Berry Banana Smoothie

I love fruit smoothies and often make them at home as its so simple so I thought I'd let you know how I make them, and you could of course make substitutions or add some other ingredients. I've used a blender as I was at home, but at university where I don't have this luxury I use a hand whizzer (don't know the actual name!) which is great for smoothies and also when making soup.

 So to make a smoothie for one person you need:

1/2 glass frozen berries
1 tbsp natural or greek yoghurt
1 chopped banana
Glug of fruit juice to stop it from being too thick

So there's not really too many instructions needed to make this smoothie. Just add the ingredients one at a time, and whizz them all together. If it's too thick then just add more juice or you could add a splash of milk.

Please leave a comment if you try this or if you have any suggestions for other smoothies!

Nailed It - Affordable Chip Resistant Top and Base Combination

I rarely have unpainted nails and as I paint them so often, I have gone through a fair few top and base coat nail polishes. At the moment I think I have found a winning combination and they are also very affordable which is always good for a student and my ever decreasing bank account.

So as a base coat I am using the Barry M Top and Base Coat and as a top coat (although it is actually a base coat but I didn't see that when I bought it), I use the Maybelline 7 Days Gel nail polish in transparent. Over the years, as I do use my hands quite a lot I have got used to my nails chipping after a couple of days and having to repaint them, but using these two along with my colour of choice, I have gotten four days of wear out of them without a chip in sight.

Let me know if you try this combination or if you have any chip resisting tips.

New Years Resolutions

First things first, Happy New Year! I hope you've had an amazing Christmas and I hope whatever you got up to on New Years Eve was a whole lotta fun. I have thoroughly enjoyed myself seeing all of my family and friends and also eating ridiculous amounts of lovely festive food. But without further ado here are my new year's resolutions:

1. Okay, okay I know everyone says this but I really do need to shift some Christmas pounds. Whilst eating my body weight in chocolate has been a glorious time, I fear that if I don't get off the sofa soon I will remain there for a little too long! So eating a littler healthier and getting off my butt is in order.
2. I'd like to develop more of a regime when it comes to skincare. I received a Liz Earle skincare set as a Christmas present and have been loving using it, but I have also been using some other products from Simple that I usually use so I want to create more of a routine.
3. To perfect winged eyeliner! You may already be a pro but I still find myself making a mistake and then trying to touch up my eyeliner, resulting in a too thick line, leaving me with a look that could be titled eagle winged liner rather than the sultry cat eye flick that I was going for.
4. Finally I would like to be more adventurous or do something different with my hair. I currently have it dip dyed and usually put in a wave but I would like to possibly try an auburn colour and some shorter layers. I also really want to try the Bumble and bumble. thickening dryspun finish, because after watching videos of it in use I feel this will answer my prayers for fuller hair.

 

So that's it for my resolutions, who's to say how long I will keep them up but I'll try! What are you resolutions for 2014?

Trip to Highclere Castle and Lincoln Christmas Market

So I'm a major Downton Abbey fan and I was very excited to go and see where a lot of it is filmed at Highclere Castle in Newbury. I went with my friend and her family and we were generally just oohing and aahing all day, and pretending to be part of the Grantham family. I just thought I'd show you some of the pictures I took, (I'm not an avid photographer so don't expect too much!) although they are from the outside, as you weren't allowed to take any inside.

Last weekend was the Lincoln Christmas Market, and two of my friends from home were staying so we all went together and if you have been you will know how absolutely huge it is! This was my first time going and it was really amazing so I would definitely recommend it. I've just got a couple of photos of the Ferris wheel, as it was very difficult to stop and take a decent picture with so many
people hustling and bustling around.

 

 

 

 

 

So that's what I've been up to in the last couple of weeks, what have you been doing so far in the build up to Christmas?

The Mid Autumn/Winter Posts: Skin and Bodycare

Hello! As I seem to be rubbish at keeping on top of things university-wise I feel I've neglected this blog which isn't really best, seeing as it is in it's early days, so I am going to make a conscious effort to do better.

I don't know about you but when the weather changed from warm to very chilly my skin did not like it and I did suffer from a few breakouts. When tackling spots I like to use a face mask (I usually only do face masks every couple of weeks when I remember), like this Good Things five minute facial face mask, which is designed for younger skin and is moisturising rather than being very astringent and drying your skin out which I find some masks do.

I also apply my Witch stick directly onto spots, which is amazing, very inexpensive, and really works to dry out spots and make their exit quicker.

I have made a change in my face moisturiser from the Simple clear skin oil balancing moisturiser to the hydrating light moisturiser, as my face is dryer and less oily in the colder months.

My hands really suffer in the winter and often get dry and chapped if I forget my gloves or mittens and are exposed to cold and hot temperatures when I'm going in out and of buildings. I always keep a hand moisturiser in my bag and these are really handbag friendly - Soap and Glory Endless Glove and Hand Food. Don't you just love Soap and Glory's product names?

When my hands need extra moisture or often before I go to bed, I use E45 cream as its really intensely moisturising.

And finally for body moisturising I like to use my Soap and Glory exfoliating gloves in the shower a couple of times a week, and then apply either my Body Shop papaya body butter, which smells a-mazing! Or I use my Garnier intensive 7 days ultra softening lotion.

Lips-wise, I have a LOT of lip balms to keep my lips hydrated, but these are the ones I have been using recently. The Body Shop lemon lip butter is really creamy and smells sooo good! Another favourite is the cocoa butter Vaseline which smells lovely and leaves your lips feeling soft but also has a bit of a glossy effect I think. And lastly is the original Carmex lip balm which I have in a tube version, and I like how it's a little bit tingly on your lips.

So that's it for autumn/winter skincare changes and additions! What do you like to change or use at this time of the year?

Some Little Things/ Facts About Me

Hello everyone! I just wanted to write a really short post on wierd little things I do because I think it's good to have a bit of an insight into people and would love if anyone else commented and did the same thing, because I'm nosey and hopefully you are too!

1. I have a major obsession with notepads and lists. Seriously, browsing a stationary and notepad section gets my heart going and I'm all of a flutter. I have notebooks dedicated to list making - note the plural notebooks - and over the years I have gotten through a ridiculous amount, but I have no shame.

2. When I peel a Satsuma or an orange I always peel it in one go. I don't know whether I can call it a talent but I'm always left with one whole piece of peel.

3. I have to carry my bag on my right shoulder, I literally can't have it on my left or I cannot walk properly, I have walked in to things whilst trying.

4. I love marmite and cream cheese in a sandwich or on toast. All my friends seem to think this is weird, but it's so scrummy.

 

So that's all folks, just wanted to share that with you, and do please post your own in the comments or send me a link to your blog.

The Mid Autumn Posts: My Autumn Nails

Okay so I missed the boat on filling you in on what I plan on doing beautywise in Autumn, so I thought I'd write a few posts on what I am already doing in my favourite season of the year. I am starting off these posts with my choices of nail colour.

First up, is Savile Row by Nails Inc. and this particular bottle is a miniature which came in a set. I think this colour is really gorgeous; a deep plummy shade with a pretty glossy finish. It's also great because it doesn't really clash with anything so it's pretty much a go - to colour when you haven't planned any outfits and don't know what colours you will be wearing.

A colour which I have loved for a long time is Barry M's nail polish in Raspberry; I'll forgive the rather unimaginative name due to it being such a sumptuous shade, and it is very much the colour of a raspberry. N.B If you don't like feet I apologise for my chubby toes, I just thought my toes should get in on the action as I do paint them as well!

                                                                 

And lastly in my little trio of most used colours this autumn is actually another miniature Nails Inc. nail polish, none other than Porchester Square. This is the most beautiful nude, I'd describe it as a sort of mink colour, slightly grey nude with a very mild purpley hint. It is wonderfully sophisticated and just gives your nails a polished yet effortlessly simple look. (Sorry that this picture is smaller, for some reason the menu wouldn't appear to enlarge it.)

                                                                  

So please do stay tuned for the rest of my Autumn posts and let me know in the comments what nail varnishes you're loving at the moment!