The Fifi Edit

Postcards from Greece

2017-06-08T22:59:00.000+01:00

A visual diary from the coastal village of Alykes in Greece.

[ Photo 1 ] Sea views from the sun loungers.

[ Photo 2 ] Capturing the sunrise 06:30AM at Paradise Apartments at Alykes, Greece.

[ Photo 3 ] Sea views from Astoria Seafood Restaurant.

[ Photo 4 ] Kieron's Grilled Sea Bream Fish Meal.

[ Photo 5 ] The Homemade BBQ from Paradise Apartments, Alykes Greece.

[ Photo 6 ] One Breakfast Morning Reading, ' Me Before You'.

[ Photo 7 ] Cooling off in the beautiful sea.

[ Photo 8 ] A Homemade pizza by the Staff at Paradise Apartments.

[ Photo 9 ] Feeding a stray ~~(one of many animals..)~~ kitten.

[ Photo 10 ] A Grilled Mediterranean Sea Bream Meal from Al Fresco Restaurant.

[ Photo 11 ] A Mixed Grill from Pita Break Gyros Restaurant.

[ Photo 12 ] Open to all, Greece is so inviting.

[ Photo 13 ] A watermelon ice lolly for €0.60.

[ Photo 14 ] Mix-Grill for Two at ZORBAS Taverna Restaurant, Alykes Greece.

[ Photo 15 ] Pretty Flowers spotted in Paradise Apartments, Alykes Greece.

[ Photo 16 ] A busy day at the pool.

[ Photo 17 ] The Sea separating into a calm stream.

The Everyday Guide To A Smart-Watch

2017-05-24T08:00:00.000+01:00

I never really was one for fancy tech and gimmicky kind of items, which I thought smartwatches were… however, I now own the Rose Gold Wanda FOSSIL Q Smartwatch. Which I love! So here is the ultimate easy guide of the android wear watch.

One thing I would like to point out is that the smart watch isn’t supposed to replace your phone but rather to work alongside it, to make tasks easier for you. This pretty much goes for any smart watch on the market currently. Currently, android wear watches software have been updated to ‘Android 2.0’, making it even more user-friendly and sleek. Another thing about this smart watch is that it works on both android phones and apple phones.

Keep reading for my review of the android wear smart watch without all the techy jargon.

Phone Calls

I can make and receive phone calls all from my wrist as well as telling my watch how I want to answer the call, I can choose to keep it on the watch or flick it back to my phone. When someone calls you, their name appears and you are given the option to accept or reject the call. The watch also vibrates and can play ringtones to signal you have a call.

Pros: No fumbling about trying to find my phone. Quality of sound is great. Easy to accept/reject calls as they keep the same symbols and actions as your phone same symbols.

Cons: It looks weird to be talking to your wrist.

Texts

It’s pretty much the same concept as the phone calls. I can receive texts and choose to read them on the watch or my phone again. My watch will vibrate and makes a sound to alert me. The watch shows the senders name and gives you the option to view the full message.

My watch actually stores all my texts messages, so I can scroll down to see all old texts from people and if I were to click on them I can still see my history of texts, exactly like my phone. To respond to a message, you have several options with the new update, You can choose to use pre-set messages, send emojis, speech to text and now, you can even type your response on the on-screen keyboard.

Pros: Stores text messages, easy to use and you have plenty of choice of how to respond.

Cons: Sometimes doesn’t pick some words up from the speech to text function (maybe down to accents or background noise).

Apps

Pretty much any app I have on my phones works on my watch. On the Android Wear app, the app gives you a choice to search for ‘compatible’ apps, which will redirect you to the play store (app store for android), so you can browse thousands of apps to find what you want on your watch. My favourite apps for my watch are, Whatsapp, Strava, FOSSIL Q, The News, Pokemon and a few more games.

Pros: Thousands of apps to choose from to work on your watch.

Cons: None.

The watch also tracks your steps and calories (you can sync them with whichever app you prefer) and has Google maps, which is integrated with speech and 3D streets, making it easy to follow directions.

A feature I like is the ability to store my phones music on the watch, which allows me to have full control over my music (either played through the watch or controlling my phone). I find this very useful for when I have my headphones on and don’t want to get my phone out.

Probably my favourite thing about these FOSSIL Q Smartwatches is the ability to fully customise and personalise it. If you click the side button, it brings up options to change the watch screen face – I probably have about 20 different ones. You do have the choice to create your own (usually via 3^rd party apps) or downloading them via the play store. There are literally thousands of faces you could have and you can also customise your watch face to have shortcuts to apps, contacts, emails etc. Another feature I like about personalisation is the fact that the watch straps are easy to change and come in different styles and materials.

For the battery life, I do get about 2 days use out of my watch, but I tend to charge the watch when I charge my phone so that they’re both ready to go. With the new software update, there is so much you can do on the watch that I am still learning new things about it.

Overall, I’m really happy with this smart watch and can’t wait to see what else Android Wear update.

Thankful For...

2017-03-19T21:18:00.000+00:00

It’s nice to be able to take some time out for myself and reflect on things. Today, I decided to reflect on the things in my life that I am thankful for right at this moment in time. It’s nice to remind myself of such things and also it’s just a way to reflect on things when sometimes I just feel a bit low. So here are some things that i’m thankful for.

My boyfriend

I am so grateful for Kieron. He’s one of the most resilient people I know and he never lets anything deter him, which is something I really admire about him. I absolutely adore and love him. He’s there for me when I need it (even if I don’t know it myself); he has a positive outlook on life and works hard. I love how he plays rough with bongo so that I don’t get scratched. I am grateful that he gets along so well with my family even with the occasional northern banter with my dad... and he also makes a mean curry!

The Love of Bongo

I am thankful for the unconditional love that a pet gives. I am thankful that I have the opportunity to spend time with Bongo and will cherish the time spent with him in his lifetime. At the risk of sounding morbid, he may only be a part of my life at this moment in time, but I will be his whole life. I’m looking forward to the years to co
me, and who knows if I have any more pets in the future.

A good night’s sleep

This probably sounds ridiculous to some people, but ever since I’ve moved out of my parent’s home for University (where it’s always been dead quiet)- I’ve lived in two student halls, which have always been raucous ( from fire alarms, to drunken students, to break-ins and all sorts!), and even the recent housing I’ve lived in have always been noisy. I think this is probably down to the fact that I now live in a city/near a student area, so what do I expect? So on the nights that it’s quiet and calm, I tend to sleep better and I am thankful for that.

My Parents

I am thankful for my parents. I don’t get to see them a lot these days, due to growing up, working and a clash of schedules I guess. So when I do make the effort to go home to visit them, it’s nice to see them and spend time with them. I can always rely on my dad to have a good old chat, sometimes for hours. Sometimes my dad rings me up just to recommend a show hes watched or just to ask me how my days been, this is something that seems so mundane but It’s something I am grateful for. With my mom, she loves to call me fat yet always makes me my favourite foods and tells me I’m eating badly (Asian genes..), but I am grateful for her, she has taught me a lot, especially how to cook – which definitely came in useful for university!

My Health

When I was younger I had a few problems like Asthma and some heart problems, but thankfully (touch wood) I haven’t had any problems for years. There are so many people in the world who suffer from serious illnesses which is just sad and scary to be quiet honest. Admittedly my immune system has never been the best, but I am grateful that I don’t suffer anything more than the occasional cold/flu, but this obviously pales in comparison, which upon reflection makes me grateful that I do have good health.

A roof over my head

Recently I have been stressing myself out to the point of feeling sick about my current housing situation. What am I going to do after this contract finishes? Can I afford to live out again? Can I find a full time / proper job to support myself? Should I do masters or pursue my teaching career? What am I going to do? These are just some questions that I’ve been stressing about recently.

I finished University and I’m still currently deciding on my future, I’m working part time in a retail job, one that I actually like, but I want to start sorting my life out (see the questions above..).

So I rang my dad up to have a little de-stress cry/rant and you know what he said? – He told me that, I have a roof over my head, a luxury some people don’t have – Yes I am paying a lot of money for it, but that’s because I’m technically in the city centre and that yes, every month I get my pay check I pay the majority if not all of it on the rent. He also said, at this moment in time, I still have a home to live in and there’s nothing stopping me from finding a full time job even if it is just to pay the bills– he told me there’s nothing stopping me from doing that ‘saving a few pennies here and there’ whilst I decide what I actually want to do with my future and failing that, I can always move home, both my parents told me that their home will always be my home.

So I am grateful that I have a roof over my head at this moment in time (even though sometimes I resent not having money because of it), and that I will always have a roof over my head if I ever needed it.

Easy Chinese Dumpling Recipe

2017-03-18T23:09:00.001+00:00

Today i am sharing a recipe that my mother taught me. It's an ultimate and easy guide on how to make Chinese Pot-Stickers aka Chinese Dumplings.

The brilliant thing about this recipe is that the stuffing can be anything you would want to use. Some people like to use different meats, vegetables or even fish. It's entirely your choice. This is just a simple traditional dumpling recipe that my mother taught me. I'll be honest, it took me a while and still does to grasp the perfect technique of it, but it is a fun task. So here is the recipe!

Ingredients

For the dough

140g plain flour, plus extra for dusting

125ml hot water

For the stuffing

110g minced pork (not extra lean)

75g Chinese leaves or spinach, finely chopped

1 tsp finely chopped ginger

½ tbsp dark soy sauce

½ tsp light soy sauce

1 tsp oil

To cook

1 tbsp vegetable oil

100ml water

Method

To make the dough, place the flour into a large bowl and stir in the hot water gradually, making sure to mix all the time until the water is incorporated. Add more water if the mixture seems dry.

Tip the dough mixture onto a clean work surface and knead it with your hands until it feels smooth.

Put the dough back in the bowl and cover it with cling film. Allow it to rest until needed.

For the stuffing, add the stuffing ingredients into a large bowl and mix well. Once mixed, just put to the side.

Remove the dough from the bowl and knead again for a minute, use a rolling pin to flatten – this should be thin like paper without breaking. Don’t be afraid if it’s thicker than you want though.

Using a shape cutter or if you don’t have one, use a mug (as my mother taught me!) to cut into the dough. Using a mug creates a consistent shape for the dumplings.

Place about 1-2 teaspoons of the stuffing in the centre of each 'pancake'. Dab the edges of the ‘pancake’ with water and then fold the dough in half, pinching together with your fingers or a fork (if you want to create a pattern).

By doing this around the edge, this will ‘seal’ the dumpling, by this point it should resemble a small Cornish pasty with a flat base.

To cook, heat a lidded frying pan until it is very hot. Add the oil and place the dumplings flat-side down into the pan.

Reduce the heat to medium and cook for about 1-2 minutes until the dumplings are lightly browned. Next add the water and cover the pan and simmering gently for about 10 minutes. Check the water half-way through and add more if necessary. Uncover the pan and continue to cook for an extra 1-2 minutes.

To serve, remove the dumplings from the pan and serve with a dipping sauce – my favourite is ginger and soy sauce.

So there you have it! I hope this was easy to follow, it really is an easy recipe and so fun to make! The only downside is that i eat them so quick, which is why i tend to make a huge batch.

Let me know if this was easy enough for you :)

What's Inside My Crossbody Bag?

2017-03-11T08:30:00.000+00:00

I change my bags around a bit, so sometimes the contents vary, but here is my first blog post about what is in my bag, a crossbody edition.

So there isn't really much in this bag, because a) i recently changed bags over (and got rid of unnecessary things) and b) it's a small crossbody bag (forcing me to get rid of rubbish hah). Apologies it's not exciting stuff!

The bag itself is from Pull & Bear (ZARA Group) and here's whats actually in my bag...

My glasses - admittedly i need to carry these more as i struggle to see far.
Victor Rolf Flowerbomb perfume
iPod Classic
Fossil Llama Purse (Spring 2017 season)
Fossil Watch Tailor
Keys with Llama keyring
Carmex Lipbalm
Soap and Glory Supercat Eyeliner (THE best eyeliner in my opinion)
New Wave Handcream
Sony Headphones (okay, they don't actually go into my bag, but i carry them everywhere i go)

So that's it! At least for this bag anyways, i do like to use my Fiorelli backpack mostly for when i carry more items or don't want to wear a crossbody but this is a super cute bag that's chic and doesn't weigh anything, perfect for just lulling around.

Easter at a Lush Blogger Event

2017-03-10T09:26:00.000+00:00

Recently I was lucky enough to have been invited to attend a Blogger event at Lush Cosmetics in Bury (Greater Manchester). The event itself was a sneak peek at the new Easter 2017 range by Lush launching Friday 10^th March 2017. Come and have a peek too!

Let me first just say that this post contains alot of images, but if you want to skip straight to the Easter Reveal, just scroll to the middle! :) ...now, on with my post!

This was such an exciting opportunity for me but I must be honest, I was very nervous that I would be out of my depth because I’m still new to the blogging scene and this was my first ever 'blogger event'. However when I arrived at the event my nerves were soon settled, thanks to the amazing staff who made everyone feel at home and to the lovely bloggers I met who were so friendly and chatty.

The event itself was quite a small intimate affair, with possibly 20 of us and the staff of course! Upon arrival, the staff offered everyone a drink, they then welcomed everyone and introduced themselves and told us where the demo stations were, and to help ourselves to food and drink and ultimately have fun.

So, with drinks and snacks available throughout the whole night, I took this moment to grab myself a carrot cake cupcake. The food was catered and made by a local vegan caterer Veggie-Ray. I’ll be honest, this was my first time eating vegan food, and to be honest it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be! The carrot cupcake was made with…shredded carrots and cinnamon as well as raisins, and was actually quite yum! So this was a nice little introduction to something new that i admittedly wouldn't have tried before this event.

After my quick browse/tasting of the cupcakes, I headed over to the demo areas where each Bury Lush Team member was stationed, allowing us to freely roam the shop and explore the latest products. The staff members at the demo stations were so friendly and helpful and so knowledgeable about their products, they answered any questions from anyone and could not be any more lovely than they were already.

I’ll be honest, because I have such sensitive skin, finding beauty products can prove to be difficult as I’m prone to allergic reactions, so when I find a product that works for me I do tend to stick to it – though I am recently branching out and trying new things. I already knew that Lush products were hand-made, 100% vegan and against animal testing, but I was a little wary about trying some of the products in the past because I assumed there must have been a ton of chemicals in their products to get them that bright – though one of lovely staff members (I’m sorry I forgot her name) assured that other customers who have the same concerns as myself have had nothing but positive outcomes with their products.

Now, to actually SHOW you the Easter 2017 Range, Here is a photo showcasing some of the new Easter range that will be available this Friday!

The Easter 2017 Range - Launching 10th March 2017 - Nationwide & Online

The product's from the LUSH Easter 2017 Range

The range is so colourful and there is glitter involved, but would we expect anything less from Lush? I honestly love the creativity and the thought process that goes into a lot of Lush products, especially from this Easter's range.

Bunch of Carrots - £6.50 / Bubble Bar

How cute are these?! Such good value for money as well I think. You get three in a ‘bunch’ and the smell is so fresh – a scent between citrus and tropical. Obviously because it’s for the Easter Range, they also have a carrot themed gift set, which is just adorable.

The idea of these carrots is that they are a reusable bubble bar - which means you can get a fair amount of usage from them. All you have to do is hold the carrots underneath running water, and watch the bubbles form, and revel in the smell of buchu, lemon and grapefruit oils as they form. If you’re looking to jazz up your bath colour, you can hold all three under to create a combination of colours.

Chick ‘n’ Mix -£6.95 / Bath Bomb

This little beauty smells amazing! It has bergamot oil infused into it, which is so fresh and will definitely add a zing to your bath. The beauty of this little egg, is that is actually splits into not one, but THREE parts, and it’s eyes are actually made out of vegan dark chocolate! (Though you can’t eat it.. what with it being in a bath bomb and all..)

Golden Egg - £3.95 / Bath Bomb Melt

So, this isn’t technically a new product, this is a bath bomb that’s returned simply due to it being so popular! Apparently, it’s here to stay this time according to Lush.

Which Came First? - £6.95 / Bath Bomb

That famous question. which came first? the egg or the chick? Well, i think lush have answered it with this one...

With this particular bath bomb, you can actually get about 3-4 uses out of it. It is a pretty sturdy one, so you do need to crack it open (just give a few taps on your bath) and it should split into two pieces… with a little chick inside!

Flopsy - £7.95 / Face Wash Jelly

Whats up doc? If you don’t get that reference, maybe I’m getting old… Anyways! This little face wash jelly was a weird one for me. It was so weird to see that this huge jelly thing came out of a tub this big?!

The lovely lady demonstrated various ways in how you would use this, apparently you have a choice of wet your face beforehand and applying straight on like a face mask, or you could wet the actual jelly and rub it onto your face, or rub it onto your hands to rub onto your face. The smell of it before you wet it isn’t the most appealing in my opinion but one it does get wet, you do smell the carrot infusion and I would say a lemon grass type of smell. Apparently, this Christmas just gone, they had a Santa’s beard version, so if you happened to have seen that then you know what to expect with this Flopsy.

Other products (not demonstrated) from the Easter collection include:

Chocolate Easter Egg - £3.50 per 100g / Soap

Wash Behind Your Ears - £5.95 / Shower Gel

Chocolate Lip Scrub - £5.95

The staff at each demo station would show us the Easter products, go into detail of what was in them and how to use them. We then would watch them dissolve in the water. I find it so fascinating to watch a bath bomb dissolve and see the colours spreading; it's a real treat to see the different bombs make different colours all in one go – especially if it’s a colour you weren’t expecting! There are definitely potential Instagram photos for those who enjoy to Instagram, but overall the cuteness level of the products is pretty high.

The water colour from 'Which Came First?'

The water colour from 'Chick 'n' Mix'

All in all, it was such a lovely event, and I met some lovely bloggers and had a great time. As well as the fact that Bury Lush gifted us with a handful of hand-picked goodies from the Easter Range for us to enjoy!Even so, i’ll definitely consider buying more of these products for friends and family.

Lush 'Blooming Beautiful' Gift Set Reveal and Review

2017-02-27T09:30:00.000+00:00

I received this Lush bath bouquet gift set from my lovely boyfriend Kieron, as part of of my Valentines present. This 'blooming beautiful' gift set contains two bath bombs, 'the honeybee' and 'rose jam bubbleroon'. So, i'm going to share my first impressions of these products today..

First thing you may want to know, is that with Lush gift sets it would actually cost you less to buy the products individually than it would to buy them as a gift set. This is quite unusual as gift sets normally offer a special price for buying multiple items within a box in various cosmetic shops. The bath bombs individually would cost £3.95 each, yet the gift set cost £9.50. However, that being said, i guess you are paying for the packaging, which is visually appealing as well as 100% recyclable, it also saves you the time of wrapping if you were to give it as a gift.

Here is a photo of what the gift set looked like before i opened it. The products were packaged carefully in a cardboard box filled with polystyrene (to stop them crumbling) as well as a mini lush product brochure. The cardboard box was wrapped in this bright floral paper, tied with the pink ribbon and finished off with a paper tag detailing the products inside (See Below). As with Lush's ethos on sustainability, all of the materials are reusable and recyclable.

Honey Bee Bath Bomb (Yellow and Grey)

Let’s begin with a little review on Honey Bee bath bomb. Honey Bee contains honey (I know, shocker!), aloe and rhassoul mud, all of which are very beneficial for your skin. I've read some reviews about this particular bomb before, but in my opinion i don't think it has a smell of honey at all, to me it has a hint of lemon and something i can't quite put my finger on. Admittedly i was a bit disappointed as i do really like the smell of honey! I'll be sure to pop into my local lush and have a smell of some others in case it just me being an idiot. With this bomb, your water will turn a shade of light lime, which is surprising, as i thought it would be a yellow, but could explain why i think it smells like a lemon!

Rose Jam Bubbleroon (Pink and Glittery)

According to Lush's website, a bubbleroon is a bubble bar so to use this product you would need to crumble it under running water to get lots of bubbles. I must admit when it comes to floral scents, they can be a bit of a hit or miss with me, just personal preference i guess. I'm not a fan of overwhelming floral scents as they give me a bit of a headache after a while, so whenever I've popped into my local Lush store I could never decide if I liked this scent or not. It is floral as you could probably guess, but surprisingly it wasn't as strong as i used to think - I'm putting this down to being surrounded by other bath bombs and maybe was overwhelmed?. The smell of this bubbleroon, i would describe as very sweet and very jam like. The rose jam bubbleroon is made with fair trade Shea butter and floral geranium; the Shea butter should do wonders for your skin! This bomb will turn your water a lovely shade of rose pink, so quite pretty looking, although the glitter does give your skin a bit of sheen to it, not sure if this is to everyone's taste, however nothing a quick rinse won't get rid of.

So to round up this post, i think the selection of products offered are on the small side but depending on how generous you are, you could stretch it's uses up to 5 baths. It's also a good gift set to introduce Lush products to someone who hasn't tried Lush before, maybe even treat a Lush fan. Likewise, if it's just for yourself, you'd be better off buying them separately as it works out cheaper (as mentioned earlier, you're paying for the packaging and convenience). The rose jam, is probably my favourite out of the two, as i felt the smell was stronger and the colour of the water was more vibrant.

Life Lessons I Learnt at 22

2017-02-26T12:00:00.000+00:00

So, i'm currently 22 years of age, and will be 23 in two months exactly, i thought it would a good idea to write up a personal-ish post. I think it's quite a clever concept to try and write about, so here's my 22 life lessons that I've learnt in my 22 years of living...

Try not to care about other peoples opinions: If it makes you happy, then other people's opinions shouldn't matter.
Hard work pays off.
Find hobbies that you get enjoyment out of.
Try to eat healthy, but don't deprive yourself of the things you love.
(Ties in with no.4) Moderation is key.
A bad day doesn't mean a bad life.
Stay curious. Try to keep learning about anything and everything.
Learn how to take care of yourself.
Don't stress too much: Worrying about something you have no control over or can't change, just wastes your time and energy.
Always be grateful.
There will always be someone that doesn't like you, even if you've done nothing wrong.
You don't have to have everything figured out.
The 'real world' sucks: Debts, jobs, bills etc, I definitely did not realise how much my parents did for me as a child.
Always be kind, even on your bad days: Our attitudes and mannerisms do define us and our social outlooks, always try to be kind because you don't know who it could affect.
Saving money is important: Even if it's only a small amount, your future you will be grateful.
It's okay to have a job that just pays the bills.
It's okay to not be okay, but it's not okay to stay that way.
It's okay to say 'No'.
Choose style not fashion: Don't buy intro trends unless you'll wear it again, it only wastes money and will gather dust.
Don't get discouraged by others: It can be disheartening when friends/family don't believe in you or think you can do something, just take it with a pinch of salt and prove them wrong.
Cooking is a life skill, not a talent: You can learn to cook, because eating takeaways and ready meals for the rest of your life will take it's toll on you and frankly unappealing.
"Opinions are just like arseholes, Everyone's got one": My dad has used this quote pretty much my whole life. It always made me laugh but it's also a gentle reminder that i shouldn't be discouraged or disheartened by anyone, and that whilst yes an opinion can be helpful, or annoying, everyone's got one, so it's not something i can change, but i can choose to not let them affect me.

So that's it for now, i had more 'lessons' but these were the ones that stuck out to me from my notes.

What do you think? Do you have anything else to add? Let me know below.

I Got Free 'Sleek' Makeup (and Heres How You Can Too!)

2017-02-25T15:17:00.002+00:00

Attention to all beauty addicts out there! Here's a chance to bag yourself not one, but TWO 'SLEEK' Products, and here is how you can do it!

I would like to just say firstly, that i am not sponsored in anyway, i just came across this deal and tried it out myself, so i can honestly say it is a genuine offer and is definitely worth sharing!

Okay, now that's out of the way, here's how you can claim your free products*.

(* Because the offer is through Quidco a 'cashback' site, you will have to pay for the items at first, but you will receive £15 cashback if you registered as a new member before 12th March 2017 - Also paid before 12th March 2017).

If you sign up via this Quidco Link --> SIGN UP HERE <-- This will automatically take you through to Superdrug's website, where you can now take advantage of Superdrug's ' Buy 1 get 1 half price' on all SLEEK products. BONUS: If you hold a Superdrug's 'healthy and beauty' card, you automatically qualify for free delivery!

I managed to pick myself up 2 of the popular products, The 'Solstice' Highlighter palette and the 'Cream Contour Kit' in Medium Shade. I'm pretty impressed with this offer, as these two products alone would have cost me at least £20 but instead i paid £14.98 (with a £15 cashback of course) making it all free!

I'm interested in hearing what you got, you can let me know what you managed to get in the comments below!

White Chocolate, Cranberry & Pistachio Rocky Road Recipe

2017-02-05T13:18:00.001+00:00

Rocky road is one of the easiest dessert recipes that you can make and the outcome will look good. This recipes requires no baking and it's no problem if you don't have all the ingredients, you can substitute anything in rocky road. Total time: 15 minutes.

Ingredients & Tools Needed

200-300g White Chocolate

65g Dried Cranberries

65g Pistachio Nuts

65g Pink Marshmallow

A Cake Tin (any size)

Butter (for greasing) or Grease paper

Spatula

1) Gather all your ingredients, There's no need to separate them , I just did because i needed to de-shell the nuts and pick the pink mallows out. Using butter or grease proof paper, start lining your cake tin with it, to ensure you can remove the rocky road later.

2) In a bowl, combine your pistachios, cranberries and marshmallows.

3) Break up your white chocolate in a microwave safe bowl and heat on medium-high for 5 minutes, make sure to stir every 15 seconds to make it smooth.

4) Pour the melted chocolate over your marshmallow mixture and mix well.

5) Using your cake tin, (make sure it's greased), pour your mallow mixture in the tin and smooth.

6) Refrigerate for 2 hours or until set

7) and Serve!

Well there you go, an easy 15 minute no bake dessert that is an absolute treat to eat!

What do you think of the cranberry and pistachio combo? What other flavours would you suggest? Let me know below!

25 Ways To Improve Your Mood

2017-02-03T18:11:00.000+00:00

Life sometimes feels hard, and sometimes you just get one of those days where you feel like 'whats the point?' and just want to chuck the towel in. Pretty much everyone wishes for life to be easy, like some sort of smooth sailing journey with no waves, but here's the thing, life is hard work for everyone. I think it's important to remember for when the next time life feels hard, that there are others out there who are feeling it tough as well, but they are surviving it. You can survive it too.

It's just about taking some time for yourself and 'self-caring'.

Here are some ideas for you to try for those bad days..

Take a long hot shower or bath and make sure you use a nice smelling/relaxing soap
Get into your PJS or comfy clothes and just relax on the couch or even your freshly made bed
Tackle at least one nagging chore that you've put off - eg, taking the rubbish out (one less thing to stress out about)
Play with your pet(s) - they love you unconditionally and it's good for them too
Eat your favourite comfort food
Read - a book, a blog, a magazine etc
Do something with your hobby
If you don't have a hobby, why not try to start one? - like drawing, writing, editing etc (the possibilities are endless)
Light some candles and listen to some music
Make a telephone call to someone and just have a chat/rant - i do this with my dad whenever i feel down, and trust me, you feel better
Binge watch a TV Series - either something completely new or re-watch your favourites
Have a couch day - leave all the chores for one day
Order take out - don't cook for one day, treat yourself to something nice
Retail Therapy
Write a list of what you're grateful for
Go to the gym - the endorphin's you'll feel afterwards will make you feel so good
Try a new recipe
Watch some trashy TV - i don't know about you, but i like to watch Jeremy Kyle for my trash tv
Create yourself a playlist - try to find new songs maybe
Take a nap
Unplug from technology - even if its just for 30 minutes
Make time for your family and important people
Leave work at work - don't burn yourself out or others around you because of work stresses
Accept that nothing lasts forever and you won't feel like this forever
Don't be too hard on yourself - no-one is perfect and that's okay.

Well, that's all for now, I'd be really interested in hearing any other recommendations.

Drop a comment if you have any thoughts or ideas you'd like to share :)

Birchbox Review: January 2017 Edition

2017-01-26T00:35:00.000+00:00

For my first blog post, i will be sharing my first impressions and review of the Beauty Box known as 'Birchbox' (Edition: January 2017). If you're interested in seeing what i got in this months box and what my thoughts are, then please read on..

* Please note this post contains spoilers for January's Birchbox *

If you don't know what a 'Birchbox' is, Birchbox is a pretty well known beauty box brand and a monthly subscription service that sends its customers a range of beauty products -usually 5- (ranging from skincare, to make up to hair etc).

My initial impression of the box was that it was really nice that the box itself was decorated in a bright fun yellow colour; probably to help combat those January blues everyone feels! I also loved how there was a note quoting 'sprinkle happiness' inside the box, as well as a check list of ways to help you smile this 2017. On a side note as well, i quite like geometric patterns, so the actual design of the box was a winner for me.

Here’s what was in my January 2017 Birchbox this month..

Lord & Berry - Conceal-It Crayon in 'Beige'

This was a little treat for subscribers from Birchbox as this was a FULL-SIZED product. I was quite pleased to see find out that the pencil is quite creamy, which made application easier. Just a tip: you can also use it to highlight features such as your brow bone and nose, it works quite well as a highlighter too. The size of it makes it the perfect size to carry around in your make up bag/ handbag. As of the moment, it currently retails at £12 but it is only in three available colours (Ivory, Caramel and Beige), so some people may find it awkward to match their skin tones.

Nuxe - 'Multi-Usage Dry Oil Shimmer'

Nuxe Dry oil is a new product to Birchbox which i am excited to try out! This dry oil is considered to be multi-usage due to the fact that you can use it on your skin, body and hair! How crazy is that? - It advertises that it's ingredients contain six essential oils as well as vitamin E - perfect for nourishment!

Merci Handy - Hand Cream 'New Wave'

Another product in January's box that included a full sized product. I would say i'm a collector of hand creams, especially during winter where my hands are most dry. This hand cream smells amazing even before you pour it into your hands. I've been using this religiously, and it smells divine and works wonders for my hands. I've lent this to a few work friends and they all agree that it smells amazing. I would like to try the other scent and see if it is as good as this one!

Beauty Protector - Protect and Detangle Spray

Another Birchbox exclusive, this spray is an all-in-one spritz, it advertises that it conditions, de-tangles, smooths, adds shine AND protects hair all in one go.. - I am dying to try this, as i always find myself buying multiple products and just having no room on my bathroom shelf, as well as being left disappointed most of the time as most products either dry my hair out further or make it too greasy.

Rituals - Hammam Body Mud

Whilst this body mud was only a sample size, i think i got a fairly good deal, as i received a 70ml tube in my box. According to Birchbox's leaflet, the body mud is a purifying micro-scrub packed with mineral rich Rhassoul clay and eucalyptus for a deep cleansing treatment and smoothing of the skin.

Here is the Freebie Birchbox i received alongside my January box. The box itself is very cute, and there's a metallic coating on the lid that you have to scratch away to reveal the design. When i opened the box, i was slightly disappointed that it was just an old Birchbox (May 2016's box to be more specific) - however, i can't really complain because i did get it for free (by entering promo code: SMILE) - the disappointment was short lived though as the products inside made up for it..

Here is what was inside my freebie box:

Spectrum - Unicorn Tears Wonder Sponge

The first thing i noticed upon opening the cute drawstring bag, was this beauty blender, it's a pretty shade of lilac inside it's own little zip baggy.

The blender works well with cream,mineral and liquid formulas and with its shape, it makes applying them effortless.

Caudalie Moisturising Sorbet

A moisturising cream that is lightweight but also very hydrating. It has a subtle scent of 'White Grape' - it's advertised to have anti-oxidant boosting benefits to reduce redness as well as soothe skin

Rituals Tao Wai Wang Body Scrub

This scrub has a blend of Chinese bamboo and white lotus to help remove dead cells, leaving skin smooth - the smell doesn't seem to appealing to myself, but it will be interesting to see if it does what it claims.

theBalm - Stainiac 'Beauty Queen'

The stainiac (1.2ml sample size) acts as a duo - a lip and cheek stain. At first glance you can be forgiven for being a bit put off of the colour (Beauty Queen) as it looks too vibrant (particularly for your cheeks), however when applied to your lips it actually comes out quite sheer, although you have to be quick in applying it as it dries quite quickly. I'm not a fan of stain make-up as i find them to be a bit of a hit and miss with colours as well as application.

Vita Coco: Coconut Oil

Coconut oil. Every girl knows what the beauty of coconut oil is (and if you didn't, you will fall in love with it!). Coconut oil is so good for your hair (either leaving it on overnight and washing it out the next day, or smoothing it onto the ends of your hair) as it nourishes it and leaves it feeling very soft. Coconut oil is also very good for removing make up (should you ever run out of one) and for cooking as a healthy substitute - just take a look around on the internet and you'll find tons of recommendations for coconut oil.

I was personally pleased to see this in my birchbox, even if it was a small sachet (5ml), it's enough to use for the ends of my hair.

Just a tip: If you use promo code- CATEYE (you can receive a full sized ciate eyeliner with your birchbox) or Promo code: SMILE (you can receive this freebie box)