Hello Again

Sometimes life just gets in the way doesn't it?

Source: www.onestepfurther.co.uk

After all my promises of being regular with my posts, and really getting into it and starting to enjoy myself I let it slide. I started a (totally different) new job at the beginning of October, and it's taken me so long to settle into a routine and feel like I actually know what I'm doing without having to go home at night and panic-study. Then we bought a house, and my time was spent chasing mortgages, packing up our flat, painting and battling against Ikea flat-pack furniture.

Source: www.holytaco.com

 

We are finally beginning to feel settled in our little house, and life is starting to become less frantically paced. I'm ready to pick up my metaphorical blogging pen again at last and nestle myself back into my cosy corner of the internet. Let's just see if I can juggle everything this time!

Speak soon!

(promise!)
;)

My Skincare Routine

I'm one of those people who loves 'routine' posts and videos- I love finding out exactly what products people use, whether they're any good, and getting ideas for things that I might want to try. I thought I'd do a post on my skincare routine as that's something I find really interesting to read from other people, so hopefully some of you will too!

As a quick disclaimer, I have normal to dry skin, although it has a tendency to become extremely dry in the winter months. Up until a couple of years ago I had little to no skincare routine- I removed my make-up with the Clean&Clear Blackhead clearing cleanser and that was it. No scrubs, no moisturisers and no masks. My skin was ridiculously oily, which I now realise was my dehydrated skin trying to overcompensate although hormones probably played a part too. As soon as I started a proper 'routine' I noticed a huge difference in the quality of my skin as well as the way my make-up sat on my face and I haven't looked back!

Morning

My morning skin routine is really simple- I figure if you cleanse properly at night then you only need a quick refresh in the morning. Plus, I don't have time for a complicated routine in the morning, I love my bed way too much for that! All I do is rinse my face with a foaming face wash. At the moment I'm using the Nivea Refreshing Facial Wash Gel, although to be honest I'm not particularly fussed about what brand I use, just as long as it foams nicely (I don't feel like it cleans my face otherwise). I know that lip products don't really count as a skincare routine, but I moisturise with a heavy-duty balm morning and night as part of my routine so I thought I'd just throw it in. Carmex does the job perfectly and really prepares my lips for lipstick and gloss in the morning. I'll then apply my moisturiser. I either use the Clean&Clear Dual Action Moisturiser- which I featured in my August favourites- on hot days, or when I feel I only need something light. During winter, or on particularly 'thirsty' days I'll use something heavier. At the moment that's the Esteé Lauder Daywear which does the job, but to be honest I probably wont repurchase due to the price- £40 for 50ml. I've tried other brands that perform the same for less.

Evening

My evening routine is a lot more lengthy so I'll go through it in steps and tell you a little more about each product:

First, I use the Garnier Micellar Water and some cotton pads to remove the bulk of my make-up. I haven't ever tried Bioderma, so I can't comment on whether it matches up but I think it's fantastic as a first cleanse. It's gentle but removes the majority of my make-up including on my eyes and it's a fab price for such a big bottle (around £4 for 400ml), so a definite winner in my eyes.

Then I'll cleanse my skin using either a gel or hot cloth cleanser. At the moment I'm using the No7 Beautiful Skin Melting Gel Cleanser and I'm really enjoying it, although I'm not crazy about the strong rose scent. Luckily it doesn't linger after use, so I can live with it. The cleanser applies as a gel, but turns into an oil as you massage it and then to a milk as you wash it off. It breaks down all make-up residue, and because it turns to oil, it really hydrates the skin. Usually as soon as I wash off my cleanser my skin is crying out for moisturiser, but it has been really comfortable since using this.

At this point I'll often use my Olay Regenerist 3 Point Cleansing Brush with some more of the Nivea face wash to make my skin is thoroughly cleansed. I don't do this everyday, but it's great for days when I've worn heavier foundation. We all know what a nightmare that Doublewear is to shift! I was interested in getting a Clarisonic, but wasn't sure how I'd get along with it and it's a lot of money to spend on one item. I've had this about a year, and really notice a difference in my skin whenever I go a while without using it. If I'm religious with it, I find my skin is less bumpy and uneven, more glowy and any spots clear much faster. The only issue I have is that it's a bit abrasive for dry skin types and that's why I only use it 2-3 times a week. If you're interested in a Clarisonic but are on a budget, I'd definitely recommend you try one of the drugstore alternatives.

My night-time moisturising routine consists completely of No7- whoops! Over the years I've tried loads of variations, but if I can find something that works then I'll stay loyal. Plus, No7 is quite reasonably priced (especially with the £5 off voucher ;) ) so it's a win win. First I use the iconic No7 Protect and Perfect Advanced Serum. To be perfectly honest, I don't really notice a difference in my skin, but prevention is better than cure when it comes to anti-aging and the reviews speak for themselves. I then apply the No7 Youthful Eye Serum (same reasons as above), before finishing off with the No7 Protect and Perfect Night Cream which I love. Seriously, I've never used a moisturiser like it. I started using it last winter when my skin was going through a particularly dry phase -you could actually see the dryness across my nose and forehead...ick- and nothing else worked. Two nights of using this and I was sorted, and I've been using it ever since. I'd go as far as to say this is one of my Holy Grail products. And if it prevents any pesky wrinkles then that's a bonus ;)

Finally, I'll use a mask once a week as part of my pamper night routine. At the moment I'm using the Quick Fix Exfoliating Scrub Mask which promises to get rid of blackheads and blocked pores. I've only just started to use this, but it seems promising, so look out for a full review sometime soon.

And that's it! Phew, that was a lengthy post! I hope it's not too boring. If anyone has any recommendations for a new day cream or any thoughts about any products mentioned then please let me know :)



Herbal Essences Clearly Naked Range

Along with the majority of the public, I like to know what is in the products I use. The demand for hair care which is free of silicones and parabens is huge at the moment. Unfortunately many of these products are incredibly expensive and hard to find, and with so many reasonably priced hair care products on the shelves it becomes all too easy to just select one of those.

 

Well step forward Herbal Essences with their new Clearly Naked range, which is free from all colourants, silicones and parabens. At £4 for 400ml, they are much more reasonable than many of the alternatives and -being available in drugstores and supermarkets- much more accessible. At the moment, many places have an introductory offer on too- I got mine for £1.99 in Tesco, and I've heard of similar offers in other places. There are two varieties: moisture and shine, each containing a shampoo, conditioner and dry shampoo.

 

 

Being paraben-free , I didn't expect much of a lather from the shampoo, but I was pleasantly surprised. Does anyone else feel like their hair isn't being cleaned unless the shampoo lathers? It's probably silly, but I definitely feel that way! When I washed out the shampoo, my hair didn't feel any more knotted than usual, and the thick conditioner did a great job of sorting out the tangles. Although it is silicone-free, I still found it really hydrating and lightweight. The scent is yummy- white tea and mint- and while I don't usually like minty products, I really like this one as it's quite delicate, and not at all overpowering. The scent also sticks around after drying which is fab, as I don't often find products which do that.

 

I've used the products three times now, and have consistently enjoyed them. They don't weigh down my hair, and I'm still able to go my usual two to three days between washes. I have quite dry hair, and it definitely feels nourished. A big thumbs up from me!

Foodie Friday: Chicken & Broccoli Pasta Bake

Another Friday, another super simple recipe from me! This is one of those cheap but filling ones that fall into the comfort food category without being too unhealthy, although I do have a fair amount of cheese in here but you could easily leave that out. But then what's a pasta bake without cheese...

I know the whole point of a pasta 'bake' is for the pasta to be cooked in the oven, but that's just so time consuming that I find it easier to just boil it as normal beforehand to pretty much halve the total cooking time.

Preparation time: 10 minutes                                                  Cooking time: 40 minutes

Ingredients (serves 2)

2 chicken breast fillets

200g pasta (any shape)

200g broccoli

1x 400g can of cream of chicken soup

1x ball of mozzarella

50g cheddar

Method

1. Wrap chicken in foil and bake for 20mins at 200 degrees centigrade/ gas mark 5.

2. Cut broccoli into smaller florets and cook along with the pasta for 10-12 minutes.

3. Drain pasta and broccoli. Take chicken out of the oven and cut into chunks. Combine pasta, broccoli and chicken in a casserole dish.

4. Pour over soup and mix into the pasta. Fold in cheddar.

5. Arrange mozzarella slices on top and bake at 200 degrees centigrade for 10 minutes.

Enjoy!

Doors Open Day

This weekend was Doors Open Day across Renfrewshire. For those who don't know about it, it's basically a couple of days where you can gain access to various buildings, tours and events that aren't usually available to the public for free. In addition, museums, art galleries and restaurants/pubs usually take part in promotional events too. It's a good wee day out doing something a bit different, and the fact that it's free is a huge bonus! The Glasgow version will take place from the 15th-21st September, and I'll leave a link to that at the end of the post for you all to have a look at and see if anything takes your fancy.

 

There were lots of events across the county, but we just spent the afternoon in Paisley as that was where the main attractions we wanted to see were. We started off at the Paisley Museum and Art Galleries, which I've never been to before but was definitely worth a look. The Glasgow museums are better, but I really enjoyed the exhibits about the history of Paisley and about the Coats family, who were the aristocrats of the area. It finally clicked why so many things in Paisley are named after them!

 

 

We then walked down the street to the Thomas Coats Memorial Church (see the Coats theme?!), which was stunning inside. We had really gone there as there was a photography exhibit on, which gave me loads of ideas on improving my photography skills. Then we popped into Hamishes Hoose for a bite to eat as they were offering a free dessert with every Doors Open guide but the main courses were so big we actually couldn't manage a dessert! I had steak pie and my boyfriend had haggis, neeps and tatties and both were super tasty. All mains were BOGOF too so the bill ended up coming to £13- we would have been the same price if we'd went for a McDonalds! I'll definitely go back, but might skip lunch that day so I have room for dessert!

 

The last attraction we wanted to go to was the re-opening of the Grand Fountain in Fountain Gardens. This was the event I was most excited about- don't ask me why, I've just got a thing about pretty fountains. The fountain has just gone under restoration and looks amazing. There was a gazebo with a display depicting the restoration process and the difference is astounding. I just hope it stays that way!

Glasgow Doors Open Day: http://glasgowdoorsopenday.com/

Do you have anything similar in your area? Will you go to the Glasgow one?

Seventeen Falsifeye HD Mascara

My all time favourite mascara (along with the majority of the population) is Benefit's They're Real, but as someone who religiously changes mascara every three months due to very sensitive eyes it can become a very expensive habit to keep. I'm always on the lookout for a drugstore alternative that I love, but have never been able to find one. Previously I've been using the Clump Crusher by Lashblast and I liked it, but it's an American brand and the UK equivalent is double the price.

While picking up some essentials (and non-essentials!) in Boots the other day I came across the Seventeen Falsifeye HD mascara. In the past I haven't liked Seventeen mascara at all, and generally avoid them but remembered that Fleur de Force had spoken about it quite positively in a video recently. I think Seventeen are really stepping up their game recently and I've been impressed with quite a few products recently so thought it would be worth a try.

 

 

And I love it! It's a bit early to say whether I love it more than They're Real but it's definitely the best drugstore alternative I've found. The brush is very similar- plastic and conical with a mixture of short and long bristles. The only major difference with the brush is that it doesn't have the little ball with teeny bristles at the end but the cone shape means it's thin enough at the end to angle and catch eyelashes in the inner corner. The formula is quite wet, which I prefer because I find it less clumpy plus it doesn't go crumbly and flake off throughout the day.
 

 

Lashes are well defined, lengthened and hold the curl all day. For those that like the fluttery look, this would be the perfect mascara to try out. It's available from Boots in either black or brown/black for £6.99 for 9ml and is more often than not on some sort of offer, so you're bound to get it for less. I think I'll be sticking with this one for a while! :)
 

No mascara

 

One coat on my right eye

 

 

Two coats on both eyes

 

 

Have you tried this mascara? What's your favourite drugstore mascara?

Foodie Friday: Chilli Con Carne

In the past couple of years this seems to have become my signature dish, it's the only thing I can cook better than my mum can so people always ask me for it when they come over! I think being able to make a good pot of chilli really gives you a good starting ground when it comes to cooking because it's just so versatile: have with rice, make nachos, chilli cheese fries, on a baked potato, in tacos, quesadillas etc. The list just goes on and on! Plus it's healthy, filling and cheap too, so a definite winner in this household!

 

 

Contrary to popular opinion, chilli isn't really that hard to make, it just takes a while to cook. You can start the cooking process and go off and do other things just as long as you remember to come back regularly to give it a good stir. You could also substitute the mince for a variety of different beans and pulses to make a veggie version, and this would probably be much quicker to cook. My version isn't very hot because I'm not a spice lover, although it does have a tiny kick. Obviously you can adjust this to your personal preference though.

Anyway, enough gabbing and on with the recipe!

 

Preparation time: 15 minutes                 Cooking: 60-90 minutes

Nutritional Stats (per serving)
kCal: 380, Protein: 36g, Carbs: 24g, Fat: 17g (6g sat fat), Salt: 1.7g

Ingredients (serves 4)
500g beef mince
1 onion
2 peppers (any colour)
1 garlic clove
300ml beef stock (made with one cube)
400g chopped tomatoes
400g kidney beans (or similar- I used chickpeas this time)
1tbsp tomato purée
1tsp paprika
2tsp chilli powder (or more if you prefer)

Method

1. Brown the mince in a small amount of oil.

2. Chop the onion and peppers into small pieces, add these to the pot and cook through for about five minutes.

3. Add the garlic, paprika and chilli powder, stir and allow to cook through for just a couple of

minutes.

4. Add the beef stock, chopped tomatoes and tomato purée to the pot and simmer for approximately an hour. Check it and stir every so often. If it gets too dry add some more water, but I've never had this happen. What you're looking for is for it to thicken slightly into a rich sauce.

5. Add a drained can of kidney beans or similar for the last few minutes cooking.

Serve!

Easier than you thought eh? ;) although it does take a while to cook, this is one of those dishes that's perfect for you to make a huge batch of and portion it up for the freezer. Usually, I double the quantities I've given above and it means I get eight meals out of it, with only having to put in the effort of making it once :)

The 100 Mile Challenge

A few weeks ago, I started a quest dubbed Operation Lazybum in a bid to improve my body confidence, fitness and general health. I plan to do a proper update on this next week, but just wanted to do a quick post today to let you all know that I've given myself a (not so) little challenge which I hope will give me the motivation to continue with Operation Lazybum.

I plan to walk/run/swim 100 miles during the month of September, averaging around 3.3 miles a day although there may be days where I do more or less than others. This is quite a daunting prospect for me, as I've only recently got back into the habit of exercising and even then it's only been a couple of times a week for about thirty minutes at a time. At my fitness peak (two years ago) I remember looking forward to exercising, wasn't lethargic during the day and was pretty happy with my body and I'd love to get back to that although I think it's one of those things that's easier said than done. Hopefully this will give me the kick-start I most definitely need!

As I write this, it's the 3rd of September and I've stuck to the challenge perfectly over the last couple of days. Since Monday, I've done 9.6 miles. Of course, you always have tons of motivation for the first little while but I'm desperately hoping it sticks around!

I'll check in frequently to let you know how I'm doing, and of course will post my results at the beginning of October. Wish me luck!

Have any of you challenged yourself with regards to exercise? How did it go? 

The £1 Makeup Brush

While picking up a couple of essentials at my local Poundland I spotted a few makeup brushes on the shelves. I've never seen these before, so apologies if this is old news! I actually passed right by them because I automatically assumed they'd be rubbish, but I reconsidered and picked one up with the thought that at least if it was terrible I'd only wasted £1. The range included a foundation, kabuki, powder and blush brush. I picked the angled blush brush because I thought it would probably be the most versatile.

 

 

Whilst I'll admit that it isn't my favourite brush in my collection, for the price it's actually quite a nifty little tool. I've used it to apply sheer foundations, as a stippling brush, for contouring and of course for blusher and it does the job well. I think the pink at the top of the bristles is a bit tacky, but I don't hold it against the product as it's sturdy and well-made. So far, I haven't had any bristles fall out and it held-up fine after washing.

The rest of the products in the range are brushes that I already have from other brands and most definitely don't need, but if they were to expand the range I'd certainly buy some more and think they're more than worth the £1 price tag.

Have you tried any Poundland makeup tools? What did you think? Would you consider trying them? 

Foodie Friday: Ten Minute Minestrone

This is exactly the type of recipe that I love: one-pot, no effort but looks much more complicated that it is and really impresses your guests ;) It's perfect for a dinner party too as it's one of those recipes that you can serve straight away but actually tastes better if you leave it for a couple of hours so you can make it well in advance and just reheat later.

Preparation: None                                                                    Cooking: 10 minutes

Ingredients (serves six)
400g chopped tomatoes
1L vegetable stock (made using 2 stock cubes)
2tbsp tomato puree
75g spaghetti, broken up into small pieces
400g mixed frozen veg

Method
1. Add the vegetable stock and tomatoes to a pot and bring to the boil.
2. Add the spaghetti and cook for 5 minutes.
3. Add the frozen veg and tomato puree. Cover and allow to simmer for another 5-10 minutes.

And that's it! As I say, it tastes loads better if you turn the heat off and just let it sit for a while so that the flavours infuse (check the chef-y language ;) ). You can also make a big pot of this to portion up for the freezer too :)

Takeaway on Tour

Last night my boyfriend and I took our first trip to the Hydro to see Ant and Dec's Takeaway on Tour. We went with fairly high enjoyment expectations (lets face it, who doesn't enjoy Ant and Dec?!) but I think we were both surprised by how much fun we had. It was the perfect kind of night to give us a break in the middle of a long and boring week.

We parked at the Glasgow Science Centre and walked over the bridge as I didn't fancy the hassle of getting out of the Hydro carpark after the show. I recommend this if you're ever going to something over at the Hydro or SECC- it saves so much stress after a show and is cheaper too. Plus you get to enjoy the scenery on the walk over, although I know from experience that if it's a horrible day it is a miserable (and very cold!) walk. Even so, it only takes five minutes so I think it's worth it. As you can see from the pictures, last night was gorgeous and we thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful views over the River Clyde :)

From the outside you can tell the Hydro is pretty big, but it isn't until you get to your seat and look up that you realise just how big! I don't have a fear of heights, but I think even the bravest person would feel a bit wobbly at the top seating section looking down. They even have escalators taking you up to that  section because there would be a ridiculous number of stairs involved!

Vertigo sufferers beware!

I don't want to give too much of the show away as the tour is only half-way through at the moment, but just think of it as an extra long version of the TV show, with all the best bits- Win the Ads (a member of the audience is randomly selected for this!), Ant vs Dec, I'm a Celebrity Get Out of Me Ear as well as performances from special guests, Joey Essex in the DJ booth, and lots of audience participation! Ant and Dec were on top form; you can really tell that they are up there having the time of their lives, and I think that's why they are so loved. 

 Let's get ready to rrrrrumble!

Ant vs Dec

Told you there was audience participation!

 If you're going to the tour, you'll love it! And if there is anyone that wanted to buy tickets, but was hesitant about spending the money for something you can get from TV, I'd say put those doubts aside if there are any future tours. It was so much better than watching a screen because you're actually there in the moment, contibuting and seeing it all unfold, and there's nothing quite like that.

Are you going to the tour? Have you been? What did you think ? 

August Favourites

So here we are, almost at the end of another month. And with the end of August comes the beginning of Autumn! I'm so excited for Autumn this year, I think it's because the past few months have actually been quite summery in Glasgow, whereas our spring, summer and autumn seasons normally all blend into one and seem to last forever. I can't wait to get the winter boots and coats out! :)

Anyway, also with the end of August comes another lowdown of my favourite products of the month:



Clockwise from bottom left: Essie nail paint in 'peach daiquiri;' Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray;
Clean&Clear dual action moisturiser; Soap&Glory Girligo;
Covergirl Clump Crusher by Lashblast; Rimmel Apocalips in Stellar








Essie Nail Paint: Essie are my favourite brand when it comes to nail polish. Amazing formula, great staying power, a gazillion colours and a reasonable price tag. Peach Daiquiri has been my go-to colour this summer, and this month I've been reapplying it each time I've done my nails. I usually get bored after a few days and switch-up the colour but I haven't wanted to. High praise indeed! This is a perfect summery coral- more on the orange side than the red- and will be perfect throughout autumn and winter to break up dark outfits.

Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray: With the hot weather we've been enjoying, make-up has just been sliding off my face. Instead of adding another layer to my face with a primer, I've been using this instead both before and after applying my foundation and it works a treat, saving me from having to reapply my foundation at some point throughout the day. The mist is so fine that it doesn't even wet the skin, so it doesn't add any extra time to your routine.



Clean&Clear Dual Action Moisturiser: I have very dry skin, and like to use quite a thick daytime moisturiser (No7 Protect and Perfect- never too early to start with the anti-aging!) but with the heat lately I just haven't wanted to suffocate my skin under thick products. The Clean&Clear Dual Action Moisturiser is an old favourite that I used to use when I was a teenager. It's nice and light, but still does a great job quenching thirsty skin and is a great price (approx £3.50). It has antimicrobial properties too in order to prevent spots from actually reaching the surface, although I haven't used it religiously enough to really comment on that. I do remember never suffering too badly with breakouts when I was a teen though, which might be partly to do with this!

Soap&Glory Girligo: Similarly to my facial moisturiser, I haven't wanted to use my usual thick creams and butters on my body so picked this spray moisturiser up on a recent shopping spree. It has the classic S&G scent, very similar to Hand Food and The Righteous Butter and is a great lighter alternative. A word of warning though: stand on a towel to apply this as it does disperse into the air and land on the floor a bit and if you have tiles or laminate flooring you WILL slip!

Covergirl Clump Crusher: I picked this up while I was on holiday in America early this year and have been using it religiously this month. It has a curved, plastic applicator to really get into the lashes and give them some curl. The formula is great too- no clumps, and hasn't irritated my ridiculously sensitive eyes. The UK equivalent is the Maxfactor Clump Defy, which I'll probably replace this with, although it does tick me off that the UK price is at about three times more than the US for the same product (£10.99 vs $4.99).



Rimmel Apocalips in Stellar: I got this in America too, where they're branded as 'Show Off Lips.' This shade is 'Stellar', which equates to 'Stella' over here. It's a bit strange as all the others have the same name on both sides of the pond but hey ho. This is a gorgeous BRIGHT pinky-coral, perfect for those days with big sunglasses and minimal make-up, instantly making you look like you've made an effort. The formula is a bit drying, so I always apply a lipbalm underneath, but lasts for absolutely ages. As long as you give it a minute to set it'll last a good six hours. Check for lipstick-on-teeth regularly though!

I hope you've all had a wonderful August :)

Foodie Friday: Lemon Drizzle Cake

An oldie but definitely a goodie ;)

Preparation time:  15 minutes                                                   Cooking time: 40-50 minutes

 

Ingredients

 

Cake

225g self-raising flour

225g butter

225g caster sugar

4 eggs

Zest of two lemons (could use one to tone down the lemony-ness)

Juice of half a lemon

 

Drizzle

Juice of one and a half lemons

100g caster sugar

 

Method

1. Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees centigrade/ gas mark 4. Grease loaf-tin if not using a silicone one.

2. Beat together butter and sugar, then add eggs and combine. Sift in flour and fold in gently.

3. Add lemon zest and juice (amount dependant on preference) and mix through.

4. Transfer to loaf-tin and bake for 40-50 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.

5. Make the drizzle by combining caster sugar with lemon juice.

6. After baking, allow the cake to cool slightly before pricking with a fork and pouring over the drizzle. The drizzle will sink through the holes throughout the cake and make it extra lemony and delicious.

7. Allow to cool completely before slicing, otherwise it will just fall apart.

8. Make a cuppa and enjoy!

50 Random Questions Tag

Hello!

Hopefully other people share my enthusiasm for these types of posts and enjoy reading them as much as I do!

1. Would you rather be twice as smart or twice as happy?

Definitely twice as happy. This is something I'm working hard on at the moment actually.

2. What's your worst habit?

Worrying apparently (I've just asked my boyfriend). I'll also throw in second guessing myself and spilling my dinner- seriously it happens every single night. I even got a bib last Christmas :p

3. Are you dating?

We live together, so I'd say a bit further than dating. But essentially, yes. And he's amazing :)

4. Do you take shampoo and conditioner bottles from hotels?

 If its decent :p

5. What is the one thing you'll never do again?

Be railroaded into decisions I don't want to make (working on this one too)

 
6. Do you collect anything?

Do Christmas decorations count? I buy a couple of new ones each year with the eventual goal of our tree being decorated with unique ornaments which all hold a story and a memory :)

7. Worst injury you ever had?

My mum chopped my finger off when I was twelve. Yep this is true. Yes it was an accident.

8. What is your favourite pet/ animal?

My favourite animal is a tiger, but pet-wise I'd have to say dog although I don't have one

9. What's your dream vacation?

Bora Bora

Drool!
Source: www.8thingstodo.com

 

10. Honestly, are things going the way you planned?

No but I'm beginning to think that might be a very good thing :)

 

11. Do you have any tattoos?

Yes I have two: 'no rain, no rainbow...' on my foot and my boyfriend's initial on my wrist. The third is planned but I always wait six months after deciding on a tattoo in order to make sure I really want it.

 

12. What's your secret to lure in the opposite sex?

Well I have been told that my legs are rather nice ;)

13. Any phobias?

Death and birds.

14.  Do you bite your nails?

Nope

15. Do you ever count your steps when you walk?
Don't think so 

 

16. Heels or flats?

Flats. Heels only when necessary or the anaesthetic effect of vodka will numb the pain ;)

17.Have you ever stolen a street sign before?

No

18. Do you always smile for pictures?

 I think so

19. Do you ever dance even if there's no music playing?

Haha always. It's my 'thing' apparently :p

20.  Do you miss anyone right now?
Not really. Eek does that sound bad?

 

21. What's your favourite colour?

Yellow

22. Do you want kids?

Yes yes yes! I truly believe that having kids is my purpose in life.

Story of my life :p
Source: www.cartoonstock.com

 

23. Are you patient?

I'd say so.

24. Can you swim?

Yes and love it :)

25. Tea or coffee

Both

26. What do you wear to bed?

Nothing. Ooh err!

27. Ever used a gun? 

No

28. Do you sing in the shower?

No. I can't bear to listen to my own singing. That's how bad I am!

29. Are you stubborn?

Very!

30. Are you lazy?

We all have our days.

31. Can you change the oil in a car

Yep- I'm very pleased with myself for this :p

32. W hen was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper?

A year ago

33. Would you ever strip or pose nude in a magazine?
Nope

34.What is your favourite food?

Chilli/pasta/pizza

35. Do you still watch cartoons?

Just The Simpsons and Disney movies mostly

36. What movie(s) can you watch over and over again and not get bored?
Any of my favourite Christmas or Disney movies, Dirty Dancing, The Notebook andHow to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. TV-wise, I never get sick of Desperate Housewives, Sex and the City and Friends.

 

37. What superpower would you have for one day?

Invisibility so I could snoop on people.

38. Whats been your favourite age so far? 

21

It was slim-pickings to find a decent photo of me at 21
on my boyfriend's computer

 39. How old are you?

22

40. If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your younger self?

Don't worry about what people think

41. If you knew you would die in one week, what would you do?
Panic!

 

42. What celebrity would you trade lives with?

I don't think I like any celebrity enough to trade lives with. Maybe one of the Kardashians if it was only for a day- just to see what its like

 

43. Do people ever take you seriously?

Yep. People know when I'm being serious and when I'm not

 

44. What happened the last time you cried?

Hormones got the better of me, grr!

 

45. Who knows you best?

My boyfriend

46.  Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed?

Closed (strange question)

47. What is your song of the week?
Magic!-Rude. 'Why you gotta be so ruuuude...'

 

48. Last person you kissed?

Hmm let me think.... :p

49. Best thing to eat for breakfast?

Pancakes!

 

50. Does anyone know the password to your email?

Yes. Too many actually. I really must change it

And that wraps it up! Hope you enjoyed!
 

Review: Orly Rubberised Basecoat

I'm the first to admit that I'm lazy when it comes to nail polish application. Basecoat...colour layer 1...colour layer 2...topcoat...yawn!

 

I've always either skipped a basecoat altogether, or just used a clear varnish thinking that basecoats were a money-wasting invention and if a clear polish prevented staining then that would do just fine.  Well, I put my hands up and take it all back. This little baby has changed my nail painting routine forever! It makes my varnish (whether drugstore or high-end) last so much longer. I'm talking from 2-3 days without chipping to well over a week. As the name suggests, it adds a rubbery coating to the nail, making the coloured varnish appear gel-like.

 

 

 

For the purposes of this review, I used the basecoat on my right hand (my writing hand) only in order to give it a proper test. I applied two coats of Essie 'Peach Daiquiri' and my Rimmel topcoat to both hands as normal and I think the results in the photo speak for themselves!

Comparison on Day 4 (basecoat on right hand)

 

 At £5 for 5ml, it's reasonably priced, and considering I've been using this around 75% of the time I paint my nails (usually once or twice a week) since January and it looked barely used it's definitely worth it. A keeper in my book!

Foodie Friday: Mediterranean Sausage Casserole

I do love a recipe that it is super tasty but doesn't destroy the kitchen, and this one is right up there with my favourites! One-pot, bung it in the oven and ta dah!

I took this recipe from a BBC recipe book years ago, swapped the chicken for sausages (I think that was all we had at the time!), added a sauce and a few different spices and came up with what is now one of our staple dinners. It can easily be modified to suit you if needed- it works really well with sweet potato, but I just prefer white and the pork sausages could be substituted with quorn, veggie or beef varieties (although the beef might overpower the sauce a bit- just a thought).

 

Hope you enjoy!

Preparation time: 15 minutes                                             Cooking: 30 minutes

 

Ingredients (serves 4)

8 pork sausages

1 large onion

2 peppers (any colour)

2-3 potatoes per person (judgement call)

400g chopped tomatoes

Olive oil

Chilli, paprika, thyme to personal taste

Method

1. Cut potatoes into chunks- doesn't matter what size, but try to keep them fairly even so they cook at the same rate. Do the same with the onion and peppers. Transfer these to a large casserole dish.

2. Pierce sausages to avoid them exploding (yes I have had this happen before) and arrange in dish.

3. Drizzle over olive oil and get your hands in there to make sure everything has a coating. Be careful not to add to much oil as the sausages will also release some- I'd say use roughly two tablespoons.

4. Sprinkle over thyme (or oregano or mixed herbs) chilli powder and/or paprika to own personal spice-liking.

 

5. Bake at 200 degrees centigrade/ gas mark 6 for thirty minutes, checking it half-way to give it a mix.

6. Stir in chopped tomatoes and add extra spices/ salt and pepper.

Eat it!

PS. I only remembered about the 'after' picture when we were halfway through eating dinner....fail! In the interests of a 'balanced diet' I didn't want to do another cake recipe this week so I promise to add in the picture the next time I make this. For the moment though, you'll just have to imagine the picture above cooked and with a tomato sauce added ;)

PPS. For the record, it was delicious ;)

Operation Lazybum

 

For various reasons- some more trivial than others- I've been feeling a bit 'meh' recently. One of these reasons is my body. Just over a year ago I was walking to and from uni every day (six miles in total) and partaking in Zumba and swimming on a weekly basis. I could eat whatever I fancied and was in the best shape of my life. Fast forward twelve months of working full-time, driving three hours a day instead of walking, moving in with the boyfriend and eating matching portions, swapping nights out for cosy nights in and exercise classes for my duvet and I'm in the worst shape of my life. When you can't even get up the stairs without being out of breath and people ask you when the little one is due then you know its time to act. As you can probably guess, there is no little one due. Although I may have just gone along with it to spare the mortification of an explanation to a complete stranger...

And so Operation Get off Your Jiggly Bum and Do Something About It, You Can Get Your Body Back, Improve Your Anxiety and Become Happier was born. I know what you're thinking, and I agree it's a bit of a mouthful, so it will henceforth be known as Operation Lazybum ;)

 

 

I eat fairly healthily, so won't be changing my diet very much; this is mainly about exercise and incorporating new lifestyle changes with the hope of toning myself up and feeling healthier (and being able to get put the stairs without huffing and puffing :P ). Since the beginning of 2013, I have gained a stone, but weight-loss isn't really the goal here (although it would be nice ;) ). I write this for the world to see in the hope that it will give me the determination to stick to it, so we'll see. I do have some 'before' pictures, but I'm much too chicken to post these online at the moment but perhaps this will change in the future.

I won't be updating weekly as I have other lifestyle posts planned on Wednesdays and I wouldn't want to bore everyone with the same topic, but I'll check in every so often. I'm sure I'll be rambling about this more often on Twitter, so feel free to follow me there if you're interested or doing something similar yourself :)

Let Operation Lazybum commence!