Monthly Archives: April 2016

Cram in the Collagen*

14th April 2016
Collagen accounts for the majority of the protein in our bodies and is present in the muscles, cartilage, bones and skin so making sure you keep topped up is pretty vital. In efforts to improve my attitude towards my body from the inside out I’ve been looking a bit more in to the health benefits of certain supplements and I’ve come across Hydrolised Marine Collagen from Hellenia and the idea of something like this, I admit both scares me and fascinates me (and I say scares because I’m a bit phobic about any drinkable substance having a strange texture).

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If I’m honest I’m a bit wary of any supplements but right now I’ll be the first to admit my skin is looking dull and my joints feel older than their years so it was interesting to read about how a simple powder (there’s one for fitness fans, one for beauty junkies and one for those who just want to keep active) can have such health benefits.

Made from Naticol® (A type 1 Hydrolised Marine Collagen no less). Type 1 is the most frequently occurring collagen within the body. It is an excellent source of amino acids and has a very high purity degree of collagen protein. Supported by human clinical studies t is highly bioavailable and bioactive for the best efficacy. GMO free, Fat Free, Carbohydrate Free, Preservative Free, Purine Free there seems more to be gained than lost through trying something like this and still…and still I’m just not sure! I think it’s the beauty benefits that appeal most to me. Years of poor diet, smoking and generally not having a good skincare regime means I feel I now look older than my 29 (almost) year old self. The promise of seemingly being able to reverse this and get an antioxidant boost from the added Vitamin C is making me quiet tempted to part with £12.95 and try a teaspoon of this mixed with water each day…

Are there any supplements you swear by for keeping yourself looking good? Or in general for overall health and wellbeing…I’m all ears!

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Posted in beauty

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Cake in a Can- it’s a thing!

08th April 2016
It was thanks to the power of twitter (do you follow me?) that I discovered the concept of Cake in a Can. I was having a bad day at the time and the idea of this bought a smile to my face so I was in luck when The Cake Man offered to send me his wares to sample.

Designed to be a unique gift idea Cake in a Can is a fun and quirky way to let someone know you care for any occasion you can think of. All the recipient needs do is “just add water”…it really is that simple!

The cakes come in a choice of flavours including and not limited to lemon and poppyseed, red velvet and good old chocolate. I was sent the cocoa-filled classic as well as a mocha variety which I’m saving for someone special and couldn’t wait to get stuck in!

This is a product that really does do what it says on the tin! Peel off the lid, tip the dry ingredients in to a mug and add some water, pop back in to the (now oiled) tin and bake.

Of course what everyone is wondering is how does it taste? Well, pretty damn good! I think it’s an art to make a product with a novelty appeal that actually tastes great too and Cake in a Can delivers! The cake was moist and chocolatey and light as air and just the right size for one- no sharing here! I suppose it could be split and served with ice cream but then, why not throw caution to the wind and plop a scoop of vanilla on top of your solo sponge?

If you’re looking for a novel way to send good thoughts or give a birthday cake to someone far away than you can do far worse than part with £5.99 (including UK delivery) for one of these. Many thanks to The Cake Man for brightening up my day…what’s your favourite flavour cake? As much as I love chocolate my hands down favourite ever is super squidgy gingerbread.

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Posted in brands I love, food, gifts, review

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Spring in Monochrome

06th April 2016
It’s hardly groundbreaking but the other day, spurred on by the slightly warmer weather I discarded my more standard weekend wear of jeans and a knit for something a bit more “daring” if you will- my beloved culotte playsuit from New Look layered up with a simple black tee and my trusty black leather ankle boots.

Playsuit: New Look (similar) | Ribbed tee: New Look (here) | Boots c/o Long Tall Sally

I picked this playsuit up last year in a Summer sale for something silly like £10. It was an impulse purchase and to be honest one I thought I’d wear once and then forget all about. That was almost the case until I re-discovered it when I moved out in January. Since then it’s been sat in my wardrobe waiting for me to brave it and wear it again and eventually I have and it’s reminded me just how much I love this piece.

I’m now trying to psych myself up for the mammoth task of packing away my “winter wardrobe” and schlepping it back to my parents’ house and swapping it for my “summer” selection. I’m a bit afraid to commit too soon as the weather is so changeable but at the same time I’m utterly sick of everything I’ve been wearing lately that I feel a change will do me good. I’m not sure I’ll feel any better about what awaits me in the warm weather collection either to be honest, I’m a bit jaded with everything I own as nothing currently fits as it should and as I’ve mentioned before, I’m on a self imposed clothes buying ban until I’m in a healthier place.

Oops, I went off on a ranting tangent again didn’t I? It’s only a matter of time before I cave in and buy a few new wardrobe additions I’m sure…where have you been loving lately and have you re-found any hidden gems tucked away in your wardrobe?

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Posted in life, life stuff, outfits

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How to Accessorise for a Long Haul Flight*

04th April 2016
Long haul flights are something to be endured rather than enjoyed. There is no escaping the fact that being stuck in a metal box for 15+ hours is not entertaining (unless you are lucky enough to be sitting next to Harry Styles in First Class of course, or can charter a private jet from jettly).
Clothing, hand luggage, and personal accessories all play their part when planning a long flight so here are a few tips to help you accessorise properly the next time you head off on a long haul flight.

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Stylish Luggage

Choosing the right hand luggage is essential. Most airlines are very strict on the dimensions and weight of hand luggage so always check the requirements before you arrive at the airport. If your hand luggage is too heavy or too large you will have to pay a penalty so don’t take the risk.
When it comes to hand luggage look at trolley cases from www.charlesfordlondon.com as these are roomy and easy to manoeuvre around in the departure lounge. Choose a piece of hand luggage that fits your personal style and colour match it to your travel garments- that way the check-in staff might mistake you for a celebrity travelling incognito and give you a free upgrade!

Looking Good

There are plenty of passengers who don’t give a stuff about what they are wearing when they show up at the check-in counter. This is great for them but if you want any chance of scoring a free upgrade to Business Class or even First Class you need to look the part.
Think smart but casual when flying long haul. A loose fitting pair of casual trousers and a lightweight coat or jacket is suitable for most passenger lounges, accessorise with some attractive costume jewellery. Airports and planes can often be a bit on the cool side so layering up is sensible that way you can remove layers if you get too hot.

Travelling in Comfort

Comfort is an important consideration. If you are uncomfortable you can’t relax and sleep won’t come easily. Pack a pair of thick socks for the plane so your feet are always warm and snug. Support socks are useful if you suffer from fluid retention or varicose veins.
You can wear any shoes you like for a long flight but you will be more comfortable in some flats as opposed to a pair of fashion stilettos. Flat shoes can be slipped off and tucked under your seat whereas lace-up shoes are fiddly if you need to disembark quickly.

Optional Extras

The great thing about flying long haul (unless you choose a budget airline) is that you have entertainment, food and drink covered for the duration of your journey. You don’t actually need to pack headphones but since most free airline headphones are pretty inferior it is a good idea to take along some quality noise-cancelling headphones- these will improve your movie experience and make it easier to get some sleep on board.
Think carefully before you accessorise for a long flight or you could spend many long hours in long haul hell.

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Posted in life stuff

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Going round in Querkles

04th April 2016
Move over colouring books there’s a new adult activity book in town! Querkles launched last year in Australia/New Zealand and have just landed on UK shores too. Exclusive to WH Smith stores (and online) I was kindly sent over the book to find out what all of the fuss is about!
I’ll readily admit I got a little bit obsessed with colouring books and our bookcase has quite the collection gracing it’s shelves. Querkles is a step up from your average colouring book though as each image is made up of numbered, overlapping circles which you fill in either with a selection of solid colours or one colour but different textures to reveal a famous face at the end.

Now this is time consuming, I’m actually yet to finish one but I’ve been enjoying taking twenty minutes out of my day here and there to work on the picture and it’s fascinating seeing a portrait come to life. Each image can be removed from the book via perforated pages so you can frame and display your finished masterpieces too.

I was also sent the 1000 dot-to-do book (also exclusive to WH Smith stores) by Quirkles creator Thomas Pavitte. This was actually his original creation and again features iconic portraits in huge dot-to-dot form. I loved doing dot-to-dots as a child and this was a real blast of nostalgia. It’s also much faster progress to the Quirkles with each design taking around 30 minutes.

I’m not sure either of these books could take the place of colouring books, not for me personally at least as they offer something truly unique. At £9.99 they are a novel way to express creativity and I’ve found myself using them if I’m having a bad day with a racing mind to distract and unwind.

If you’re the creative type or are also in need of distraction then I highly recommend these for a new dimension in the colouring world. Time to get hot-footing it down to your nearest WH Smiths…

Have you jumped on to the colouring bandwagon? What else do you do to calm down a busy/stressed out mind?

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Posted in craft, life, life stuff

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