So that's been my Sunday, spent brunching and browsing and now I have to get back to Stranger Things 2. I only have one episode left to watch and I can already sense the ST2 withdrawals starting to kick in! I hope you've all had a fab fun filled weekend! Oh and also, we didn't steal the dog. We actually dog sit and furry little fella is Teddy.
SUNDAY BRUNCHIN' AND BROWSIN'
Sunday, 29 October 2017
So that's been my Sunday, spent brunching and browsing and now I have to get back to Stranger Things 2. I only have one episode left to watch and I can already sense the ST2 withdrawals starting to kick in! I hope you've all had a fab fun filled weekend! Oh and also, we didn't steal the dog. We actually dog sit and furry little fella is Teddy.
A NOT SO ORDINARY DUO FOR FRESH SUPER SOFT SKIN
Wednesday, 25 October 2017
I ordered the Lactic Acid 10% and the 100% plant-derived squalane, which both sound terrifying to a chemical skincare novice but after reading the product descriptions and figuring out what both of them actually do I decided to give them a go. So as I've said in a previous post I've recently started suffering with eczema and I have a few little patches on my cheeks so I obviously have to be careful what skincare and makeup I use because the patches can get irritated quite easily, so when I ordered the products I was slightly nervous about the effects they were going to have on my skin, I really wanted to love them but obviously if they irritated the eczema they were going to be big no no's.
It's basically an oil that you apply after cleansing and toning morning and/or night before priming. Squalane is used to hydrate the skin and leave it feeling plump and soft and guarding against dry patches. You can also use it in your hair, just add a few drops to towel dried hair for extra shine and protection from heat. Ok so what I don't like about this product is that it just wouldn't soak into my skin, I don't know if it's because I have combination skin and I can go through quite oily phases but it just didn't soak in at all I found myself touching my face after up to half an hour after applying the product and there was always some oily residue left, BUT I do love the product when I use it in my
hair I've used it the last couple of times I've washed my hair and after blow drying my hair looked so shiny and healthy and it just felt super soft. Personally I just don't get on with the product as a
skincare product but it could be great for people with dry skin and I'm definitely going to keep using it as a hair protection product!
Both products are super affordable at just £5.50 for the Plant-Derived Squalane and £5.80 for the Lactic Acid, they're only 30ml bottles but you only need to use 3 or 4 drops of each a day so they are brilliant in terms of price! Have you used either of these products? Or any The Ordinary products?
AUTUMN READING LIST
Sunday, 22 October 2017
Hola guys! I hope you've all had a pretty fab week! Mine's been pretty hectic with work and interviews but yesterday was pretty relaxed with a yummy brunch with Conor then we headed into town for a browse round the shops and a plenty of Terrys Orange Hot Chocolate, yeah guys it was just as amazing as it sounds! After that Conor headed to work and I headed home to chuck on the comfiest jammies I could find and grab a new book!
I always go through phases of turning into a total book worm and reading about 5 books in a row then I can't get into any books at all for a few weeks. At the minute I'm going through my read as many books as possible phases, I think it's something to do with the colder seasons there's nothing better than getting cosy under a pile of blankets in front of the fire with a cream and marshmallow topped hot chocolate with a new book. So I thought I'd share whats on my To Read list at the minute.
At the top of the list is a book I saw everywhere during the summer but never thought to pick up, its The Girls by Emma Cline and I've actually just finished it! Finally. The plot basically follows Evie who falls in with a bad group of girls lead by a mysterious guy called Russel which leads to a tragedy in the summer of 1969. Seeing as I'd heard so much about it I expected it to be incredible but I have to admit it was a bit hard to get into and I feel like it never really got going, it kept feeling like it was going to get exciting and then nah. I did like it don't get me wrong, it's a good story line but it was quite slow.
The Muse by Jessie Burton has been on my list since the beginning of the year and I'm really excited to get into it. Jessie Burton also wrote The Miniaturist which I heard really good things about but again never picked up! Duh when will I learn. So The Muse has a double plot line starting in 1967 with who begins working in a Gallery in London working for the glamorous Marjorie Quick, when a they discover a lost masterpiece with a secret. The plot then flashes back to 1936 in Spain where Olive Schloss an art dealers daughter becomes entangled with and artist and revolutionary. I love stories that entangle two plot lines and both sound really interesting so I'm excited to get stuck into this one!
I love Lindsey Kelk! I've read pretty much all of her books and I've defintely red all the I Heart series. The series stars Angela who after finding her fiance with his pants down decides to change her life and run away to New York, the series follows her as she makes new friends, starts a new career and falls in love. Yes it is chick lit and yes it might be kinda cheesy but they're so fun and easy to read and I just love them! I think this is the 6th and sounds like the final book in the series so I'm looking forward to finding out how things pan out for Angela.
Last but no means least on my list is Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough. I really like getting into gritty drama books, I loved Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins and I See You and I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh which all such good books if you haven't read them already then DO IT, so when I saw this on the shelf I was instantly drawn to it. The story follows three different characters who's lives become entangled when Louise meets David a succesful and charming guy but all things change when she meets his wife Adele. Louise becomes obsessed with the couple and the flaws begin to show, both are hiding terrible secrets but how far will they both go to keep them hidden? Exciting huh?!
So I'm about to get back into my Beauty and the Beast pj's (I'm 24 so what) get under a pile of blankets and throw myself into one of these plotlines. Have you read any of these books? Do you have any recommendations for me to try?
GLOSSIER FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Sunday, 15 October 2017
Unless you've been living under a rock you'll have seen this brand all over social media this week, my news feed has been taken over by the simple and oh so aesthetically pleasing packaging and pink has been everywhere. Thanks to the beauty gods the New York cult beauty brand that is Glossier finally started shipping to the UK. I've been dying to try this brand since I saw it popping up all over my favourite blogs and I can't begin to explain my excitement last Monday when I could make my wishful thinking a reality! Think along the lines of a five year old on Christmas morning x finding a forgotten bar of chocolate in the fridge. SO FREAKIN EXCITING.
I wanted to try skincare first as I've been going through a bit of a new skincare dry spell
for a while and just relying on the same old lotions and potions on a daily basis, so I thought I'd spruce up my collection. I ordered the phase one set which includes the Milk Jelly Cleanser, Moisturizing Primer and your choice of Balm Dotcom flavours. I got this to basically cover my cleansing, moisturising and priming needs, all wrapped up in one handy package. The 4 days between ordering my goodies and receiving them seemed like a bloomin' lifetime and by Friday I felt like some kind of John Lewis Christmas advert waiting for the postman to arrive with happiness in a little cardboard box. But oh lord was it worth the wait. I practically ripped the parcel out of the poor postmans hand and rand straight upstairs to reveal this pink amazingness inside the box, I'm only slightly exaggerating when I say I'm pretty sure angels sang when I opened that box.
First up is th Milk Jelly Cleanser. I heard really good things about pretty much all the Glossier products but this one seemed to be top of everyone's list in regards to skincare. So it's described as a "jelly" bit it feels more like a light thick serum and it smells quite chemically which I didn't expect but I got over that as soon as I used it Friday night after using a Miceller water to remove that most of my make up, I used a couple of pumps of this to wash the last of the make up and general day to day mankiness off and my skin felt so soft and fresh afterwards. It doesn't lather up like a soapy cleanser so even though it smells a bit chemically it doesn't feel like it. My first impressions of this product after just a couple of days using it morning and night before bed are really good seeing as it left my face feeling as soft and fresh as a baby booty!
Next in my package was the Moisturizing Primer. I really struggle with both moisturisers and primers because I have combination skin which means some days I'm dry as the Sahara and others my skin feels greasy AF but I read quite a few reviews of this product on the Glossier website saying that this product was perfect for combination skin so I thought I'd give it a whirl. It's a little bit funnier than I'm used to as I use quite rich moisturisers normally and Benefits Porefessional primer has been my go to for quite a while. I've been using about a dollop about the size of a ten pence piece and rubbing it into my skin in the morning after cleansing and before makeup. It takes a few minutes to completely soak in but I have found my makeup applies a lot smoother and it looks really glowy and fresh on top of the primer. I also have small patched of eczema of my cheeks so I have to be careful with what I use on them as they can get irritated really easily but in the past few days I've notice them clear up slightly so I'm so happy with this babe so far.
Last in my set was the Balm Dotcom which I chose in Rose because, well I'm me duh. I'm really bad for not using lip balm as often as I should to say that matte lip products are my favourite so I'm determined to keep this product in my bag at all times, for lip dryness emergencies. It's quite thick and I've only been using a tiny bit as I'm so used to wearing matte lipsticks the stickiness of the balm still feels a bit weird to me, but I have to say this balm doesn't leave my lips feeling sticky or slimy at all, yay! It has a slight pink tint to it which I really like because it adds a bit of colour when I'm not using a lipstick. It's another pat on the back for Glossier!
I also got a free sample of the yet to launch Glossier perfume, which smells so clean, fresh and luxurious, pretty much everything you'd expect from a brand like Glossier. I can't wait to hear more about the launch and the price. I'm guessing the price won't be too crazy as the price of the other products are reasonable so lets hope we hear more about that soon!
So you can get all these products individually but works out a couple of pounds cheaper to get them as a set for £35 for all 3 and then you're eligible for free shipping too, WINNER! If you use this link (here) you can also get 10% off your first order! I definitely recommend all three of this products and I think Glossier is going to become of my must have skincare brands, I can't wait to order my new batch of goodies, I thinking make up this time!
Have you tried any of these products? Do you have any recommendations?
&OTHERSTORIES BATH AND BODY HAUL
Sunday, 8 October 2017
So since payday I've been a tad obsessed with all things bath/body/beauty. I saw Kate's all time beauty favourites video recently and instantly fell in love with the &otherstories body souffle she talked about. I've been into the &otherstories Leeds store a couple of times for a browse but I stupidly never picked anything up, just appreciated the ridiculously aesthetically pleasing packaging. So I popped straight onto the website and browsed through the bath and body section.
I added a lot of products to my basket but eventually calmed myself down and ordered three things. They arrived a couple of dates later and I couldn't hide my excitement when I got home from work to find the package on the kitchen table, cos even the packaging is perfectly instagrammable - and that's what you look for in any product really, obz.
So I ordered the Miami Muse body lotion, Punk Bouquet hand cream and Sardonyx Fire body scrub. I went forward and backward between the body scrub and the body souffle for a while but I eventually decided on the scrub because I really love a good body scrub, I love the really coarse ones that feel like they're really exfoliating my skin. The Sardonyx Fire scrub doesn't disappoint at all it smells amazing, like all the &andotherstories products do, its has a woody base smell with hints of vanilla and a floral tone without being too girly and sickly. It lathers up really nice too and it just feels so luxurious and expensive even though its only £10 and a little goes a long way so I think it's going to last quite a while!
Next up is the Miami Muse body lotion. This is probably my favourite product of the three. Every time I smell it it smells even better than I remember. It's really musky and sweet at the same time with fragrances of cotton candy and pink pepper. I've been putting it on every night and my skin is feeling so soft, sometimes I really dislike body lotions because they can leave like an oily residue on my skin but this soaks in completely leaving my skin feeling silky smooth. The body lotion is only £7 for 350ml which is such a good price for the size of the bottle and the quality, this is definitely going to be a forever product for me.
Last up is the Punk Bouquet hand cream which smells amazing too, obviously. I bought the mini tube for £4 as I just wanted to give it a go and I'm normally a bit funny about hand creams because they always seem to take forever to soak in probably and my hands always feel a bit slippy afterwards but this ones is perfect, just like the body lotion it completely soaks in without the horrible oily residue. It has a vanilla base scent with a hint of rose, and we all know how I much I love rose scented anything! You can buy the bigger bottle which is £5 for 250ml so a bit smaller than the body lotion but I prefer the handy mini tubes which are perfect for popping in your handbag, especially with the weather getting so bloomin' cold.
All in all I'm so so happy with all three products, &otherstories is now one of my favourite places to get body and bath goodies. I'm already adding a few to my Christmas list! Have you tried any of the &otherstories products?
LEMON AND ELDERFLOWER SPONGE
Monday, 2 October 2017
Hi gang! It's been a such long time since I fell off the blogging wagon and I've been preparing to throw myself back into all things blogging and Instagram recently so I thought the best way to get back into the blogosphere would be to share a new recipe with you guys! Because who doesn't love cake?!
I made this gorgeously light lemon and elderflower sponge this week and not being big headed but it was bloody UHMAZING. I adapted a Nigella Lawson recipe to create this babein' cake and just added a few extras to give it a fresh Jeranfj twist. Classic sponge cakes with a twist are always some of my favourite recipes to make whether its chucking in some chocolate powder or fruit and they're so quick and easy anyone can make them!
Ingredients
250g unsalted butter
350g caster sugar
4 large eggs
zest of 2 lemons
350g self-raising flour
8 tablespoons of milk
Lemon curd (for filling)
2 round cake tins buttered and lines
For the syrup
juice of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons elderflower cordial
For the buttercream
500g icing sugar
250g unsalted butter
4 tablespoons elderflower cordial
Method
preheat the oven at 180C and butter and line your cake tins and leave to one side
cream together the butter and sugar and add in the lemon zest and eggs one at a time beating them in thoroughly. Gently fold in the flour, I always find it best to add a couple of tablespoons at a time to get the mixture really smooth, then add the milk and mix until smooth. Careful of any hidden flour lurking at the bottom of the bowl!
spoon the mixture evenly between your two cake tins and pop in the oven, preferably on the same shelf for even baking, and bake for 45 minutes. Try not to curiously open the oven door while your cakes are baking or they'll sink, you can do the anxious GGBO style sit in front of the oven and stare nervously at the baking cakes if you like.
while your cakes are baking beautifully in the oven move onto the syrup and butter cream. Mix together the juice of one lemon and 2 tablespoons of elderflower cordial in a bowl and set aside. In a large mixing bowl soften the butter and sieve in the icing sugar a couple of tablespoons at a time, this step is a tad messy so prepare for little puffs of icing sugar wafting into the air and covering every surface of the kitchen in a layer of powdered sugar. When you have mixed in the icing sugar add in the elderflower cordial a tablespoon at a time, you might not need all the elderflower cordial so be careful not to add too much and make the mixture too runny, it should be quite a stiff consistency and kinda stick to the spoon when you lift it from the bowl not just drip off. Once the mixture is smooth and ready pop it into the fridge till you're ready to add it to the cake.
once the cakes are baked use a skewer to poke holes into the surface of the cake then pour the syrup over the two cakes and leave to cool completely in the tins. I left mine for about half an hour to make sure they were totally cool.
when the cakes are completely cool add your lemon curd (as much as you fancy!) and buttercream and sandwich the two sponges together, finish with a sprinkling of icing sugar and lemon zest and Voila! One light zesyt lemon and elderflower cake to make even Mary Berry the queen of sponge cakes proud. Now grab a cuppa, a good book and a big chunk of cake and have a nice relaxing afternoon!
Will you be giving this recipe a try? If so let me know how you get on!
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)