5 products I can't live without...

 

I had to really think about this post as there is so many things I use & treasure every day that narrowing them down to just 5 was so hard!
Since it's the end of the month I thought I'd do a little twist on the regular monthly favs.

But I managed to narrow it down & here are the lucky chosen 5...

Lip balms

These are essential for me. I have really dry lips all year round so having a lip balm to hand is so important to me. I'm one of those people that if something is annoying me then my mind focuses on that one thing, nothing else. It like magnifies in my head & I literally can't think of anything but that one thing. So if I have slightly dry lips all I can focus on is them; I literally sit licking, rubbing & stretching my mouth & my lips always end up getting more dry/sore but I can't stop! It's like an addiction once you get into the dry lips//licking them//lips getting more dry//so you lick them more etc loop! You get my point now. So having a good, moisturising lip balm in my bag everyday or in the car is a life saver for me. If I find I don't have one for some reason then I will have to go out & buy one. No questions. So my collection has grown quite a bit over the years, the bottom of every bag I own is full of random lip balms. I must have 100s!

Some of my favourites makes include Cocoa Butter; Carmex; The Body Shop & surprisingly Boots own make lip balms in strawberry & mint are actually one of the best I've found! Plus they're only £1! Bargain! 

Water Bottle

Everyone knows the importance of drinking enough water & keeping hydrated through out the day so I always carry a water bottle with me every where. It's especially essential I have one as I go to the gym everyday & studying for my gym instructor course I'm constantly moving & being active.

If I get in the car & realise I have no bottle then I literally panic. Like the lip balm, I will have to go out & buy a bottle of water. So I now at this moment, have around 4 empty bottles in the car & 3 in my bedroom so I always have a bottle to hand to fill up! I think I even have one in my gym bag as well, just in case I don't have enough already!

Spotty

I can hear some of you going 'Eh, Spotty? What the heck is that?'

Well, it is my toy dog I sleep with every night. Yes you read that right, I'm 20 & I still have to sleep with a toy every night. Guilty

If anyone from the 90's will remember 'Spot the dog'; Lovable yellow dog who would go on adventures with his friends in a series of books, and I'm sure there was a few videos as well?
The photo on the left is when he was fairly new/clean; compare to the right when he has been well loved for 20 years!

So 'Spotty' is a Spot the dog toy. I got him when I was born & would sleep with him every night. I literally couldn't sleep if I didn't have him & even to this day if I'm stressed or upset then his smell (Is that weird that he has a certain special smell to me?!) will instantly chill me out. When I was little I would take him every where with me, so we had a fair few stressful days trying to find him when I left him somewhere! But thankfully I grew out of that phase, but he's always sat on my bed on a night!

I can 100% say that I have never, in my life spent a night without him! Hand on heart! And yes it has been an awkward talking point with past boyfriends... 

Trainers

Now I was going to go for my gym membership as I would literally be lost if I couldn't go workout every day; but then I realised that stupidly I don't need a gym to exercise, Duuhhh! You just need a pair of trainers & some music then you're set. Running, biking or hiking cost nothing & can all be done outside in the fresh air; which will benefit you more anyway. Even weight lifting/strength workouts can be improvised at home or outside. Tins of beans, heavy candles, logs, tyres, bags of sand etc the list is endless of things you can use!

So if I didn't have my trainers to comfortably workout in then I would be a very lost, sad bunny.

Exercising is a huggeee part of my life; it is my version of happy therapy. It's my time to de-stress, clear my mind, boost my mood & make me feel good. Nothing like a superwoman feeling when you lift some heavy weights, oh yeahhh!

So you could probably say this one is actually 'Exercise' but the post is on products so I went with trainers as they are obviously essential to workout with. 

Earphones//Music

This one is probably the same for so many people. Music is something I can't go a day without listening too so having a pair of earphones on me is essential. You don't want to annoy anyone by playing your music out loud! A couple of times I've gone to get my headphones out for the gym & realised they're in my room at home & I have literally stood silent screaming. The thought of doing a workout without music blasting in my ears makes me breakout in a cold sweat! Anyone try doing cardio in silence? It is pure torture & boredom.

So without my earphones & being unable to listen to my music, I am again a very lost, sad bunny!

Until next time
Love

Tattoo Wishlist...

 

This is a bit of a different, unusual post that I have for you today. But tattoos are a big part of my life & I thought I'd shake up my blog content a little bit & give you all something different to read! I already have 3 tattoos, & obviously by the title you can guess I plan on getting a lot more!

I love tattoos & find nothing more fascinating than hearing the stories & different reasons behind peoples designs. I think they're all so beautiful in their own way & such a unique way of expressing yourself.

So many people say they're 'lower class' & what happens if you end up regretting them? 

Well if people don't like tattoos then fine, that's their opinion & I would never try to force my own on anyone, but to judge someone & be that narrow minded about a bit of ink on someones skin then I don't really want to be associated with anyone like that anyway. Personality comes from within, not on the outside. Someone can be covered in ink & have wacky piercings but have the most amazing, kind, heartfelt personality; just like someone can wear very reserved clothes & look very respectable but be the rudest, self centred person ever. Don't judge a book by its cover!

And as for regretting them; if I'm an old woman & the only thing I'm worrying about is how my tattoos look then I'll be a very happy girl indeed! As long as I'm happy, have my health & family when I'm old then that's all I need!

Now rant over; onto the main post!

Half Mandala Cuff

 I have wanted a cuff design for absolutely ages for my right wrist as I plan on turning it into a half sleeve maybe. I find mandala designs so beautiful/meaningful & Beautycrush has the perfect half one on her wrist. I want something very similar.

Little Smiley Face

People might laugh at this but I really want a little tattoo somewhere I will catch a glimpse of & remind me to just smile. I have overcome a lot of private things in my life & I sometimes need reminding to just smile & be thankful for everything I have in life; like friends, family & my health. Having a little cheesy tattoo like this would be perfect!

Small Owl

My mum has a big oobsession with owls & every time I see one it makes me smile & think of her. I love all these little owl designs & would love one to remind me of her as she is my best friend & she means the world to me. I already have some song lyrics on my forearm from a song she would sing to me as a baby to get me to sleep & it always makes me think of her.

Paintbrush/Pencil

My sister has always been interested & loved art. I can't remember a time she didn't have a pencil or paintbrush in her hand or she wasn't sat somewhere drawing. Ask me one thing that sums up my sister its art, or cats as she also has an obsession with them. She has an insane 'pencil' collection; yes that's right!; & we have visited the Pencil Museum in the Lake District near enough 10+ times now. Dedication on my part there! So having a tattoo like these would just be my sister in tattoo form. Love them!

 

Feather

Yes feather tattoos are very 'cliche white female' but I can't get over how beautiful & delicate the designs can look if done right. I'd love a beautifully detailed feather piece as I think it would look absolutely gorgeous. Just finding the perfect design! I always liked the idea of a peacock feather as the colours & patterns are just breathtaking. Maybe adding one into my sleeve?

Sugar Skull

I think sugar skulls are another design that can look so beautiful & intriguing when they are done with such care & detail. I'd love to incorporate one into sleeve as these designs below look so perfect!

 

Arrow

I think the meaning behind arrow tattoos is so meaningful & it literally sums my life up so well. To shoot an arrow you have to pull it back for it to shoot forward towards its target; so you have to experience the pull back first in life to be shot forward into amazing, better things!

I have so many more designs & ideas I want; so this is just a beginning post. Hopefully I can come back later in the year & tick some of these off!

If any of you have any tattoos or designs they want then let me know in the comments. I love hearing about them!

Until next time

Love

 

DIY Bath clothe soaking sacks // Mothers day idea

 

DIY Bath clothe soaking sacks // Mothers Day Idea

These are handy little clothe sacks that are filled with lovely smelling, beneficial ingredients that are perfect for any bath & are so easy & cheap to make. Great last minute idea for Mothers Day!

You'll need:

Large square of gauze/cheese cloth

1/2 cup soap flakes

1/2 cup oatmeal

1 tbsp herbs*

4 drops essential oil*

Cloth string

*For a Wake Up- Peppermint leaves + Peppermint oil

           Relaxing- Chamomile + Lavender oil

           Rose/Flowers- Rose hips + Rose oil

Mix all the ingredients & place them in the middle of your cloth

Tie the top securely with the string

Place in the bath & let it soak

You can even use it as a loofah & scrub/exfoliate over your skin at the end of your bath

Until next time

Love

Chit Chat & update

 

This is just going to be a little update post as I've been so busy lately with college that I haven't had time to sit & put the time I want into any new posts.

I'm doing the circuit qualification part of my personal trainer course at the moment & I've had a nightmare trying to find a decent playlist for my exam circuit. If anyone has any examples of good upbeat, motivational songs I could use I'd be very thankful!

I've recently bought a proper diary so I'm going to start properly planning & scheduling my posts so hopefully my blog will be more organised from now on. I've never been an organised person so this is going to be a new thing for me! I'm going to try & post every Wednesday; if I have the time though then I'll also post on a Sunday too.

If anyone has any ideas for my next posts that you'd like to see then I'd love any suggestions! More fitness related posts; DIY recipes; reviews? 

Thankyou to everyone who reads my blog, I really do appreciate every single one of you :)

Until next time

Love

 

Little Wish List #2

 

 

Nike Air Force 1

£47.00 // Shuch.com

I saw a recent blog post on these trainers & instantly fell in love. They're the sort of shoe you can wear with absolutely anything & they'll pull the whole outfit together. I think they'd look perfect with some skinny jeans or shorts & a slouchy t-shirt! The pink ones are just too amazing & cute not to add as well!

 

Beano Sweatshirt

£39.99 // Truffle Shuffle Clothing

I love the Truffle Shuffle website; it has such cool, quirky clothing & merchandise. The designs are so unique & this Beano sweatshirt really caught my eye recently. I used to love reading the Beano; whenever my mum did the weekly shop I would make sure she always picked up my weekly copy! I had a huge collection of them under my bed & I'd always get the Beano annual every christmas as well; so this sweatshirt has my name written all over it. Pairing it with some jeans & the Nike Air Force 1 above would make a perfect chilled day outfit!

 

Bumble & Bumble Hair Chalk

£15 // Boots

I've wanted my hair ombre for ages & for christmas my grandma kindly said she'd pay for me to have it done at her local hairdressers 'Saks'

(They're a really amazing hairdressers & they never fail or disappoint me whenever they do my hair so if you're looking for a new hairdressers then I strongly recommend!)

So I went at the weekend & I absolutely love it! As my hair was so black before, it's going to take a few more appointments to fully lift all the dye out & it reach a honey blonde colour so I'll need to go back in around a month but I love the colour it's gone now. It's lifted to a light brown/auburn colour which I really like. When the ends finally do reach a blonde colour though I really want to experiment with hair chalk as everyone seems to be giving it a go & as I don't have the guts to perminantly dye my hair pink then chalking the ends seems a perfect alternative! This Bumble & Bumble range has a small range but for a beginner kit then they'd be perfect.

 

Disney Frozen DVD

£10.99 // Disneystore.com

Hands down 'Frozen' is my absolute favourite film. Ever since it came out I have been absolutely obsessed, I went to see it 3 times at the cinema & am literally counting down the days until it's released on DVD so I can watch it on repeat everyday! It knocked my beloved 'Little Mermaid' off the top spot, which is an amazing feat! I'm sure I'm annoying everyone by constantly breaking into the soundtrack at every chance.

'Do you want to build a snowman!!!!.....'

Pomsky Puppy

Yeahhhh this one is a bit far fetched but I would literally give anything to have my own Pomsky puppy. Like it actually hurts to look at other peoples photos of their puppies as I want one so bad! I'd want a little boy & call him something like 'Karl' or 'Doug'

One day! I can dream until then. 

Until next time
Love

 

3 DIY Simple Face Toners

I have another DIY recipe post for you all today.

This one is toners;

I love using a toner in my skin care routine. The squeaky clean feeling can't be beaten but you can sometimes find you get a dry, tight, uncomfortable feeling with certain toners. However these 3 recipes won't give you that, just clean, moisturised & beautiful skin! :)

Honey Toner

Helps with blemishes & moisturising skin

1 tbsp Honey

1 tbsp Lemon Juice

1 tbsp Witch Hazel/Vodka

1 tbsp Water

Mix everything & store in a small bottle. Keep refrigerated to last longer

 

Cucumber Toner

Perfect for sensitive skin

1/4 cup of cucumber juice

2 tbsp Witch Hazel

1 tbsp Water

Mix everything & store in a small bottle. Keep refrigerated to last longer

 

Green Tea Toner

Moisturises & deep cleans

2 teaspoons tea leaves OR 2 tea bags

1/4 cup Witch Hazel

1/4 cup Water

Boil the tea bags & let them sit for several hours/overnight

Strain & mix in the water + witch hazel

Store in a small bottle & keep refrigerated to last longer

Until next time

Love

 

Amazing Apple Cider Vinegar

I randomly stumbled across Apple Cider Vinegar & it's amazing benefits a few years ago when I was going on a fortnight holiday to America.

I hold my hands up & admit that I am a big sun lover *guilty face* Loving nothing better than lying in the sun with a floppy hat, sunglasses & a pile of good books/magazines. That's maybe the only reason I go on abroad. I'd like to say I go to look at the amazing sites & culture, but I hate to admit I'm more excited for the hot weather & sun. I'm normally very good at remembering to apply suncream & not burning, but there's always those annoying places I burn despite this like shoulders, between my boobs, nose to name a few. I always end up with the dreaded peeling tan, every persons nightmare. This not only looks horrible but makes my hard worked tan goes all patchy :(

So I was googling ways to prevent tan from peeling & I found an article from a girl claiming that if she ever got sun burnt, her secret was to apply & rub A.C.V into her skin. She said it took away the stinging, prevented that tight feeling by adding/ locking moisture into the skin & prevented it from peeling. I kept this little gem in the back of my head & when we arrived in America I made sure that one of the first things I purchased was a little bottle of A.C.V from Walmart.

I was dubious to whether I would actually see anything from the vinegar but I was open minded & OMG I was blown away.

Unsurprisingly I got burnt on the tops of my shoulders within the first couple days, so when I showered that night I rubbed in some A.C.V & prepared to be amazed. Yes it smelt very strong of vinegar, surprise surprise, but after it dried then the smell completely disappeared. My skin instantly stopped stinging which was amazing enough, but when it would normally start peeling it didn't! No dreaded peel, just flawless, even tan! I was instantly hooked from then on & started to look more into A.C.V & it's uses/benefits.

This is a post is going to be on the amaziiinngggg benefits of the little gem that is Apple Cider Vinegar & why everyone should have a bottle on hand.

• Toner: Applying some to a cotton pad & gently wiping it over your face is a cheap alternative to a store bought toner & is just as effective. It can help get rid of bacteria on your face that cause spots & blemishes; while it also helps lock in moisture so you don't get that uncomfortable, dry feeling you sometimes get with toners. It has no chemicals so is okay to use with sensitive skin, but if you find the acidity/smell too strong for you then simply dilute with water.
• Bath soak: Adding a couple of cup fulls of vinegar to your bath can help the body to become more alkaline; too much partying, alcohol, sugar, processed food & caffeine can make your body overly acidic so the vinegar can help regulate your body & remove some of the acidity. It can also help fight urinary infections & even arthritis!
• Clarifying hair wash: Mixing the vinegar with water & applying it to your hair before you shampoo can help remove any residue build up in your hair without stripping it of healthy moisture. Some clarifying shampoos can dry your hair out & make it brittle but this gently removes the build up without any damage.
• Hair spray for oil removing & added shine: Again mixing part vinegar & part water in a spray bottle, spraying in wet hair can detangle, defrizz & add shine when you dry  & style your hair. Also if you spray it on dry hair, massaging it into the scalp & rough drying your hair can remove any hair oils, acting like a wet version of dry shampoo, revamping hair & giving it longer between washes.
• Mouthwash: Just like you would mouthwash, take a shot of vinegar & swill it around your mouth for a minute then spit it out. Doing this helps remove any odour & bacteria that can hang around causing bad breathe. You just need to get used to the taste of the vinegar as it's very different from your normal, minty mouthwash taste! You could try diluting with water or ordinary mouthwash if you prefer though.
• Morning shot: This will definitely take some getting used to & is not for the faint hearted. However the benefits are so worth that couple of seconds of bitter taste! Trust me! Taking a shot of vinegar can help kick start your digestive system & cleanse it, helping get everything moving down below. It helps remove toxins, keeps your skin clear from the inside & helps your hair grow through shiny & strong. Alternatively you can consume it by adding it to salads, soups, sauces etc if you can't face taking a vinegar shot! You only need 1 tbsp a day to see benefits.

Until next time

Love