Monthly Archives: March 2019

How to Overhaul Your Beauty, Fashion and Health Regime for a Revitalised You*

21st March 2019

When you’re feeling sluggish, unmotivated and anxious is there anything better than a weekend of fixing up? Refreshing your entire wardrobe, indulging in new skincare products and taking some much needed time out for yourself is priceless. When it comes to beauty, fashion and health you will always be looking for ways to improve upon your knowledge and daily routine; whether you’re trying yoga for the first time or splashing out on some new jewellery it can help contribute to happier mindset overall. It’s time to start thinking about switching up your regimes and routines right now and you will soon discover a healthier, happier and more stylish you.

Simple Style Updates

First of all you need to think of simple ways to revamp your style and give yourself a confidence boost. You don’t need to head out to the shops and spend a fortune on a whole new wardrobe, but you can invest in small statement pieces that give you that little bit of self-esteem you’re looking for. H Hogarth Jewellers has a collection of exquisite jewellery that would really add some fresh feeling to your tired old ensembles. From beautiful bracelets to exquisite earrings, you will be able to find a handful of items that make you feel completely renewed.

Photo by Kyle Frederick on Unsplash

Dare to Be Different

Don’t feel as though you need to stick with the same old styles you have always been wearing. Daring to be different can sometimes bring about the positive change you have been looking for, so why not give it a go? Spruce up those plain black jeans with some rips and ruffle up your hair with some styling mousse. Small changes that allow you to loosen up and express yourself will always be more effective that sticking to social norms and fashion trends.

Move and Groove to Feel Good

One of the reasons why you might have been feeling slow and lethargic is because you aren’t moving enough. Even if you aren’t the most athletic person you can still embark upon exercise routines that you enjoy such as walking, dancing or swimming. Getting out of the house when you feel demotivated will help you to increase adrenaline and good endorphins inside your body. You will never regret a workout, so what have you got to lose? Being stuck at a desk 9-5, I really enjoy being able to get out for a stroll, even for just ten minutes.

Beautify From the Inside Out

You can’t expect to look glowing and gorgeous if you aren’t feeding yourself properly. If you have been living on fast food and sugary snacks, then now is the perfect time to make a change. See how good you feel when you indulge in a green smoothie bursting with fruit, veggies and protein for your breakfast in the morning. It’s going to give you much more energy to survive on than a sugar laden cereal. Think about making small swaps to your everyday diet and you will soon notice glowing skin, healthy hair and a positive mindset.

Switch Up Your Skincare

Once you have started to glow from the inside out, you might want to change up your skincare regime to match your new healthy way of life. If you are the type of person who swishes a makeup wipe over their face to cleanse in the evening (guilty!) then now is the time to stop this habit. Use a good quality cleanser to wipe away the day’s makeup and dirt and use an exfoliating brush to get deeper into your pores. Once a week you should think about treating yourself to a face mask so that you can really pamper your skin flawlessly.

Mental Health Matters

When it comes to improving your mental health there are a number of different methods you can adopt. Taking time out for yourself can be one of the most beneficial things you can do every so often. Sometimes you spend so much time putting other people first that you forget about how important your own sanity is. Whether you head out for a walk in the park with the dog or you read your favourite book for the afternoon, these small self-care moments will help keep your mental health in check.

Instead of allowing yourself to feel slow, sad and sluggish it’s time to reignite the passions inside you again. Find out what really makes you click whether it’s a new pair of shoes or fabulous facemask. Overhauling your beauty, health and fashion regimes will not only give you a new lease of life, but it will also give you the motivation to feel great about yourself again. Give these ideas a try and see how quickly you can go from gloomy to glorious in the next few days.

Posted in healthy living

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The ELeaf Elven pod system from e-cigarette direct*

20th March 2019

[post contains gifted item]

Well, I seem to have quite firmly found a niche as a vaping blogger, it might not seem very fitting, but over the last six months this journey in to ditching cigarettes has become a big part of my life and I’ve become very interested in the vaping world.
As regular readers will know, the team at e-cigarette direct have kept me well supplied since I started this adventure and one of my most recent packages from the contained a pod system to try out alongside my regular vape set up.

Eleaf Elven pod system c/o e-cigarette direct

Pod systems are a newer generation of vaping kit, they either come with pre-filled pods or with empty pods which the user can re-fill. These are disposable and designed to be replaced as the coil wears out.

At £16.99 the Elven pod system provides a middle ground between a budget vape pen and getting kitted out with a proper box mod. It’s much more discreet- not an awful lot bigger than a USB stick and much lighter to carry around.

This kit comes with re-fillable pods (you get two in the box) which are super simple to remove, fill and replace. I very much approve of the lightweight and sleek design, I certainly feel less conspicuous being out and about with this than I do my regular set up!

I don’t know if it’s a regular feature on pod systems but the Elven has an adjustable air flow so you still have some control over how you’re vaping which I like. I don’t get the same level of hit from this as I do my box mod but it’s perfectly acceptable as has become my go-to for out and about vaping as it’s much easier to carry.

It’s so easy to charge (usb) and operate too; you literally inhale and that’s it! The battery life is pretty impressive and the draw you get from it when on restricted air flow is comparable to that of a cigarette.

I’ve found this set up works best with nicotine salts rather than regular juice, but it works fine with regular as well. You get much less vape cloud using the pod system which makes it more acceptable in busier places and less obnoxious to others around.

I’m still getting used to this but so far I’m impressed. Replacement pods cost £2.49, I haven’t had to replace mine yet so I can’t say how long each one lasts for but I imagine a month or so.

My Mum has been persuaded to give one a go in a mission to reduce her smoking so it’ll be interesting to see how she fares.

If you’ve ever tried a pod system I’d love to know your thoughts.

Posted in vaping

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How to Choose the Best Hardwood Flooring for Your Beach House*

15th March 2019
When it comes to your beach house, some would argue that hardwood flooring is the superior choice. When properly installed it looks good against all decor, it’s colour doesn’t fade and it is also long-lasting and cost-effective. This may be the reason why it is the most popular floor choice, however, many people have questions around how to choose and install it well.

Photo by Arno Smit on Unsplash

1. Consider installing engineered wood.

Whilst centuries old houses will have floors made of solid wood, engineered wood is composed of a centre of plywood topped with a layer of hardwood. This flooring is more immune to, and provides tighter protection against the ever-present moisture in the coastal areas and won’t suffer the contracting or warping that a solid wood floor will. In addition to this, the wood that is used will remain in excellent condition, whilst maintaining the overall appearance of solid wood flooring.

Photo by Bette Jane Camp on Unsplash

2. Choose a lighter colour.

Choosing a lighter colour will hide scratches and general wear and tear making it a better option for family beach houses. This should be a place to relax and create happy memories and a lighter floor will age better and provide less stress and maintenance than picking a darker tone.

3. Pick a textured finish.

A textured finish not only looks unique, but will hide dents and scuffs better than a smooth surface. It is much more forgiving and you can customise it yourself with a wire brushed, low gloss finish.

4. Get creative with colour.

You should not be scared to experiment with colour and texture. Try embracing the sea vibes with a faded blue textured surface, or even a bold aqua tone to really stand out. It will add to the seaside vibes and provide a focal point that lends itself to simple, casual decor.

Having solid wood flooring or engineered hardwood flooring can really add to your beach front retreat. It makes the house looks clean and fresh, and makes cleaning up sandy footprints much easier. Whether it be engineered or solid, do some research and get experimenting for a unique escape that is set to stand the test of time.

Posted in inspiration, interiors

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Building the perfect gift*

11th March 2019
With Mother’s Day creeping up on us (here in the UK at least), and the seemingly never-ending arrival of Birthdays and other gift-giving occasions there’s never a bad time to do a gift guide kind of post, especially not when it’s one where you can really give the personal touch. Nomination Bracelets are one such perfect gift, you can buy it for one celebration and then add to it for years to come; from Zodiac Charms to birthstones, quirky slogans and pretty prints, there is a something for everyone and every occasion- tell someone you love them, celebrate a special holiday or just let someone know you are thinking of them. I think these are perhaps more wearable than traditional charm bracelets as they sit flat on the wrist, some of my favourite picks for a Mother’s Day bracelet are below:
I’m really enjoying the Birthstone range as a starting point for any bracelet. Your birthstone is said to bring you luck, and each stone has a unique positive energy which is supposed to be transmitted to its wearer. I think it’s a lovely place to start. I’ve surrounded the Birthstone with other charms that represent my Mum and what she means to be; I’ve also included her zodiac sign, a cat (I inherited her crazy cat lady genes!), a couple of little reminders of what she means to be as well as some cute and quirky disc charms to give the bracelet some texture and provide random reminders of stupid conversations we’ve had and things we’ve experienced together.

I’m a firm believer in giving gifts with a personal touch and this is the perfect way in which to do. Every item is made in Italy, where the brand originates from and is made to the highest standards. Who would you build a bracelet for? Head over the website to discover more!

Posted in brands I love, gifts, inspiration, jewellery

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Degusta and Chill- the February Box

07th March 2019
It seems like Pablo gatecrashing the party is going to become a new theme as he just can’t keep away from the Degustabox* delivery when it arrives! Whilst it’s actually the cardboard that his little feline heart desires, I’m very much about the contents and the February box, with it’s “Degusta and Chill” theme was an interesting one.
Explore cuisine organic chickpea fusilli is a pasta made from plant-based protein and fibre. It’s organic, suitable for vegans and gluten free! I’ve seen these kind of pasta alternatives on the shelves and wondered how they’d be- I really like this as an change from the norm but at £3 it’s too expensive for me to consider regularly. It made a nice change though.
I’ve tried seaweed snacks in the past and I’m the kind of person who loves them. Whilst not much of a snack at 18 calories per bag (although great for anyone on a diet), these Clearspring Organic Seaveg Crispies with Tumeric are oddly tasty. They contain only four ingredients and are high in fibre, gluten free and vegan. Again pricey at £2.59 but worth a try and good as a salad booster.
These funky looking products from Choc Chick were the ones I was most excited to try from this month’s box. Here we have Quinoa Pops and Plantain Bites- both vegan, being coated in Ecuadorian single origin organic Cacao. They both contain 50% less sugar than your average chocolate snack, and whilst I wasn’t so keen on the plantain ones, the quinoa variety are completely addictive. I can’t describe either of the snacks adequately, I’ve never had anything like them to compare them to, all I can say is if you’re intrigued, treat yourself (RRP £1.85 a bag so definitely a treat!)
I’m on a bit of a sweets kick at the moment and these Watermelon jelly gums from Bebeto are delicious! At just 50p a bag there is a reason why these are the brand’s biggest UK seller. Fruity and delicious, there has been a gap in the market for a watermelon flavour sweet in my opinion, and these fill it nicely.
There were two packs of these Brioche Folded Flatbreads by Deli Kitchen in the box and I gave one to my Mum to try as she was as excited by them as I was. They make a lovely and slightly sweet change to my usual soup dipper of choice and also make an excellent lunch time sandwich alternative- especially packed full of chicken, salad and balsamic. Yum! These will be a regular purchase from now- £1.25 a pack (and they freeze wonderfully).
I have a friend who once worked in a pork scratching factory and her stories put me off for life. Bob however really enjoyed these bags from Snaffling Pig- and from what I gather this brand is THE brand to buy.
Can you go wrong with a jar of Pesto? I don’t think so! Especially not if you’re Sacla. Their new reduced fat pesto has 30% less fat than their regular jar. It cleverly replaces the cheese with tofu making it vegan friendly, and whilst I am yet to crack this jar open I have high hopes for it. It’s available now for £2.50 a jar.
I kind of felt like these cartons of milk were a bit of a random choice for the box, but whatever! I don’t like milk but Bob does, and he’s ploughed through this in the evenings with a thumbs up. Perfect for anyone who loves milk, or who has lunch boxes to pack for their kids- £1.00 per pack.
What can I say about Orangina that hasn’t been said before? It’s a classic for good reason, and I’m always delighted to get a bottle in Degustabox.
Let me know if you’ve tried any of these products and what you thought in the comments.
If you’re new to Degustabox, it’s a monthly food subscription box that gives you the chance to try new and exciting products on the market whilst providing amazing value for money.
On a month by month basis the box costs £12.99 (with a discount for longer subscriptions) but the contents are generally worth far more than this as you can see if you do the maths.
If you’re persuaded to give Degustabox a go (and really, you should) you can claim a brilliant £5.00 off of your first box (making it just £7.99!) by entering the code 6HZJ8 at the checkout. It’s been a pleasure to work with the brand regularly over the last couple of years and it’s without a doubt something that I will continue to purchase long after our partnership ends. I love the monthly surprise and excitement as well as the chance to discover products I’d otherwise pass up on the supermarket shelves.

Posted in food, review, Uncategorized

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