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! 

SaveSave

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?

SaveSave

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!

Shop The Post

SaveSave
SaveSave

SaveSave

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!

Shop The Post

SaveSave

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!

Shop The Post

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...

SaveSave

A Restful Winter Weekend Routine

The Christmas decorations are down, there's a general slump and gloomy feel as sleet mixed rain lashes at the windows, hard winter frosts vein through the streets and icy draughts nip at your skin. Bundled up in a squashy, soft dressing gown with candles lit, a mug of tea and slippered feet, a restful wintry routine is a welcome treat on the harsh winter weekends. 

Pamper

After hopping into a hot bath laced with Lush treats (the Lush uplifting Unicorn Horn is a dream!) I like to pamper and prep my skin, taking care to exfoliate and inject a little moisture back in.

I have an effortless 2-step skincare routine for lazy at home pamper days, starting with the Oskia Renaissance Cleanser, a gorgeous gel cleanser that melts into a silky oil as you massage it into your skin. When you add a little water, the oil emulsifies and turns milky whilst the cleansing pumpkin enzymes and restoring vitamins soften the skin. My skin just loves this heavenly cleanser, especially in winter! Next up, I take a few drops of the nourishing, rosehip Pai BioRegenerate Oil and work this into my skin. It's heavenly paired with a facial roller, they work so well to combat lacklustre skin!

The last step in my pampering line up is to take care of my hands and nails - The Lush Coconut Hand Scrub combines sea salt, Argan oil and coconut oil to leave hands silky soft. I then paint on a slick of Essie Eternal Optimist or Essie Ballet Slippers (pictured above) for a fresh new years mani!

Candles

It's always such a treat to have candles flickering around the home. They bring light and warmth - much needed during the dark winter days! The mini Diptyque Ambre is a gorgeous pick, a comforting earthy and warm scent, slightly woody with spices and sweet tonka beans. There's also a delicious hint of masculinity about it too - it's divine!

Settling down with a book

Once pampered and preened and with candles lit, I usually flip open a book and get lost for hours. Along with re-reading Harry Potter (I'm currently re-reading The Order Of The Pheonix!), I've been devouring the Throne Of Glass Series, it's one that I just don't want to put down - it has me hooked! I find myself often flicking through Deliciously Ella's cookbooks too, this is next on my to make list (from the Deliciously Ella Everyday Book) it looks incredible! 

Fresh pyjamas and bedding.

This winter I've upped my loungewear game. I'm happiest when wrapped up, at home, a cosy ball of comfort in a fluffy, soft robe and a pair of button up pyjamas. I've invested in luxe, lasting pieces that are a dream to climb into on cold wintry weekends. These (half price) polka dot pyjamas are my latest find, along with this snug dressing gown!

Weekends are also the ideal time to lay fresh bedding. I'm still on the hunt for a billowy, soft set, I've just splurged on these adorable chevron John Lewis pillowcases, I have my eye on this gorgeous H&M Bed Linen set too.

Organising the home

With the absence of the festive decor, I've taken to sorting and rearranging my belongings at the weekend to shake things up a little and to try to create a pretty, comfortable space. By looking at what we've got, what we're missing and having a little spring clean I hope to have our apartment feeling more like home in no time - I've also pulled back out The Life Changing Magic Of Tidying to help me along the way!

Shop The Post

SaveSave

Winter Beauty - A Round Up

Winter's frost bitten days, potential for snow flurries and icy cold nights means that it's the ideal time to pull out an array of beauty products to keep your skin hydrated. Here's a little round up of my beauty picks this winter and skincare faves to keep my skin in check for the cold months ahead!

To start, I've swapped out my usual day cream (the Origins Ginzing Energy Boosting Moisturiser) with something a little richer. The cult Embroylisse Lait-Creme Concentrate covers me in winter, it's a lightweight yet nourishing cream that leaves my skin plump, smooth and hydrated!

At night, I tend reach for an oil for an added hydration boost. The Pai BioRegenerate Oil is a glorious, nourishing treat - the heavenly rosehip oil works to promote clear skin, deeply condition and fade acne scarring. Rich in omegas, antioxidants and hydrating nutrients it leaves the skin glowing!

For my body, I'm obsessed with Lush Rough With The Smooth a gorgeous, scrubby little block that's packed with exfoliating sugar, vanilla and moisturising murumuru butter - it's the ideal fix for parched winter skin! I use this a couple of times a week to gently buff and polish, It leaves my skin silky soft, smooth and pampered.

On my nails, I've fallen completely in love with an Essie polish (no surprises there!). Eternal Optimist is described as a spiced tea rose with a dash of cream (how divine!), this cheery yet delicate, rosy pink pick is just the ticket for brightening up a gloomy January!

For make up, late starts and even later nights in December have totally thrown out my sleep schedule. This combined with the dark, wintry mornings has left me with lacklustre skin and tired eyes so I've pulled out a few fail safe picks to brighten up my tired peepers! The NYX Jumbo eye pencil in Milk is an instant fix, applied lightly on the waterline, this creamy liner opens up the eyes and stays put for hours. The Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder is another reliant pick, a weightless under eye setting powder with very subtle shimmer it leaves your make up fresh, bright and flawless. 

I've also been wearing the Nars Soft Touch Shadow Pencil in Goddess washed over the eyes, a gorgeous shimmering peach pink with light gold champagne it's fairly subtle but so so pretty!

Lastly on my lips, I've discovered a dreamy, softening combo to combat dry lips - the Lush Popcorn lip scrub, a nourishing lip scrub with sea salt, jojoba oil and coconut oil pairs so will with the Korres Lip Butter in Quince, a buttery soft shea butter balm with hint of colour!

SaveSaveSaveSave
SaveSave
SaveSave

A January To Do List

1. Buy pink tulips, things are looking a little bare without the christmas decor (sob!), a bunch of fresh blooms are ideal to brighten up the home!

2. Keep hold of winter comforts and routines. Read or knit by candlelight, bake fruit crumbles with cinnamon and oats and bundle up in blankets with mugfuls of hot chocolate.

3. Splurge on something in the January sales - I love this cute blush knit and cosy button up pair of pyjamas!

4. Make Rosie's Make Ahead Smoothies for breakfast, or whip up a batch of warming homemade soup with immune boosting butternut squash, ginger and red chilli soup to freeze for lunches!

5. Invest in a new base, it's all about fresh, dewy skin for me this January! I love the concept behind Beauty Pie, their Great Skin foundation* is a heavenly pick, I just need to buy another shade - and maybe pick up a few more things! Or perhaps I'll finally repurchase my fave luxe Nars base, Nars Sheer Glow is so dreamy!

6. Get outside to top up on vitamin d and to keep winter blues at bay. Take wintry walks bundled up in lot's of layers!

7. Listen to music. So happy that Ed Sheeran has dropped two new singles today, hopefully an album is on the way soon! It's perfect timing to fill the home with music again after the quiet lull after Christmas!

8. Declutter my MacBook. The Mycloud sounds like the perfect solution for storing photo's and files to be easily accessed, you can connect to it from your phone too, it sounds ideal!

9. Update my bedding with huge, squashy Ikea square cushions, a billowy throw and new sheets - this supersoft fleece bed set looks like heaven!

10. Learn and use three new words a week, starting with infinitesimal (thanks Jennie!), mellifluous, a sound that is sweet, smooth and pleasingly musical to hear and Petrichor, the smell after rain.

What's on your January to do list?

SaveSave

New Year Goals 2017

1. Schedule in a little down time every day. Whether it's half an hour of reading, knitting, lighting a candle & watching an episode of Gilmore Girls or taking a long lush bath - take time to do something I love every single day.

2. Make health a priority. Cut down on chocolate, adopt a mainly vegan diet and dedicate time to learning about nutrition!

3. Stick to an exercise routine, stretch, get strong and set goals. 

4. Be happier. Laugh more, give more and care less.

5. Join a yoga class, to meet new people and for an excuse to invest in some cute workout gear!

6. Learn/master calligraphy. It's something that I'm hilariously bad at! I think it has something to do with the fact that I forced myself to write neatly by leaning on my ring finger (instead of the middle finger) when I was at school, my swirly everyday handwriting benefits from it, holding a Calligraphy pen, not so much!

7. Create a serene environment in my bedroom with luxe, billowy bedding and delicate string lighting, to help me to drift off and achieve 8 hours of sleep a night. I've just downloaded the calm.com app to use before bed, it's such a great way to wind down!

8. Stay positive and keep a bright mindset, I swear by The Magic book, it's been a favourite of mine for years!

9. Update my living room, introduce oak, brass, marble and rose quartz pieces.

10. Write. Dedicate some time to writing down notes, dreams, snippets, poems or to work on that throwaway book that I attempted to draft years ago!

Happy New Year! What are your New Year Goals?