Mother's Day Gift Guide

When it comes to Mother's Day gifts I think that the more personal the better and the best of all are hand made gifts. However, if you're looking for something to buy for your Mum this Mother's Day I have put together a few ideas which I hope will help.

1. A framed photo. This one I found can be personalised with your own message to make it extra special.

2. Some photos in a photo album. Takes a bit more effort but this is a gift which would be cherished, I'm sure. (Example shown above.)


 

3. A dressing gown. Treat Mum to a soft, cosy dressing gown like this one. 

4. Bath and body products. Encourage Mum to have a bit of me time with a gift set like this one. 

 


5. A book. Choose a book suited to something your Mum is interested in. If she is interested in beauty then this one is a great read.


6. A makeup product. A neutral eye shadow palette like this one would be very universal for most makeup wearing Mums. 

7. A bouquet of flowers. These ones are particularly lovely but I would suggest going to your local florist.


8. A scented candle. I really like this Rhubarb Flower scented candle and think it would make a great gift.


9. A box of chocolates. My preferred choice would be a small box of extra special chocolates like these.

Hope this has given you some ideas, but remember the best gift of all is time. Let me know what you get up to on Mother's day with your Mum, or what you've got planned this year. 

Quick and Easy Vegetable Pasta (GF+Vegan)

This pasta dish is one of the quickest and easiest things to make. It's perfect for those nights when I get in late and can't really be bothered to cook. Sometimes even, it's just something I fancy. Probably because pasta is a bit of a comfort food and this is a very wholesome meal which is also pretty healthy! Feel free to change the vegetables I have used for what you have on hand. It's great way of using things up - mushrooms are an especially nice addition to this recipe.

Serves 2

You will need:
130g Pasta (I used brown rice pasta, but use any of your choice)
1 tbsp of Olive Oil
½ Onion
½ Red Pepper
½ Courgette
1 Clove of Garlic
1 Can Chopped Tomatoes
1 tbsp Tomato Puree
A large pinch of Oregano
3 Chunks/Pieces of Frozen Spinach 

Method:

1.  Start by heating the oil in a saucepan to a medium heat. Dice the onion and add to the pan. Then cut the red pepper and courgette into chunks and add them to the pan also. Cook for a few minutes, or until the onions have softened.
2. Crush or finely chop the garlic and add to the pan, cooking for a further 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, tomato puree and oregano. Stir everything to mix well. Simmer for 20 minutes.
3. Halfway through the cooking time, cook you pasta according to the packet instructions and add the frozen spinach to the sauce. 
4. Once the pasta has been drained, add to the sauce. Stir through to mix and serve immediately.

Haul + Mini Review: REN, Maybelline and Sleek

Halfway through the month I realised I hadn't brought anything for myself since I last got paid and suddenly got the urge to go shopping. I didn't go too wild but was very happy with my purchases.

REN Clarimatte Clarifying Toner - I was on the hunt for a new exfoliating toner, due to my current one nearing its end, and found myself repurchasing this again. It's quite hard to find affordable exoliating toners but at only £13 this one seemed like a good choice. It has lactic, glycolic and salycilic acid. I enjoy using this and have noticed my skin looking a little brighter.

Sleek Face Contour Kit in Light - This item had been on my wish list for quite a long time and I am so glad I own it. I had heard it recommended many times and I can now see why. The contour powder is very pigmented but also blends very easily and is the perfect colour to create a shadow. However, I am a complete beginner with highlighter so I don't think I can comment on that aspect of this product yet.

Maybelline Color Tatoo Leather Effect in Creamy Beige - I had heard this mentioned a few times but it hadn't really stuck in my mind. I was just browsing and using the testers, as you do, when I discovered this. I loved the colour and the finish immediately so just had to get it. I really get why it is called leather effect. It has a sheen to it, an almost wet look when it catches the light. It lasts all day and can be used as a base for eyeshadow. I having been using this everyday since I brought it and would highly recommend it.

Maybelline Gel Eyeliner - Pretty sure it was buy one get one half price on the Maybelline stand which is partly why I got this. Also, I just really wanted to have a go using it again (I brought had used it a few years ago), especially since I now own a wing liner brush. I have used this a few times and the product is great, but really it comes down the brush and hand applying it as to whether it gives a good result. Most of the time I'm alright but I still need bit more practice to get the perfect wing liner.

Let me know if you would like a more in depth review of any of these products.

itsu - Healthy Food on the High Street

On my recent trips into Brighton I had noticed this new food place that had opened called itsu and I was quite intrigued. Usually when looking for a place to eat when I'm out shopping I go for something cheap, which most of the time means unhealthy. Probably due to habit I gravitate towards McDonalds, but fast-food never makes me feel good. I had mentioned this place to my boyfriend and he told me I should go there and try it, it's not like we can't afford it. So yesterday that's exactly what I did!

As I stepped into the store, it was very inviting - I don't know why I thought it looked slightly intimidating, although that was probably just because it was somewhere new to me. There was an area to freely browse all their chilled options, which all looked very fresh and healthy. I felt there was quite an Asian influence in their food options due to lots of things like sweet chilli sauce, soy sauce, sushi etc. If you're a lover of that type of cuisine, like myself, I'm sure you would love this place. They also had hot food, snacks, desserts and drinks on the menu. There were vegetarian options within all their ranges. There slogan is "eat beautiful" and they are dedicated to creating lower fat and lower calorie but delicious food.

I was spoilt for choice, but I went for the chicken teriyaki salad. This consisted of a bed of sushi rice topped with leeks, peas, ginger, seasame seeds and teriyaki chicken. The teriyaki sauce was provided in a small pot embedded in the rice. It was absolutely delicious. So fresh, full of flavour and so satisfying!

I got mine to take away to keep things a little cheaper - they have to charge VAT if you eat in the store. I loved the way they packaged it for me; in a strong bag with a flat bottom to keep your food upright, a napkin and cutlery. Talking of which, the cutlery wasn't rubbish like most take away ones and they even offer chopsticks (if you can use them, I can't) - it's the little things that count!

I had a great first impression of itsu and will definitely be returning on my next trip into the city. It's great to see a quick and easy healthy food option on the high street - it's like healthy fast-food. itsu has most of its stores in London, but there are a few popping up elsewhere. If you've got one nearby I would highly recommend giving it a try!

Click here to find your nearest store - http://www.itsu.com/locations/shops/

Banana, Pecan and Maple Porridge

This has been my go to indulgent but healthy breakfast recently. I often have this at the weekend when I fancy something a little sweeter than my usual choices. The flavours go really well together and overall have an almost caramel like taste. The maple syrup in this recipe is completely optional. It is a natural sweetener, but if you are not feeling so indulgent simply leave it out and it will still taste great. Please note that I like quite small portions for my meals and this recipe is exactly as I make it for myself; feel free to increase the quantities (keeping the oats and milk in proportion).

Serves 1

You will need:

160ml Almond Milk (or your milk of choice)
25g Rolled Oats
Half a Banana
 ½ tsp Cinnamon
A Small Handful of Pecan Nuts
Maple Syrup to taste

Method:

1.  Start by slicing up the banana. (I like to cut the slices in half, usually using my spatula while the porridge is cooking in the pan.)
2. Add the milk, oats, banana and cinnamon to a small saucepan. Over a medium heat, cook the porridge until it thickens stirring occasionally. This usually takes about 5 minutes.
3. While the porridge is cooking, pre-heat a frying pan to a medium heat. Chop the pecan halves into about 2 or 3 pieces and add to the pan to toast for a couple of minutes. 
4. Pour the porridge into a bowl, top with the pecan nuts, pour on the maple syrup and enjoy! (I usually go for 1 or 2 tsp of maple syrup.)

Optional: I sometimes add in a dessert spoonful of ground flaxseed while the porridge is cooking for extra nutrients!

Amazing Guacamole!

Up until recently I thought guacamole was a safe choice when looking for a healthy snack food at the supermarket. Little did I know that most shop brought guacamole's contain double cream. Not only is double cream high in saturated fats, but when trying to cut dairy out of my diet it was one of the least suspected places to find it. Using the recipe out of Deliciously Ella's new book as a guide, also on her blog here, I made my own guacamole for the first time. I was amazed at how simple, easy and, most importantly, delicious it was! I didn't have any fresh coriander on hand, so feel free to add some if you do.

To serve 1

You will need:
1 Ripe Avocado
3 Small Tomatoes 
1 Lime
1 Small Clove of Garlic
½ A Small Jalapeno Pepper
A little Salt

Method: 
1. Scoop out the flesh of the avocado into a bowl, removing the stone. Mash the avocado using a fork until only small chunks remain. Squeeze the juice from the lime into the bowl and mix in.
2. Remove the seeds from the tomatoes and cut into small pieces. Do the same with the jalapeno pepper and crush the garlic clove. Add these to the bowl, along with a pinch of salt and mix everything together. 
Enjoy!

My Goals for 2015

This year I really want to make more of an effort working towards the life I want to live. I have a very long list of changes I would like to make which focus on three main areas: diet, fitness and life. I came across the book 52 Small Changes: One Year to a Healthier, Happier You a couple of years ago, and I really like the concept of making a small change every week. The bigger goals like "eat healthier" become smaller, more manageable goals like "eat 4 to 6 serving of vegetables per day". This gives you a chance to really focus on achieving that one goal each week. Sounds like a good idea to me, so I'm going to try it out this year and incorporate as many of the changes that I want to make as I can. Really, how hard can it be?

As with anything like this, everyone is different. Everyone has different goals, interests and capabilities. Hence why I am not going to be following the plan laid out in this book to the T, but simply as a guide. A lot of the changes laid out in the book are things I agree with, however some of them I am not interested in so I will be replacing those with one of my personal goals.
I wanted to document the changes I make on here, firstly for accountability but also to keep check of progress and to share my experiences. At the end of each week I will share with you the change I focused on, what I did and whether I achieved it. For this week I thought it would be a good idea to give you an idea of my end goals for each area.

Diet
Over the last few years I have become increasingly more interested in living more healthily. I have read a lot on what is good for our bodies and what isn't, however very little of this information I have actually put into practice. I have been trying to go dairy free for over a year now but never fully committed to it. I am admittedly addicted to sugar so would like to cut that out. I am considering going gluten free. I would like to eat a lot more vegetables, eat three proper meals a day and snack healthily.

Fitness
Currently I do not do any kind of exercise. This is very bad. I am unfit, I get out of breath easily and I have very little strength or stamina. I have never enjoyed sports, and P.E. was always the lesson I dreaded at school. However, now that I'm a bit older and a lot less active than I used to be, I really do recognise the benefits of it. I've got no specific goals for fitness, but soon as though I'm starting from the bottom any progress is good.

Life 
This category includes pretty much anything not covered by the previous two. Household, relationship, finance and self development goals included. I want to figure out what I enjoy and want to do with my life, get more organised, improve my money management and and stay in contact with friends and family to name a few.

New Year's Eve Makeup

We may not be going out for New Year's Eve this year but the occasion is a pretty good excuse to get dressed up. When it comes to New Year's Eve, I think it's the night to go all out when applying makeup. There's no holding back with the glitter, the smokiness or the liquid liner. Although I still steer clear of the disco ball look!

The Eyes
Before starting my eye makeup I stuck a short piece of sellotape at an angle on the outer corner of each of my eyes to create a sharp finish. I applied the shade Foxy from my Naked Basics palette all over my lids and blended the shade Faint through the crease. Then I blended Darkhorse from the original Naked palette into the outer corner of my eyes, adding and blending more until I was happy with it. Next came the Barry M Dazzle Dust in Bronze which I packed on all over my eye lids, followed by a little of their Fine Glitter Dust in Silver on top. I used my Maybelline Master Precise Liquid to create a thin line above my lashes, extending in the outer corners. My Rimmel Scandel Eyes Kohl Kajal in Black was used to line my upper and lower water lines. I added a little of the shade Faint to the outer corners underneath my eye and Half Baked from the Naked palette on the inner corner. Finally, I used the Max Factor Clump Defy mascara.

The Base
I stuck to my favourites at the moment, starting with the Bourjour Healthy Mix Serum Gel foundation in 51 vanilla. Under my eyes and on any blemishes I used Maybelline's Fit Me concealer in 15 and dusted over a light layer of bareMinerals Original Foundation in Fair to finish off. I attempted a little contouring using Bourjour's Chocolate Bronzer in 52.

The Lips
I went for a nude lip using Rimmel's Moisture Renew lipstick in the shade Notting Hill Nude with bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie gloss in Dazzler on top (a limited edition shade which I recieved in a gift box).

Hopefully you will still find this of interest even though New Year's Eve has come and gone, but I wanted it to show the makeup that I actually wore for New Year's Eve.
Happy New Year! I hope 2015 is the best year yet for everyone.

New Year's Eve Nails

 I decided to paint my nails before the weekend as we went to visit Michael's family, and soon as though it has lasted 5 days with no chipping so far it is going to be on my nails for New Year's Eve. I used one of the new nail polishes I received for Christmas, Essie's Chinchilly, as the base. On top I put Essie's Summit of Style, a recent purchase and the star of the show. It is beautiful top coat containing different sized bronze glitter. I am not a fan of yellow gold, so the bronze tone of this glitter polish is what I was drawn to and is what makes it quite unusual. 

What are you favourite glitter nail polishes?

What I Got For Christmas 2014

As usual, I was spoilt by all my family and my boyfriend this Christmas. I recieved more than I could have wished for and am very grateful. As a disclaimer, this post is not intended to show off what I got but simply because I enjoy seeing other people's posts like this. Also, I thought it would be something nice to look back on in the future.

Starting with the photo above, I was very happy when I unwrapped the Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay Body & Hand Wash from my boyfriend's Mum. It was a very thoughtful gift as she had remembered when I went into a Jo Malone store with her a couple of months ago and was longing to try some of their products. She also gave me the Cedar & Lemon Bath Fizzer from a local shop in Norfolk, The Natural Soap Company. 
From my Dad and his partner we received a huge box filled with food, about half of which was homemade (not pictured). The box included a cake, some truffles, bicsotti, crackers and some nuts. This was great as with myself and Michael working over Christmas we hadn't bothered to buy much food in! Tucked away inside the box was the La Maison de Senteurs Hand Care Purse containing a mini Hand Wash and Hand Cream in the Fleur d'Orangier scent.
My boyfriend, Michael, gave me many things that I had on my wishlist and he knew I wanted. Possibly my favourite was the Urban Decay Naked Basics palette which has been on my wishlist since it was released more than a year ago. The LUSH Mrs Frosty gift set, which was limited edition for Christmas but contains 3 products, 2 of which are from their permanent line: the Butterball, So White and The Comforter.

Michael also gave me the Tweezerman for Benefit Eyelash ProCurl Curler, the Essie Favourites to Fall For Duo containing Bahama Mama and Chinchilly, the scent and the large mug in the Cosmic print from the Monsoon Home range at Denby. The blu-ray boxset I received from my brother, as well as a box of Lindt Chocolates (not pictured).
From my Mum I received  the Stuffed Burger Press from Lakeland. Also, following on the tradition of getting a new Christmas tree ornament every year we received not one but 4 new decorations. The Ceramic Starbucks Red Cup Ornament and knitted bear were from my Mum, the bird was from Michal's Mum and the silver glass bauble was from Michael.

I am very thankful for all the presents I received. I hope you all got everything you wished for.

Pecan Blondies

I have a bit of an obsession with white chocolate. These have the flavour of white chocolate melted into a cake giving them a buttery, smooth taste. Nuts and white chocolate is a well known food combination, and rightly so. These are simply delicious. They may even be better than brownies!

Makes 16 squares

You will need:

175g White Chocolate
115g Unsalted Butter
100g Caster Sugar
2 Medium Eggs
½ tsp Vanilla Extract
125g Plain Flour
½ tsp Baking Powder
150g Pecan Halves

Method:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180 C and prepare a 20cm square non-stick cake tin, greased and base-lined with greaseproof paper. Break up the chocolate and put it into a heatproof bowl with the butter. Put the bowl over a pan of of hot water and melt gently while stirring frequently.When the chocolate is nearly all melted, remove the from the pan and stir until smooth.
2. Stir in the sugar, and leave to cool for 2 minutes. (Don't worry if the mixture looks curdled at this stage.)
3. Put the eggs and vanilla into a separate bowl and whisk until frothy. Add to the chocolate mixture and stir well.
4. Sift in the flour with the baking powder and stir. Add 100g of the pecan halves and mix in.
5. Transfer the mixture into the prepared tin and spread out evenly. Scatter the remaining pecan halves over the top. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until a skewer inserted halfway between the centre and the side of the cake comes out clean.
6. Leave to cool (if you can resist!), before removing the cake from the tin and cutting into squares.

Butternut Squash and Pancetta Pasta

This has become another one of my favourite past dishes. It is so simple to make, yet so flavourful. I love the slightly sweet flavour of the butternut squash along with the salty flavour of the pancetta.

Serves 3

You will need:

225g Penne Pasta ½ Butternut Squash (Peeled and diced)
1 Small Onion (Diced)
155g Pancetta (or diced bacon)
1 tbsp Olive Oil
1 Clove of Garlic (Crushed)
½ tsp Dried Mixed Herbs
⅔ Cup of Chicken Stock
¼ Cup of Grated Parmesan Cheese

Method:

1. In a medium sized saucepan, add the olive oil and pre-heat over a medium. Add the pancetta and cook until it just starts to become crispy. Remove from the pan and set aside.
2. In the same saucepan, add the onion and butternut squash. Season lightly and cook for 12-15 minutes or until they start to develop some colour. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
3. Add the herbs and the chicken stock. Cook for 15-18 minutes or until the butternut squash becomes tender.
4. Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to the package instructions. 
5. Add the pasta to the saucepan along with the cheese and cooked pancetta. Stir until fully mixed and serve immediately.

Goat's Cheese and Red Onion Filo Parcels

These were a bit of an experiment but turned out well. When doing our weekly food shop we saw something similar in the supermarket and thought we would try to recreate them at home. Using online recipes for guidance we came up with these. I think they would be perfect at a party as buffet food or canapés.

The picture above has still got some flour on the outside from the filo pastry. They still tasted good, but it might improve them if the melted butter was brushed on the outside of them before they were cooked. Here's a photo to show how delicious the filling was!

Makes 10

Ingredients:

1 pack Ready-Made Filo Pastry
125g Goat's Cheese
3 Red Onions
25g Walnuts (chopped)
2tbsp Butter
2tbsp Butter (melted)

Method:

1. Peel the onions and finely slice them into half-moon shapes. Add the 2 tbsp of butter to a frying pan on a medium heat. Once melted add the onions and cook for 45mins to 1 hour, or until the onions have started to caramelise and have reduced in size, stirring occasionally. Take off the heat.
2. Cut the goat's cheese into 10 chunks. 
3. Cut each filo sheet into 6 rough squares. Using a non-stick baking tray, start to prepare the filo parcels. Lay a square of filo pastry on the baking tray. Using a pastry brush (or your fingers if you don't have one), brush the top of the filo square with the melted butter. Place the next filo square on top at an angle to the first one. Again, brush the top with butter. Place another filo square on top, brush with butter and place the final square on top. You should have 4 layers of filo pastry, which each have been rotated slightly so they are at different angles.
4. Brush the melted butter around the edge of the layered filo in a circle. Place a small amount of the onions in the centre, then place a chunk of goats cheese on top and finally adding some of the chopped nuts.
5. Gather the edges of the filo pastry up around the filling, pressing them together to seal the parcel.
6. Repeat until you have run out of filo pastry and filling. Should make around 10 parcels. When you have finished preparing them, spread them out on the baking tray.
7. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 180 C for 10-15 minutes, or until they are becoming golden on the top and slightly around the outside.

Banana Pancakes

I have seen a lot of recipes for healthier versions of pancakes around the internet, specifically Pinterest. The healthiest of them all seems to be those made with just eggs and banana. I am a bit sceptical of how these would resemble pancakes and whether they would taste good, so I found something which would look and taste more like a traditional pancake. I didn't see how I would achieve a pancake mixture without at least a small amount of flour, and I only make this occasionally either when I want a more special breakfast or when I have ripe bananas to use up. They taste really good and are fluffy on the inside. Great served with fruit and a little maple syrup. Best thing is how quick and easy they are to make, perfect for breakfast!

Makes 6 and Serves 2-3 people

You will need:
½ Cup of Plain Flour
1½ tsp Granulated Sugar (Optional)
1 tsp Baking Powder
Pinch of Salt
½ a beaten Egg
½ Cup of Milk (any kind will work, I used Almond Milk)
1 tbsp Vegetable Oil
1 ripe Banana, mashed
¼ tsp Cinnamon
¼ tsp Vanilla Extract  

Method:

1. Mix all the dry ingredients in medium sized bowl, and mix all the wet ingredients in a jug.
2. Pour the wet mixture into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Whisk until combined and the mixture is smooth. 
3. Heat a frying pan up to a medium heat. Use a ladle or ⅓ cup measure to spoon some mixture into the pan. Cook for a few minutes on each side or until starting to brown a little. 

Enjoy with any of your favourite pancake toppings.

Requium by Lauren Oliver

I must remember in future to write a book review very soon after I reach the end of a book. I finished this book a couple of weeks ago, so although I expect this review to be very short I thought it deserved being written.

Once again, I will present to you the synopsis for this novel. Surprisingly Amazon doesn't provide this, I guess they assume, rightly so, that you would only want to read this book after reading the previous two. But still, it may be helpful in order to get an overview of the trilogy.

They have tried to squeeze us out, to stamp us into the past.
But we are still here.
And there are more of us every day.

"Now an active member of the resistance, Lena has been transformed. The nascent rebellion that was under way in Pandemonium has ignited into an all-out revolution in Requiem, and Lena is at the center of the fight.

After rescuing Julian from a death sentence, Lena and her friends fled to the Wilds. But the Wilds are no longer a safe haven—pockets of rebellion have opened throughout the country, and the government cannot deny the existence of Invalids. Regulators now infiltrate the borderlands to stamp out the rebels, and as Lena navigates the increasingly dangerous terrain, her best friend, Hana, lives a safe, loveless life in Portland as the fiancée of the young mayor.

Maybe we are driven crazy by our feelings.
Maybe love is a disease, and we would be better off without it.
But we have chosen a different road.
And in the end, that is the point of escaping the cure: We are free to choose.
We are even free to choose the wrong thing."

Following the theme of the second book this one is written in a slightly different way. The story is told from both Lena and Hannah's point of view, alternating with each chapter. Their stories and lives seem very separate right up until the end when they ultimately converge. 

I enjoyed reading this book, and would certainly recommend it if you have read the previous two novels in the trilogy. Although I would have to say that this was my least favourite of the three. For a long period in the book the story doesn't seem to be leading anywhere, but the ending does conclude the trilogy and is worth it for that. 

What did you think of this trilogy? Do you have a similar book recommendations?  

Sweet Potato Curry

This creation was something my Mum and her partner made when they came to stay with us last September, and I've recreated it a few times since. The simplicity of this recipe is down to the number of steps it takes to make. It contains no dairy and can be vegetarian if the prawns are left out or replaced with an alternative.

Serves: 4-6 people

You will need:
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 onion (diced)
1 red pepper (diced)
2-3 tbsp curry paste
1 can chopped tomatoes
1 can coconut cream
1 large/medium or 2 small sweet potatoes (diced)
250-300g bag of frozen prawns (defrosted)

Method: 

1. Heat the vegetable oil in a saucepan pan. Add the onions and fry until softened. Mix in the curry paste and the red pepper and continue to fry for a couple more minutes.
2. Add the chopped tomatoes, coconut milk and sweet potato to the saucepan. Bring to a boil and gently simmer for 20 minutes, or until the sweet potato is tender.
3. Add the prawns to the curry and continue to cook until the prawns have heated up, but no longer as they are already cooked. Serve with rice.

note: this recipe works using either coconut milk or cream, although I do prefer the thicker, slightly richer sauce created using coconut cream. So I would recommend, if you can find it, using coconut cream as a preference.

Skincare Haul: Origins, REN

Last week I made an online order with both Origins and REN. I decided to order straight from the brands website for both due to the perks of having free delivery and samples from each. That said, I had quite different experiences ordering from each of them.

Origins
Nearing the bottom of my jar of the GinZing Energy-Boosting Moisturizer, I took to the brands website to repurchase another when I found their Extra-Zing Energizing Set. This set included the moisturiser I was looking for as well as 4 single use sachets of their Clear Improvement Mask, all for the same price as the moisturiser alone, £23...so I thought, why not? I was also able to choose 2 free sample at the checkout, most of which didn't appeal to me but I chose what I thought were the best options for myself.
The brands online store has free delivery on orders. This is standard delivery of 2-5 working days, and they inform you that the package has to be signed for. This worried me at first as I can't guarantee I will be home to sign for it. This said, it turned out to be fine. The company used the Royal Mail Delivery service, so when I wasn't there to sign for it I simply collected it from the delivery office in the town I live in.

REN
For quite a while now I've been wanting to buy a second cleanser to use in the mornings. The ClearCalm 3 Clarifying Clay Cleanser was top of my list, but whilst browsing their online store I came across the Hydra-Calm Cleansing Milk. Both looked like suitable products to fill the space missing in my skincare routine, but I stuck with my original choice and was luckily able to chose the other as one of my free samples at the checkout. The other free sample I chose was the Glycolatic Renewal Mask. I already own this...but who doesn't need more, right? The final product I added to my basket was the No.1 Purity Cleansing Balm, which I'm almost out of so while I had the chance of 10% off my first order, I added a back-up to my stocks.
Delivery was also free from this brand but didn't go so smoothly. They use a delivery company who insist on a signed delivery. They also say 2-5 days, but send you a text the morning of the delivery with a one hour delivery slot. I wasn't able to be home on their first 2 attempts of delivery so had to phone up and rearrange it for a much later date than I'd hoped when I knew I'd be at home all day. I never knew it could be so hard to get an online order delivered!

What has your experience been like ordering from beauty brands online? Any recommendations from these brands?

January Beauty Favourites

I only have a few products that have really stood out to me this month. About 2 months ago I switched up the shampoo and conditioner I was using to to the Herbal Essences Bee Strong Strengthening Shampoo and the TRESemmé Split Remedy Conditioner, when I ran out of the ones I was previously using. I don't know which one of these is contributing, hence why they are both a favourite, but I've noticed that my hair is more shiny that it was before.
I've also been loving my REN No.1 Purity Cleansing Balm. This deserves a whole review of its own. It feels very luxurious to massage into your face and removes all my make up without making my skin feel stripped. It has a slight rose scent, which I happen to quite like. There's really nothing to complain about with this one.

Any tips for fixing/preventing split ends? What are your favourites this month?

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

After getting hooked on Delirium, I went straight on to reading the following book in the trilogy: pandemonium. I've started writing this review just minutes after reaching the end of the book.

I'm including the synopsis of this book below, but it really doesn't give anything away:

Love, the deadliest of all deadly things. It kills you when you have it. And when you don't.

I'm pushing aside the memory of my nightmare, pushing away thoughts of Alex, pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school, push, push, push, like Raven told me to do. The old life is dead. But the old Lena is dead too. I buried her. I left her beyond a fence, behind a wall of smoke and flame.

It took me a while to get used to the way this book was written, and I never quite worked out if I liked it. The book covered two stories both running in parallel, with each chapter alternating between 'then' and 'now'.

The 'then' story follows on from where the previous book left off. It tells the story of Lena's escape into the wilds and how she fits in and adapts to a new way of life. The 'then' story never fully catches up to where the now story starts.

The 'now' story starts by introducing Lena with a new identity, living in Manhattan and working as part of the resistance. She has orders to attend a demonstration and keep watch of one of the leaders. The story takes a turn when herself and the boy she was watching get kidnapped when trying to escape after the demonstration gets boycotted.

I won't give anything away, but the ending was very unexpected. It made me think 'wow' and I instantly wanted to start reading the next book.

Have you read this book? Would you recommend it?

First Beauty Haul of the Year

I hadn't been shopping since before Christmas. I had desperately wanted to go shopping in the sales after seeing some good offers online, but with so much work to do it simply wasn't feasible. Last Friday I took the first chance I had and spent the afternoon wandering around some of my favourite shops in Brighton.

Hydraluron by Indeed Labs £24.99
I have heard so much about this, mostly from Caroline Hirons, that I felt like I just had to have it in my skincare routine. About half a year ago I started investing more into my skincare products, but it still takes a lot of deliberation before I take the plunge on a more expensive purchase. After seeing it on offer on Boots website for only £16.66, it was a price I couldn't refuse.

The Body Shop - Pink Grapefruit Body Mist £7.50
Just over a month ago when I was in London, we went into The Body Shop and I sprayed the tester of this on my wrist. I remember repeatedly being pleasantly surprised when I got a whiff of the scent throughout the rest of the day. Since then it's been on my list of things I want.

Superdrug - Aloe Vera Mud Mask £2.49
After hearing lilypepples talking about this face mask, it sounded like a great inexpensive one to try. I very rarely use face masks but thought it would be a nice treat to add to my skincare regime. This isn't yet on the Superdrug website, although the sachet version is.

Gillette Venus Proskin Sensitive £9.69
This is a re-purchase of the best razor blades I have tried. I only recently invested in the razor with changeable heads rather than the disposables that I sed to use. 

Superdrug Deep Cleansing Fruit Mask £0.99
A buy one get one half price offer, so I couldn't resist trying a different mask for just 50p. If the bigger size tube of this one was included in the offer I may have gone for that instead.

The Body Shop - Pink Grapefruit Body Butter
As above, there was another buy one get one half price offer on, so I went for the body butter in the matching scent to the body mist I had chosen. The only size I could find of this in store was the 50ml version, yet on the website I can only find the 200ml version.

Rimmel Glam Eyes HD in Brixton Brown £6.99
I had spotted this in Boots a month or so ago, but was very hesitant to try something else when I love my Naked palette so much. This is another one that I saw recommend by lilypepples (here) and compared to the Charlotte Tillbury Dolce Vita palette. I could see myself getting a lot of use out of this, and as I hadn't had any new eyeshadows in over 2 year I thought, why not?

Have you tried any of these products? What did you think to them?