A Standout Bunch Of Pinks

Despite the frosts and frozen fog, there's been early hints and whispers of spring of late. On a wintry early morning trip to pick up some fresh bread, (to dunk in steaming bowlfuls of butternut squash soup!) I even spotted a tree starting to blossom! I've been slowly moving away from dark wintry hues and I'm totally having a moment with pink right now - to freshen up my make up, brighten up my home and even found myself buying cosy knits in blush hues. Below I've rounded up a few particularly lovely pinks...

Starting with a heavenly fragrance, I'm completely smitten with Giorgio Armani Si. I don't have a huge perfume collection and I'm quite picky about my scents but Si ticks all of the right boxes for me. It's a gorgeous mix of blackcurrant, rose, jasmine, mandarin and pachouli, there's woody, sweet and warm floral notes with a hint of musk - divine! One to wear all year round, this is a new staple in my fragrance collection.

The Nyx Soft Matte Cream in Milan is a dreamy mauve pink pick, it's pigmented, light and comfortable on the lips and once set, is completely budge proof - plus it smells like vanilla buttercream! One for the transition into spring, it's such a gorgeous hue!

My go-to for lacklustre skin days, the Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Yu instantly brightens up your look, it leaves your make up looking fresh and put-together. Paired with a highlighted, dewy complexion this universally flattering, vibrant pink looks unreal, so chic! The formula, as with all Nars Lip Pencils is a dream - creamy, saturated and long lasting!

On my nails, I've completely fallen for Essie Eternal Optimist, it's practically all I've been wearing this month! A creamy, tea rose this delicate pink pick is so flattering on the nails. It's thick, creamy formula could be opaque in just one coat, although I prefer two, it lasts pretty well on me - I can normally get around 5 days wear from it!

The EOS Lip Balm in Strawberry Sorbet is another heavenly pick, it's 95% organic, 100% natural and packed with nourishing vitamin e, shea butter and jojoba oil. It feels balmy and silky on the lips and stays on for hours, I always pop one in my bag for on the go, it keeps my lips plump and smooth and it smells delicious!

Lastly, I'm in love with the blush pink Zoeva Rose Golden brushes. The 228/Luxe Crease is such a versatile pick, I normally use it for blending out eyeshadow but lately I've been using it to apply a dusting of the Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder under my eyes, together they make such a dreamy duo! 

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Making Health A Priority

This year I'm planning a slow transition into hopefully permanent, healthier lifestyle changes. I don't want to jump all in straight away, instead by making small alterations I'm hoping to adopt better habits in the long run, starting with a few small steps. Here's 10 ways that I'm planning on making my health a priority this year.

1. Lower my sugar intake. This is a big one for me, I have such a sweet tooth! I'm not quite planning on saying goodbye to chocolate altogether, but I really want to make more mindful choices - a square of dark chocolate instead of a bar of cadburys, using coconut sugar or maple syrup instead of sugar (I actually prefer the taste too!). I'm planning on researching ways to lower my blood sugar levels and finding alternatives to keep that mid day slump/sugar cravings at bay.

2. Snack wisely. Swap out crisps for a handful of nuts, try melon cubes or dried apricots for something sweet or kale crisps to crunch on!

3. Take 10 minutes before bed for mindfulness. The calm.com app has a few helpful breathing exercises to follow, headspace is great too.

4. Sleep more. Aim for 8 hours. Go to sleep earlier and wake up earlier too, use deep sleep spray and invest in good bedding - find the perfect pillow!

5. Take vitamins every day. Along with my daily probiotic, take multivitamins and a spritz of vitamin d spray, especially in the winter.

6. Schedule time for yoga. Whether it's a class or following Yoga with Adrienne I want to invest in a new mat (love this peach one, or this blush pick!) and start stretching again!

7. Adopt a mainly vegan diet, learn about nutrition - about what I'm putting into my body. I love flicking through the Eat Pretty Every Day book for daily inspiration!

8. Be strong, build strength. Start slowly with kettlebell routines!

9. Add more protein to my diet. There are so many vegan options, I just don't really utilise them as love veggies so much! I'm so guilty of choosing carbs or vegetables instead of protein, something I really want to change this year.

10. Aim for 20 minutes (or an episode of Parks & Rec) of cycling on my exercise bike a day.

Have you made any health/fitness goals this year?

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Inside My Skincare Cabinet

I've dreamed of having a mirrored bathroom cabinet for quite some time now - after swooning over glossier top shelf instagram snaps and scrolling endlessly through dreamy bathrooms on Pinterest, I finally have some of my own, somewhere to store my skincare stash!

I've tried to colour code my products, to make them a little neater, prettier and it actually works out quite well in relation with my routines! My skin is still suffering after moving to a colder area, so there's a few oils and rich creams to save my parched winter skin! I have a couple more - the Kiehls Ultra Facial Balm and Lush's Dream Cream handy on my bedside table for if I need to re-apply just before bed, they're ideal to smooth over dry patches!

Everyday faves include the Oskia Renaissance Cleanser, a gorgeous, radiance boosting pick for super soft skin and the Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream - my holy grail cream, it brightens, tightens and helps to diminish my stubborn dark circles. I also mist the Botanics 100% Organic Rosewater Toning Spritz every morning, this balancing, soothing spray calms and preps skin ready for moisturising. At night, the Sanctuary Spa Therapists Secret Facial Oil is a staple in my routine to hydrate and nourish, it leaves my skin glowing!

You can probably see that I'm a big Origins fan too, I love these three moisturisers for the warmer months! Origins Night-A-Mins is one for lacklustre skin, it's great to fade acne scarring and to combat a dull complexion and the Origins Make a Difference Overnight Hydrating Repair Cream is a hydrating pick for dry skin. The Origins Ginzing Energy Boosting Moisturiser is a lovely day cream, ideal to hydrate and tackle tired skin - I've actually just run out of this, a definite repurchase for me!

I've also popped my brush washing picks in my cabinet for now, I've been using the MAC Cleanser for spot cleaning my brushes and Dr Bronners Liquid Rose Soap for a deeper brush cleanse. Hopefully seeing them every day will motivate me to wash my brushes more often!

Since taking this snap, I actually ended up moving my Essie polishes and crystals after dropping and smashing one of my fave citrine pieces - pretty, but not practical with tiles! The candles can stay put for now, it's so convenient to be able to pull them out for a candlelit bath, I love Rosaviola for a pampering treat, the new Valentines day scent Diptyque Rosa Mundi also sounds divine!

Lastly, you can see Alex's bits on the top shelf, a moisturiser and a hair gel or two along with a few of our Lush picks (the Salted Coconut Hand Scrub is heavenly!).

I hoped you liked this little peek into my bathroom shelves! Although they're still missing a thing or two, I'm happy with them for now!

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Making A New House Feel Like Home

I've moved house a fair few times throughout the years, I think this is possibly my twelfth home now! The last move being in November, we moved into a brand new apartment, I was so excited at the prospect of everything being fresh, airy and new, with all white walls, an office and fluffy grey carpets... 

I didn't quite expect things to feel (and be!) quite so cold. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love having white walls, but they can be quite flat and uninviting - not really cosy or homely, especially if they're blue toned. Normally after a move things for me usually tend to just fall into place and feel like home in the end, this time I really had to work to make things feel cosy and like home.
Here's a few things I focused on to make things feel a little more homely, ideal if you just want to switch up your home too!

Add Greenery

Not only will adding plants help to improve indoor air quality, they really bring a place to life too! Cacti and Succulents are great no fuss plants to have around the home, perfect for adding a pop of colour with fresh bursts of green in every room!

Fresh blooms are always a good idea when trying to feel at home, I'm obsessed with buying cheap bunches of pink tulips at the moment, they instantly bring life, vibrance and brighten up the home.

Put Your Faves On Display

Fill the home with your favourite things - whether it's arranging a shelf with pieces from a hobby that you love, piling and stacking books or putting ornaments, trinkets or crystals on display. Make sure that there's something that you love out in every room, several things if you can! That way, when you go to grab a great read, or pick up a calligraphy pen or knitting needles, you discover new nooks and spaces for reading and doing the things that you love.

Light Candles 

If you've just moved, I wouldn't opt to light a brand new candle straight away, instead, choose an old favourite, a familiar scent that's stuck with you for years or that reminds you of home. Diptyque Baies ticks those boxes for me, a heavenly scent with delicate rose and fresh blackcurrant leaves, the warmth and depth feels like my home at spring to me, it's just so appealing!

Set Up Areas In Similar Ways To Recreate That Feeling Of Home

My dressing table is pretty much the same set up as in my last home, everything's just how I like it and it feels familiar - like home. Whether it's styling your shelves, bedside table or setting up your kitchen in way that you know, settle in and then make any necessary changes later on!

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A Recuperative Lush Haul

As my autumn supplies were starting to dwindle, I popped into Lush to pick up some new treats for the new year. It's become something of a yearly tradition for me to have a Lush spree in January, along with eating a little better and slowly introducing exercise again, I like to pamper, sooth and preen my skin to get back on track and start the new year a-fresh. January's wintry days are also the ideal time to restore and recharge, a long hot bath is a welcome treat if you're feeling under the weather!

Honey I Washed My Hair Shampoo Bar:

I made the switch to these handy shampoo bars last year to give my tired scalp and tresses a break. You use the bubbles to wash rather than applying the product directly to your scalp, which is gentler on your skin. They're environmentally friendly (no packaging!) and long lasting too - a real find! The Honey I Washed My Hair bar is a heavenly scented, toffee sweet pick, enriched with honey to nourish and uplifting orange and bergamot oils to cleanse and refresh the hair. I really recommend picking up the tin - to keep it dry in-between washes so that it lasts longer, it's great for travelling too!

Unicorn Horn Bubble Bar:

I just adore this magical, iridescent bubble bar! Unicorn Horn is a gorgeous, ethereal pick that creates clouds of shimmering bubbles and a dreamy watermelon pink bath to melt into - bliss! With relaxing lavender and uplifting neroli to make you feel cheery, it's the perfect pick me up.

The Comforter Bubble Bar:

A January must-have, this divine blackcurrant and vanilla bath-time treat envelops you in blankets of comforting pink bubbles. The bright yet comforting aroma is uplifting and warming, a mood-boosting treat on cold winter days. You only need to crumble a small chunk under running water for a dreamy bath, a little goes a long way!

Floating Island Bath Oil:

I couldn't resist this skin nourishing treat. I'm hoping that this will help to rescue my parched winter skin - with soothing sandalwood oil, moisturising shea butter and deliciously fragrant vanilla it sounds so lovely! I'm actually planning on chopping this in half to make it last little longer, it's ideal for those days when it's just too cold to apply body lotion after a bath!

What do you think of my picks? 

Tackling The Winter Blues

Around this time of the year, the bitterly cold days tend to dampen spirits and Christmas seems a mere memory as everything falls back into routine. You probably know by now, I actually love autumn and winter and tend to feel blue in summer instead, here's a few ways that I stay happy during the frozen winter months!

Stay Cosy & Warm
Winter is for nesting, hibernating under blanket forts with hot spiced tea laced with honey. Hot water bottles are a must, ideal to tuck under your sheets to keep you toasty at night!
Take long Lush baths and hang button up pyjamas on the radiatiors to stay snug, dressing gowns are ideal too - I practically live in this one! Enjoy candles, cute thermal socks and crackling fires to keep warm and cosy!

Embrace Winter
It's easy to get excited about the prospect of a new season (I'm so looking forward to fresh blooms, pastels and mini eggs!) but don't banish winter comforts just yet. Keep fairylights out, drink hot chocolates, burn scented candles and build up a good repertoire of comforting, healthy dishes (I love Jess's vegan picks here). If it's snowing, bundle up in layers, head outside and look up - it's magical! Frost bitten mornings present incredible photo opportunities, take advantage of crisp sunny days too, to top up on vitamin d!

Buy A Cute New Notebook.
To write down your plans, hopes, goals or dreams. I love to write lists - of books to buy, new releases to look forward to, gratitude lists or of course, shopping lists! These Fantastic Beasts Notebooks are adorable, gorgeous little books for noting down snippets and ideas!

Fresh Air
Simply stepping outside on a winter's morning to watch the sunrise is enough to lift your spirits! Watch the sparkling frost as the sun rises - just make sure to keep warm! Pop out to pick up a bunch of fresh flowers, gaze at the stars or head out in the whirlwind of snow flurries on snowy days.

Something New
Treat yourself to something new, it could be as simple as a fresh new mani or new herbal tea. Start a new hobby - try knitting (really want to make a giant chunky knitted blanket!), flower pressing or try your hand at calligraphy. Or, indulge in a little online shopping, have an Asos spree, (how cute is this ruffle top!) buy some new homeware or make a lil Topshop order, I love this pretty blush jumper!

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How do you stay happy in January?

A New Year Home Wishlist

There's something about a new year that makes me want to freshen up and re-vamp my home. Brighter hues are already trickling into stores and I'm planning to update my decor, adding delicate soft pieces, throws, cushions and investing in new furniture!

I've been on the look out for a few kitchen bits - a utensil holder and some new tea-towels. I recently picked up this adorable pot holder from Anthropologie, I think it'll be ideal for lifting hot pan lids, it's gorgeous, a lovely addition to our kitchen!
I love these Anthropologie Mirmin mugs too, they're the perfect size, with a good sturdy handle to match - they're so beautiful! I'm just missing the mint one now! Our kitchen is nearly finished, I just have a few more tweaks and changes I'd like to make!

Lastly, I really need a rug to place on our cold floorboards, I adore the look of this spotty one!
Here are my home picks for the new year...

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