoured in general. This particular curry from the BBC good food website looks like the perfect flavoured curry for the summer months, as it is a beautiful vibrant colour and it also has the coconut flavour to add to the mix. One of my favourite bases to have in curry is definitely potato or sweet potato, as well as spinach and chickpeas. Another great thing about this curry is that it comes in at under 400 calories, perfect if you are like me and are counting/watching those calories.

3. sun-dried tomato pesto pasta with roasted asparagus

Of course there was going to be a pasta dish on my to try list, especially as this is a pesto based pasta dish. This is definitely one of those recipes perfect for when you are pinched for time, as it is pretty much the case of just roasting the asparagus for 20 minutes just a little over the time it takes to boil the pasta and add all the ingredients together.

4. grilled spicy lime shrimp kebabs

When it comes to summer we can finally turn on the grill/barbecue and these spicy lime shrimp kebabs sound so good, especially if you served them with maybe some wraps, salad or even with some quinoa and veggies. This recipe is so straight forward as easy, as well as the cooking time being quick as shrimp/prawns don't take long to cook at all. This recipe would also work well with just veggies coated in the mix, or even chicken.   

5. spiced sausage hot pot

This is one of those dishes that sounds as if it should be a more winter style dish, yet to me the ingredients scream summer, especially because of the bulgur wheat base. This is also one of those dishes that could be tweaked to suit you, maybe by replacing the sausage with veggie sausages and the chicken stock pot for a veggie one. This is definitely on my high to try list, along with the satay sweet potato curry.

6. grillable veggie burger
Finally something that i love to eat all year round and that is veggie burger, yet the difference is that you can grill this one and still get that "barbecued burger" taste without the meat. This particular recipe looks super simple to make, as well as it being full of nutritious ingredients as one of these burgers contains 14g of protein. I also want to try out a falafel burger recipe, as i have had regular falafel's and loved them so burger form in bound to be just as good if not better.

 Catch up on a similar post HERE...

xo.

MID-MONTH FAVOURITES | TV SHOWS + BOOKS

Hello everyone! I know it doesn't seem all that long ago that i shared a few of my current more lifestyle favourites, in my may beauty + lifestyle favourites post but over the past few weeks/June so far i have been loving so many different more lifestyle things. That being said for today's post i thought i would share a handful of my current favourite binge-worthy tv shows and books...

love island | netflix | itv hub |

First things first, i had to mention the show that pretty much the whole of the UK (me included) are talking/thinking about all of the time. If you aren't familiar with the set up of the show, it is basically singles both men and women, living in a villa and hoping to find love, with a little help with everyone at home deciding who stays and who goes. This reality TV show is so addictive and if you haven't indulged in the show before, i highly recommend catching up from season one/two on Netflix or if you are yet to watch season three you can catch up on the season so far on the ITV hub. 

bulletproof | sky one |

So i actually briefly mentioned this show in my May beauty and lifestyle favourites post, but i didn't go into too much detail. If you are a huge fan of the police drama Lethal Weapon from the US, then you are definitely going to love this as it is basically an English version of the show and as well as having a serious crime story line each week, it also has an hilarious comedy element to it. The show is a mixture of a partner/friendship and conspiracies. Bulletproof is currently on Tuesday's at 9PM on Sky One, but you can binge watch all six episodes so far.

desperate housewives | virgin |
A show that i have started re-watching now it is on Virgin Box sets/on demand is Desperate Housewives, this show used to be one of my all time favourite shows way back when it was first aired. If you never watches it first time around i highly recommend that you do, it is a show that is full of mystery and drama that never gets old no matter how many times you re-watch it.

the ruthless gentleman by Louise Bay | amazon |
So first up on the book favourites is this one by Louise Bay, which happened to be the first book i had ever read by this author and i wasn't sure what to expect. I went in thinking i wasn't going to enjoy this book, as i was still suffering from a slight book hangover after the cliffhanger that the controversial princess and i surprised at how i couldn't put it down. The way this contemporary romance novel was written just flowed so easily and had you captivated with the chemistry between the two characters, i also liked how the way it was written actually made me feel like i was sat on a boat whilst reading it. I will definitely be reading something from her again!

driven by K.Bromberg | amazon |
This book is actually my current read but is one i was literally hooked on from the start, as it started super full-on rather than a build up to the meeting of the two characters. This is also a book from an author that i have never read anything from and i probably wouldn't of ever discovered her books, if it wasn't for this book in-particular being turned into a movie for Passionflix. As i mentioned in my books i want to read post, i am one of those people who likes to read the book before the movie so that is exactly what i am doing. Once i have finished book one i will definitely share more of my thoughts on the story and i am so glad there is 5 books in the driven series.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend!

xo.

DRUGSTORE BEACH HOLIDAY MAKEUP

Hello everyone! So when we are on holiday sometimes we want to go makeup free (with sunscreen of course) but there also might be times when we might want that little something extra, whether that be for taking pictures at the beach or maybe from only getting a few hours sleep the nights before. With that in mind for today's post i thought i would share with you the four beach/summer makeup products from the drugstore that are the perfect combination for a natural yet glowing base...

nip + fab makeup primer water | £9.95 |

Of course the most important step before applying any makeup whether you are at the beach or in the sun in general, is to make sure you prep your skin by doing your regular skincare routine and applying face SPF. The next step is preping/priming, creating a base for other products to be applied on top of and a primer water is the perfect beach ready product. Unlike a cream based primer, a primer water is going to sink into the skin quicker and leave your skin feeling/looking hydrated. This one from Nip + Fab is definitely one of my favourites i have tried from the drugstore and of course it comes in at just under £10.

bourjois radiance reveal concealer | £7.99 |

This look can be achieved with or without foundation but if you are going to be catching some rays, you don't really want to be sat with something heavy on the face. That is why this particular concealer from Bourjois comes in perfect, as it is going to give your that radiant coverage yet it is super lightweight on the skin. You could simply just apply this to the under-eye area, down the bridge of the nose, forehead as well as the chin area and blend out with either a damp beauty blender or brush for more coverage.

rimmel insta contour stick | £6.99 |

This is one of those products that i pretty much reach for every single time i want to go for a more cream bronzed look and it happens to be perfect, especially for adding a natural sun-kissed bronze to the face. I was always super scared to use cream bronzer/contour products until i tried this one out, as it is super creamy and easy to blend out. I usually opt for the shade medium but it also comes in a light shade, which i am having to use at the moment because i am all out of medium. If you wanted to keep this to a bare minimum you could keep it down to three items, as this contour stick is dual ended and comes with a cream highlight shade on the other side.  

maybelline x gigi hadid strobing liquid in the shade gold | £9.99 |

Moving onto the final product which is personally my favourite and the one that is going to pull the whole look together, giving you a natural yet dewy golden/bronzed beach look. This strobing cream can be used multiple ways, which is what i like so much about this style of product. You can either apply some of this to the face and blend it out for an all over dewy skin look, mixed in with foundations and also to selected areas of the face where the light would naturally hit. Another favourite of mine from the drugstore which is equally as beautiful, is the MUA prism strobe cream in the shade golden ray which is just £4 from Superdrug.

Catch up on my latest travel makeup post HERE...

xo.

HOW-TO | FIFTEEN WAYS TO UPDATE YOUR HOME FOR EACH SEASON

Hello everyone and Happy Monday! So i recently shared a "how-to" post, on how to update your wardrobe for summer on a budget (which you can catch here) and keeping that in mind i wanted to share a different "how-to" post but this time focusing it on home improvement/decor. There are so many different yet easy and affordable ways that you can switch up your home, according to the season and i want to share with you some of my personal favourite tips on how to do just that...

1. switch out your cushion covers

Simply switching out your cushion covers either on your bed, chair or sofa is a simple way to make a huge change to a room. Buying cushion covers is easier than a whole new cushion, as just the covers don't take up much room at all in storage. (h&m home have some great options).

2. seasonal scents

Changing your home for a new season is much more than changing the way a room looks, it is about how a room smells too. Switch out your candles, diffuses and plug-ins, replacing them with your favourite season appropriate fragrances.

3. change your bedding/bed accessories 

A simple way of switching your bedroom up for a different season, is by changing your bedding to a pattern/style perfect for the current season. If you have a plain (un-patterned) bedding, you can also simply switch up your beds accessories, such as cushions and bed throw/runner.

4. fairy lights

Fairy lights are an instant cosy room fixer for pretty much any season, but you can display them in different ways according to the time of year.

5. ditch food packaging for personalised jars

Don't you just hate the way opened packets and boxes look in your cupboards? Ditch the packaging and place food items in a clear jar, which you can personalise either just with the title of the product or with a seasonal design.

6. seasonal flowers/plants

Another quick yet effective seasonal room changer is to add some season appropriate flowers or plants to a room, whether that be as a dining room centrepiece or kitchen island feature. 

7. change your decorative items to match the current season

Different seasons call for different decorative items, like a beach theme for summer, harvest for autumn and winter wonderland for winter. This can also apply to number 2, with switching up the seasonal scents.

8. room switch around

If buying new pieces isn't in your budget yet you want to make a change to your home/selected rooms, simply have a room switch around. This could be as simple as moving a rug, a piece of furniture or even move your decorative items to a different room. 

9. change your photos/quotes in your frames

If you have prints/photos/quotes placed around your home, an easy way to change the way your room looks is to switch up the image inside of the frame. If you have quotes, change them to a season appropriate quote.

   

10. add different coloured metals/schemes

By adding different coloured metals like gold, silver or copper and a season appropriate colour scheme that compliments either one of the metals.

11. DIY paint/re-cover furniture pieces

Bored of the same furniture but you don't want to rid yourself of it? Simply give it a DIY makeover, either by simply painting/spraying a piece of furniture or re-covering a chair, cushion or even your headboard.

12. Switch out original door/drawer handles for decorative ones

Another simple furniture DIY you can do to upgrade an item is to switch out the original door/drawer handles to a more decorative ones. This is super simple to do and in the end you are left with a very different looking piece of furniture yet you haven't broke the bank.

13. mix textures for a cosy vibe

Mixing different materials/pieces with different textures is going to instantly make a room look/feel more inviting and cosy. A great example for this is mixing faux fur/shaggy cushions, with a suede or velvet finish cushion.

14. switch up the colour or your towels

Just like the cushions, if you have a neutral bathroom for example by simply switching up the colour of your towels/bath mat according to a season. This is simple yet effective, especially if you don't have the time to re-decorate.

15. make temporary changes to your walls

If you want a huge room change but don't want to make a full commitment to adding a more bold wallpaper to a room, simply by using temporary wallpaper or wall tile stickers. This way if you get tired of it within a few months, you haven't got to go through the effort of completely stripping/re-decorating.

Catch up on a suggested post HERE...

xo.

TRAVEL BEAUTY | TEN PRODUCT WEEKEND MAKEUP BAG

Hello everyone! I know i only shared a "what's in my travel makeup bag" post just last month, but i am going away for the weekend and i didn't want to take too many products with me (literally just the bare essentials). So as i was thinking of what products i could pack, as well as knowing what products would be compact/used for multiple things and i managed to get it down to a ten product makeup bag which for me is quite a challenge, as half of the time i love to over-pack and bring about five too many lip products that i don't end up reaching for...

Seeing as i was only taking a small amount of products and i didn't need a huge wash/makeup bag, i decided to go with one of the smaller sized skinnydip makeup bags and you can get them from the skinnydip site/stores, ASOS, topshop and now beautybay.com too. I personally always use these makeup bags, as they always come in cute patterns yet are still see-through and you can not only see what you are looking for but also you can fit so much inside of them. Another thing i did to cut down on the amount of products i needed to take, by doing my eyebrows the night before using the revolution brow tint in the shade dark brown leaving it on for the full two hours and this way i know my brows are going to be good for the whole weekend.

nuxe huile prodigeiuse (sample/travel size)
So something that i use every single day is this dry oil by Nuxe and i love to apply it right before i do my makeup, so this is an essential for me. The only downside was when i was to travel with it, it is huge as it comes in a 50ml glass bottle and i was always scared it was going to smash. That being said i recently received a bag full of mini Nuxe products, including a mini version of this perfect for taking away with me.

l'oréal infallible pro-glow foundation in the shade 205
My foundation of choice for the weekend is the pro-glow by L'Oréal, not only because it comes in a squeeze-y plastic compact tuble, rather than a glass bottle but also because i know it is going to look good/last all day.

ps my perfect colour concealer in the shade nude beige
This concealer is pretty much my everyday go-to concealer, so i know that it is going look good and last all day long without creasing etc. This concealer is also super slim and compact.

bareMinerals invisible light powder duo
So my powder of choice is probably not the most travel friendly size-wise but by taking other things that are more compact, does make for some room and i know this powder is going to do what i need it to do. As this is a powder duo, it has one side that is a matte powder perfect for the t-zone area to control shine and a glow powder side on the other for other areas of the face.

bareMinerals gold obsession chandelight glow illuminator
This is actually a product that i mentioned in my previous post, which is also a good one for travelling with as it is a cream to powder product and there is no need to pack two individual products.

bronze bronze queen bronzer in the shade sunset
This bronzer has pretty much been my go-to everyday bronzer for both warming up the face and used on my eyes, for a quick bronzed eye look ever since i picked it up last month. Skipping on the hefty eyeshadow palettes and just using bronzer is perfect for travelling, as you are multi using products and cutting down on space.

ps pro hd mascara in the shade black
Another everyday favourite from Primark is this ps pro HD mascara and i have mentioned before how it is a great dupe for my favourite KIKO 30 day lash treatment mascara, yet this one is only £3. I would normally take a sample sized mascara i have from MAC but i seem to have miss-placed them so this one has to be packed.

mac pro longwear waterproof brow set in the shade brown/ebony
Talking of products from MAC, the only thing when doing my makeup to my brows is to brush through them with some brow gel once my makeup is all done. This has become my favourite brow gel i have ever used, it also happens to be super travel friendly sized.

mac lip pencil in the shade stripdown
So for the final two items, they were probably the two hardest items to choose and know what to pack and this is probably why i usually end up packing way too many. That being said when i reached a decision i decided to go with stripdown liner, as it looks good on its own as well as with pretty much any other lip product applied on-top because of its creamy beige/brown colour.

charlotte tilbury hot lips lipstick in the shade KKW
Finally for lipstick i decided to go with a trusty handbag favourite of mine, which happens to be a perfect shade of nude for the time of year. Another reason why i decided to go with this lipstick is because i know it is super pigmented, creamy/hydrating on the lips and of course long-wearing. I also love the way it looks paired with stripdown liner, as it adds a touch of pink to the beige/brown liner creating a beautiful nude.

Catch up on my travel wishlist #4 summer edition HERE...

xo.

DRIPPING IN GOLD | MY THREE GO-TO CREAM HIGHLIGHTERS

Hello everyone! So a couple of weeks back now i shared my current three go-to powder highlighters, in part of an updated "my three go-to post" series. As i mentioned in that post (linked at the end) i am such a highlighter hoarder, but i definitely have my favourites from powder finish, to liquid and cream which i am loving the way they look on the skin this current spring/summer...

1. bareMinerals gold obsession chandelight gold illuminator | was £32 now £20 |

This is a product i have been loving since it was first released back in December, as part of a limited edition set from bareMinerals and i reach for it so often yet i have barely spoken about it. That being said even though this is a limited edition product, you can still pick it up and it currently has money off on the bareMinerals site, along with a free brush. This highlighter is so unique as it in the pan and when first applied is a cream formula, yet it dries down flawlessly into more of a silky powder finish and you are left with a beautiful natural golden looking glow. You can apply this product to where you normally would with the brush, but i prefer to go in with my damp beauty blender for that flawless/natural finish.

2. topshop glow pot in the shade gleam | £10.50 |

If you love cream highlighter or you just simply love a beaming/strong highlighted look, then you need to give this Topshop beauty a go because it is insane. Since i picked mine up the have upgraded the packaging to this beautiful gold hardware, so i might pick myself a back up next time i am in Topshop because i am probably 2/3 the way through mine. This product is super pigmented so you do only need a tiny amount, creamy/easy to apply and blend out, which will leave you with this beautiful gold/almost rose gold tinted glow. My favourite way to apply this is to dot a small amount where i want the highlighter to be with my finger and then blend out with my damp beauty blender, yet again but personally a beauty blender is your best friend when it comes to blending out cream or liquid products for the best flawless result.

3. ps bronze dewy glow face + body butter | £2.50 |

Finally we have the bargain of the post and the biggest in size too, i have been reaching for this non stop for everyday makeup looks because of how natural/dewy this leaves your skin looking. This product is quite similar is formula to the bareMinerals product, as it is more of a gel/balm cream product which i am loving at the moment. My favourite way to apply this is shock horror with a damp beauty blender, but this time i just rub some product straight onto the sponge before applying/blending at the same time. As this is a face and body butter i like to apply some not just to the places i normal would apply it on the face, but it also looks nice if you apply a small amount to the shoulders, décolletté and collar bone areas which will leave you with a beautiful dewy golden bronze glow. That is not the best thing though, this product smells incredible and is perfect if you are like me and are obsessed with anything coconut scented.

Catch up on my dripping in gold, my three go-to highlighters post HERE...

xo.

JUNE MUST-BUYS | CLOTHING, BEAUTY + ACCESSORIES

Hello everyone! So in my previous post, which was a recap of the year so far in the form of a mid-2018 most read posts and in that post i mentioned how coming up was the next instalment of my monthly must-buys. As last month it seemed like i bought so many new clothing pieces and especially towards the end of last month, some pieces i picked up and haven't had chance to share yet until now from clothing, to beauty and accessories...

1. MAC bronzing powder in the shade delphic | £25.50 |

I am always all about that golden/bronzed glowing look when it comes to makeup, so naturally when a new bronzer is released...I am more likely going to want it. That being said i am actually quite fussy when it comes to bronzer and i am usually hard to please, although the shade of this bronzer from the new Mirage Noir collection at MAC looks beautiful along side the packaging.

2. missguided white broderie tier bardot top | £24 |

I have mentioned in previous clothing related posts how much i am loving the detailed/broderie fabric tops at the moment, especially in white. I think this is particular top is perfect for summer either dressed up or down, with a pair of either white or black jeans if the matching co-ord isn't your thing.

3. topshop onara lattice cross body bag | was £25 now £15 |

If you read my recent may beauty + lifestyle favourites post then you will have seen that i featured this particular bag favourite of mine recently. I love how different the detailing of the bag is, as well as it being compact yet you can still fit a sizeable amount of things inside and it also has a secure zip section for money etc. You can also get this bag in black, green and orange also i believe.

4. ASOS design swing cami top | £12 |

The whole "silk" style cami is the perfect more dressy basic that you need to have in your wardrobe and for me they are such a staple, as you can simply just throw one on either dressed up or down and they go with so many different options on the bottom half (either plain or patterned). That being said in my wardrobe i only had black or white, no other colour so i decided to pick up this really pretty blush toned one.

5. primark mint cami pyjama top + mint pyjama shorts | £5 each |

Ok so i pretty much only ever wear/buy pyjamas from Primark as they don't break the bank and let's face it, they always have a ton of different cute pairs/sets to choose from. I think this mint cami/short duo is going to be a summer staple for bedtime, i also love how expensive they look and i definitely want to pick up some different colours/patterns that they have too.

6. MAC oh, sweetie lip colour in the shade coconut macaroon | £15.50 |

Another new MAC launch that i knew i would be drawn to and that is from the oh, sweetie lip collection and shock horror, it's the nude shade that i am living for. MAC lip products are one of my favourites especially the lip liners and lipsticks and i own more than i dare to admit. The packaging on this lip collection is super cutesy and just like any MAC lip product, you want to eat it because they smell so good.

7. mango faux suede strappy flat sandals | £29.99 |

I have mentioned before but in summer i pretty much live in flat/strappy sandals and it is one of my favourite things about summer because they just go with so much. I also must admit when it comes to summer i always end up going a little over the top and buying one pair too many, but to justify things i don't have a pair like this in my wardrobe and i love the suede/orange coloured combo (which will look so good with a tan).

8. morphe 8w warm master blush palette | £20 |

Finally i am loving this blush palette, which is funny because blush is something i can take or leave usually but recently i have really been getting back into wearing it more frequently. Morphe is such a good brand known for it's good quality brushes/makeup with a good price point, i am loving the look of the whole range of new-in products from them on BeautyBay at the moment. This palette can also be bought in a cool toned palette, if cooler toned shades are more suited to you but for me and my colouring it is all about those warm tones.

Catch up on my previous post HERE...

xo.

BEAUTY & RANDOM FAVOURITES: JUNE EDITION

Hello everyone! Can you seriously believe that is will be July tomorrow already, where has this month gone? It feels like months and months since i last did a traditional "monthly favourites post", as the last couple of months i have done them in a different style like my favourites from the week and my mid-2017 most read posts. With that in mind and seeing as we are at the end of another month, i thought why not bring things back to basics and share with you my beauty/random favourites from the month of June.

lee stafford coco loco coconut spritz

At the beginning of June i did a post all about the best of beauty: coconut talking about all of the coconut infused products that i have tried and loved, when i posted that post my sister said to me "you need to try this Lee Stafford coconut spritz" it's a leave in conditioner/de-tangling spray. So of course i took her advice and picked one up, now i love it even more than the ogx nourishing coconut oil mist as it is super lightweight. This product also works super well in conjunction with a set of coconut products, which i will be doing a review on. 

freedom makeup london brushes

So this month i was lucky enough to give these brushes from Freedom, which i have tried and loved a fair few products from now. First of all these brushes are super affordable, as we all know makeup brushes can be quite hefty in price so i wasn't sure what to expect but i was literally blown away with how amazing they actually are. Both the eye brushes and face brushes are super soft/fluffy, pick up products easily, apply evenly and blends product out effortlessly. The brushes i have are multiples of the FE103, FF104, FE102, FF103 and the FE101, the brush prices start from £2 and non of them are above £5 in price which is insane. 

freedom makeup london pro artist lip liner in the shade nude, anastasia beverly hills liquid lipstick in the shade naked and anastasia beverly hills lip gloss in the shade gilded

This month i have pretty much been wearing the same lip combination because i am that obsessed with how perfect it is. Starting with the pro artist lip liner in the shade nude to line my lips, yet another Freedom product that is amazing and is honestly so comparable to the MAC lip liners, yet these lip liners only retail for £2 each. Next up is the liquid lipstick i haven't been able to put down, which is Naked by Anastasia Beverly Hills and is one that i featured in a recent post that you can catch here and followed by the gloss also by Anastasia Beverly Hills in my favourite shade of all time Gilded, to add the perfect golden sheen to a perfect nude lip combination.

anastasia beverly hills modern renaissance eyeshadow palette

Another product from Anastasia Beverly Hills that i haven't been able to put down all month, even though it isn't a new product i have recently tried out it is one that i have fall in love with all over again. If you want to know more about this palette/my thoughts on it, then i recently shared a post talking about my go-to palettes for summer but what i will say is that i have mainly been reaching for three particular shades, which are raw sienna, burnt orange and primavera. 

maybelline master precise skinny eyeliner in the shade black

Last of all for the beauty items i have been loving this super skinny eyeliner pencil from Maybelline, this eyeliner is one that has been shown/loved by so many US beauty guru's for a while now and finally it launched in the UK. It is literally everything it claims to be, not to mention super long-wearing, as well as making it effort free to tight-line your eyes as well as the waterline. The only complaint i have is i wish they would bring it out in brown in the UK, like they did in the US as i prefer brown liners these days.

fifty shades darker unmasked edition dvd

I have been so ready for this dvd to be released since the last time i went to the cinema to watch it in February (i went multiple times, sorry not sorry) and finally on Monday it was released on dvd, but i was super lucky for it to land on my doorstep the Saturday before. Now you all know what my plans were on that Saturday night, as i was so excited to see the extra scenes included.

all i am drew's story (a this man novella) - jodi ellen malpas

Whilst on a similar subject to fifty shades, my favourite book out of the two i have read this month has to be this novella by my favourite author Jodi Ellen Malpas and i actually mentioned this book first of all in a books i want to read in 2017 #2 post. First of all i tried to saviour it and not read it too fast but it was just so addictive and i finished it in two sittings, the ending also got me even more excited for her next book the forbidden which isn't released until August, as we got given a little teaser of the character/s and a snip-it from the book. 

wild thoughts - dj khaled feat, rihanna and bryson tiller

If you follow me on social-media then it is going to be obvious that i was going to mention this song, because i just can't get enough of it and Bryson Tiller's verse is everything to me. I am also really loving the Greatful album, especially the song Don't Quit and of course Wild Thoughts. I am thinking of doing an updated "music at the moment" post soon, as it has been a hot minute.

♥

SUMMER CANDLE LUST LIST: CANDLES DIRECT

Hello everyone! So if you have read my posts for a while now or you know me personally, then you will already know what a candle addict i am. A couple of months ago i shared with you all my favourite spring time candles, which you can catch here if you missed it first time round. Now that we are moving into the more summer months, i have my eye on so many of the summer scents/limited edition candles on Candles Direct, which if you read my favourite places to shop online post you will know that it is the site where i get all of my Yankee Candles from. With that in mind for today's post i thought i would share with you my summer candle lust list.

1. yankee candle riviera escape large jar
First up is actually a candle that i recently purchased, which i just had to mention because this smells incredible. It was one of those purchases where you take the plunge without even smelling it first, which i was so unsure about but i am so glad i did now because i am obsessed. The scent is a mixture of like beach home-like scent with a slight floral undertone to it and it is the perfect fresh summer fragrance.

2. yankee candle summer scoop large jar candle
Next up on my lust list is actually a summer candle that has been a favourite of mine for so many years, as it is a classic summer line candle. There is literally no other way to describe this candle other than that is smells like a fruity flavoured ice-cream, which is perfect to burn when you are in the mood for something sweet.

3. yankee candle lake sunset large jar candle
Another candle that i have actually just re-purchased before typing up this post ha, as i had one last summer and i really enjoyed burning it from start to finish. The scent of this candle is simply beautiful and fresh smelling with the perfect mix of musk, this candle to me is perfect for burning on summer evenings.

4. yankee candle delicious guava large candle jar
I believe this specific candle scent is new in for the summer, which has me super intrigued to smell as i really love any tropical scent, even though i am not a complete fan of pure fruit scented candles, i would sooner they have that sweet dessert notes incorporated through-out. But that being said as it is more of a tropical scent, i have a feeling i will love it.

5. village candle summer slices large candle jar
I have mentioned in a post before that i am actually yet to try the Village Candle candles, but this summer they have a couple of scents available that have left me lusting after them. Village Candles packaging/fragrances are super similar to Yankee Candle yet a couple of ££ cheaper. Like i mentioned before with the delicious guava candle i am not a complete fruity fragrance fan (except for tropical) and watermelon couldn't be more summer.  

6. yankee candle pink sands large jar candle

There is a funny background story to this specific candle, a couple of years ago we had one in the house and it accidentally got smashed, so we ended up taking it out of the jar and burning it on a candle tray. Obviously because the candle wasn't in a jar, the scent filled the whole house with this beautiful warm vanilla-y, fresh beach scent for so long which now whenever i smell this candle it makes me think of summer at home.

7. village candle frozen margarita large jar candle

Another candle from the brand Village Candle and another scent that screams summer to me, this time in the form of a citrus-y scent of lime and lemons and the best part tequila. This candle just reminds me of a summer vacation in a jar, sitting in the sun sipping a cocktail or two. I actually mentioned this specific candle scent in a tropical trend for summer post last month.

8. yankee candle honey lavender gelato

Finally another candle by Yankee Candle but this time one available on the actual site, as it is one of the USA limited edition exclusive fragrances. There is just something about this candle that really makes me want to pick one up, i think it is as it would be super calming smelling with the notes of lavender but also it has a sweetness to it with the honey and vanilla of the gelato.  

♥