Let's talk body confidence

Self-esteem is something of a touchy subject with me. I am the first to admit that I have

 very little of the stuff and lately I feel like I've been struggling with body confidence

 more than ever. I'm not writing about this to for a confidence boost or to gain attention, 

I am writing about this because I feel it is incredibly important.

When my confidence is at its lowest I regularly turn down invitations to see friends and choose

 instead sit within the comfort of my own home. I've come to realise recently that there is more

 to life than worrying about my appearance and I should be grabbing every opportunity to live

 life and spend time with my friends.

Self esteem is such a massive issue for both men and women and it is really important that people

 realise their true worth instead of undervaluing themselves all the time. After doing a bit of 

research I stumbled across the Dove Self Esteem Project. It is mostly aimed at young, teenage

 girls but I found the information on media and celebrity culture particularly interesting as I feel 

this is a huge problem within society. My job role means I am constantly working within

 the media and I become pretty influenced by this. As a result of spending hours

 trawling through social media pages I find myself constantly comparing my looks, job

 and wardrobe to girls I don't even know.

After avoiding social situations for a couple of weeks I got so upset that I decided enough

 is enough. I'm now focusing on enjoying myself and experiencing life, and I'm finding that

 great things are coming my way as a result. Hell, I just bagged myself a great marketing

 internship and if that isn't enough to give me a confidence boost I don't know what is.

If only one person reads this and is inspired to feel good about themselves then I will be

 glad I wrote it. You are beautiful!

& Other Stories: Bath & Body

Frozen Verbena Body Scrub, £7; Lemon Daydream Hand Soap, £4

I was in London at the weekend and just couldn't resist nipping in to my favourite

 ever store, & Other Stories. For those of you that haven't heard of the brand before, it is a

 sister label of H&M (and a very chic one at that) along with Cheap Monday and COS. 

& Other Stories is stripped back and more high end than H&M, but still remains relatively

 affordable. The style is simple, clean cut yet still very original.

When in an & Other Stories store I always find myself spending hours in their beauty department. 

They have their own make up, skincare and bath ranges, all of which look as elegant as each other.

I'm particularly taken by their compact powders and blushers as they have a Shakespeare quote from Romeo & Juliet etched into them. Cool huh?

When I was in their Regent Street store on Saturday I couldn't resist picking up a couple of bits

 from their bath & body range. After taking my time and having a good old sniff of pretty much 

everything they have to offer I went for the Frozen Verbena Body Scrub and the 

Lemon Daydream Hand Soap.

All of the & Other Stories body scrubs are amazing as they are really abrasive, so I chose 

Frozen Verbena based on scent alone. The scrub is made up of sugar, which I like as I try to 

avoid plastic based scrubs for environmental reasons. The fragrance of this scrub is refreshing,

 light and slightly floral as it has notes of lime, basil, verbena and geranium. So far after using this

 scrub just a couple of times I am really impressed with the way it polishes the skin and leaves it 

feeling silky smooth. 

I picked up the Lemon Daydream Hand Soap as I thought the bottle would look great next to

 my sink, and I was not wrong. However, after giving this gorgeous hand soap a try I was

 completely blown away. The fresh, citrus fragrance lingers on the skin for ages and leaves you

 feeling really cleansed. Lemon, grapefruit and pear notes all make up this deliciously refreshing

 hand soap.All of the & Other Stories bath & body range is paraben free, which for me is

 another great appeal to these products. I guess the only thing I don't like about both of these

 products is that I will have to wait until I'm in London again to stock up.

Have you tried any beauty products from & Other Stories?

Blow Ltd: The Beach Blow

I have spent the last couple of days in our beautiful capital city, London. After hearing so much

 about Blow Ltd and their speedy beauty services I was determined to get myself booked

 in for a slice of the action. 

Blow Ltd describe themselves as being the home of fast beauty, and they really do live up to this.

 They offer hair, nails and make up updates at affordable prices and in no time at all.

Located in the Covent Garden area of London, it is clear to see from the outset that Blow Ltd

 is not just your average beauty salon. The aesthetics are cool yet understated and everything in there

 is on-trend and up to date.

When I entered Blow Ltd I was greeted by Tanya, my stylist, who sat my down and talked me

 through the menu. For me the menu really is the coolest part of the whole Blow Ltd experience

 as it offers the opportunity to show the stylist exactly what you want out of your blow dry. 

I opted for the beach blow as I was going to a gig later that day (to see the Arctic Monkeys

 at Finsbury Park no less) and wanted something nice and casual. Tanya noticed straight away that 

my hair is a little brittle at the moment and so used the Kerastase reconstructing shampoo

 and conditioner. After washing my hair my stylist took me over to the blow bar where she began

 to dry and create those beachy waves. It took me aback a little when Tanya pointed to an iPad

 mini in front of me and said 'there's some magazines on there if you would like to take a look'.

 Before I knew it I was flicking through the pages of the latest Elle magazine on a tablet, which

 gave Blow Ltd even more cool points in my books.

When my blow dry was finished (in 30 mins flat) Tanya asked me what I thought.

 I had honestly never seen my hair looking so big, voluptuous and glossy. I was impressed!

Tanya assured me that the waves should last well into the evening, and boy was she right.

 My beach waves lasted a good 8 hours, and I think they would have gone longer if it wasn't

 for the beer being thrown around at the gig.

The whole experience was quick but at no point ever felt rushed, which to me seems perfect in a

 city that is constantly on the go. I cannot recommend Blow Ltd enough and next time I'm in London

 I will be booking in to try another great option from their menu.

Have you visited Blow Ltd? What did you try?

Weekend Eats: Cow & Co

This weekend me and Harry decided to make the most of the glorious weather and head

 out on our bikes for brunch. We decided to try Cow & Co, which is just a two minute walk

 away from the hustle and bustle of Liverpool One.

Cow & Co is a quirky little shop that stocks anything from stationary to kitchenware, and 

everything they sell is designed to perfection. They have recently transformed the ground floor

 of the store into a cafe and, after hearing good things, I decided it was next on my 'places to try' list.

Both me and Harry decided to go for a bagel, and they were pretty great choices. Mine was

 goats cheese and home made pesto, and Harry opted for the cheese, ham and pickle. 

We both also agreed that the cappuccino was the best we had ever tasted (quite a statement

 coming from us)! The greatest part of the cafe itself was its extensive magazine collection. 

There is a whole wall full of cool, alternative magazines to read including my particular

 favourite, Oh Comely. 

Although I loved Cow & Co it is definitely a place to go for a coffee and a small bite

 to eat, and not a meal. The relaxed atmosphere of the cafe was so lovely, and sitting outside

 in the sunshine we completely forgot that we were in the center of Liverpool. I will be visiting 

again for sure, even if it is just for their perfect coffee.

Home Bakes: Peanut Butter Bites

If you like Reese's Peanut Butter Cups you are going to absolutely love this recipe!

When I was at a training day recently with work one of my colleagues had baked little these

 little treats for us all. After my first mouthful I was hooked and just had to find out the recipe. 

The recipe is actually one of Nigella's and is so quick and simple to do. 

These little peanut butter bites are perfect with a cup of tea, and even make a lovely gift for 

those with a sweet tooth.

Ingredients:

For the base

50g muscovado sugar

200g icing sugar

50g unsalted butter

200g smooth organic peanut butter

For the topping

200g milk chocolate

100g plain chocolate

1 tbsp unsalted butter

Method:

- Stir all of the base ingredients together in a large mixing bowl either by hand or with an electric 

food mixer. I find this part a little messy as the icing sugar gets everywhere so prefer to

 do it by hand.

- Once the mixture has come together and has a very sandy consistency you can press it into

 a lined brownie tin. Nigella says 'it is quite satisfying seeing the gentle finger indentations in the

 soft, rich mixture' but I'm not sure I agree. What ever tickles your fancy Nigella.

- To make the topping I melt all of the chocolate and butter in a glass bowl over a pan of boiling

 water on a low heat. Stir this mixture regularly until there are no lumps left.

- Spread the chocolate mixture on to the base and then pop the tin in the fridge to set. 

When spreading on the chocolate mixture I like to leave it looking a little rough around the edges, 

but if you prefer a smooth finish just use the back of a spoon to spread evenly. 

- The chocolate mixture sets fairly quickly, and once completely hardened you can cut up into

 little squares and enjoy. I cut the squares pretty unevenly to give a rustic feel but you could be

 more precise if you prefer.

Will you be trying this recipe? I would love to know your thoughts!

Yes To Grapefruit Daily Facial Scrub

Grapefruit Daily Facial Scrub, Yes To, £6.99

Yes To are a company that I have only recently become familiar with. I first caught 

wind of them during a Twitter bloggers chat and was intrigued to find out more. I began looking 

into the company as I'm a total skincare addict, but like to keep it all as natural as I possibly can.

Yes To make sure that all of their products are at least 95% natural and paraben, petroleum and

 SLS free. Plus, all the packaging is completely recyclable and the products themselves are cruelty free.

 You don't get skincare better than that, surely?

So, after finding out more about Yes To and their natural skincare range I headed to my nearest

 Boots store to check out the range in the flesh. I was in need of a new facial scrub and was immediately

 drawn to this one from their grapefruit range. My skin tone is pretty uneven and prone to blemishes,

 so this daily scrub seemed perfect for me. 

I have been using this grapefruit facial scrub for around two weeks now and I am really pleased

 with it. Not only does this scrub smell ridiculously fresh, it also evens skin tone and enhances

 luminosity. Made with lemon balm, this scrub helps to calm and repair damaged skin, whilst the 

grapefruit oil brightens and moisturises. After the first use my skin looked brighter and fresher,

 and I could really notice a difference. Although this is a daily facial scrub I try and use it just once

 a week as my skin doesn't need scrubbing too often. Overall, I am really impressed with this scrub

 and am looking to venture further into the Yes To skincare range.

Have you tried anything from Yes To? What did you think?

How running taught me to challenge myself

On Sunday I took part in, and completed, the Liverpool Spring 10K race. This is something I never thought I would be able to do as my fitness levels used to be terrible. There once was a time where I couldn't 

even run on the treadmill for 2 minutes without getting ridiculously out of breath, and feeling like

 I had to stop. I would never thought a year ago that I would be able to run non-stop for a whole

 hour like I did on Sunday. I especially did not expect to enjoy the race quite like I did!

As a result I have found myself wanting to apply for another race in a few months time,

 despite the huge blisters on my feet from Sunday.

So far my running journey has taught me a lot about how to challenge myself and achieve

 my goals. I find running really mentally tough, but in the long run (no pun intended) I always

 end up with a clear, anxiety free mind. Realising that I can push myself to run further than ever

 before has only encouraged me to try and apply this success to other areas of my life. 

Understanding that your mind gives up before your legs do is key to accomplishing your goals

 when out on a run. I find motivational quotes really inspiring before I go out to run

 (or hit the gym) and Pinterest is particularly good for this. I have created a health & fitness

 inspiration board on Pinterest and always check back to this when I need a little lift.

So, what are you waiting for? Get those trainers on and go run!

 Even if it is just for five minutes, you will thank me later.

The Self Preservation Society

 

Lush Cosmetics are a company that famously pride themselves on their natural, ethical

 and handmade products.Where possible Lush try to use only the finest natural and

 organic ingredients in their cosmetics, but do allow for the occasional safe synthetic.

 The safe synthetics (such as methylparaben and propylparaben) are used in cosmetics 

as preservatives to give products that contain water a longer shelf life.

Lush recognised that, although they are deemed to be safe, lots of people don't like to

 use parabens for many different reasons. They are now working on taking their

 range from 70% self preserving to 100%, and have started by adapting some of the most

 loved Lush products.

Dream Cream is up hailed as the best Lush product for many, many people. The incredibly

 soothing ingredients of this hand and body lotion make it great for those who suffer with

 dry skin, eczema or psoriasis. The new self-preserved version of Dream Cream has been

 cleverly re-formulated to provide the same effects as the original for even the most sensitive

 skins. The product inventors at Lush have reduced the amount of water in this product and

 replaced it with a higher olive oil and glycerine content. This has given the formula a richer

 consistency but, as it took 98 attempts to get it right, rest assured this is still the Dream Cream

 you know and love.

 

Good news! Ocean Salt  has not only become self-preserving but also vegan too. To make

 this well loved face and body scrub self-preserving the inventors removed the two

 parabens and three synthetic emulsifiers that were in the original formula. These safe synthetics

 have been replaced with more fine sea salt and glycerine, as both are natural preservatives and

 mango butter and lanolin were added to the mixture to soften and soothe. The product is thickened 

with the added japan wax and avocado butter, which in turn prevents the onset of bacteria.

If I'm really honest I do prefer the original version of Ocean Salt to the self-preserving as ironically

 this one smells a little fake. I also prefer the coarse sea salt used in the original formula , but despite

 this both versions work just as well as each other at brightening the complexion.

 

Mask of Magnaminty is probably my favourite of all these four products. This face and back mask

 is great at unclogging pores and giving the skin a really deep cleanse. To make this a winning 

self-preserving formula Lush have replaced the synthetic preservatives with a higher honey,

 kaolin and glycerine content. When I tried this mask I really noticed a difference in the way 

my skin felt compared to the original formula. Whilst on the face my skin didn't tingle as much

 as usual, which may be due to less peppermint oil, but when I rinsed it off my skin felt smooth

 and supple. To me this self-preserving formula is much better than the original and has quickly

 become one of my favourite Lush products.

 Sympathy for the Skin is the final product released in the recent self-preserving range at Lush. 

This hand and body lotion, which I think smells of cake batter, is a firm favourite due to its

 beautifully light banana and vanilla fragrance. Again, there is less water in this body lotion and

 it has been replaced with a higher almond oil and glycerine content. The self-preserving version

 of this body lotion is much thicker and richer, so if you are looking for a really emollient cream 

this is the one for you.

All in all it is great that Lush are offering their customers the option of using products free

 of safe-synthetics. It is important to note that both the originals and the new self-preserving

 formulas will be available in stores and online.

Do you try to stay paraben free?

Ingredient Focus: Avocado

After my previous ingredient focus post on honey (which you can find here) I had a few people

 tell me that they found it really interesting, and asked whether I would be doing any similar posts.

 I hope to do a whole series of these posts, and so I decided to focus on the benefits of avocado 

for the second ingredient focus post.

Avocado, delicious in its own right, has many benefits for both the skin and the hair. The good fats

 contained in avocados provide many nutrients including vitamins A, B, C and E as well as 

minerals such as iron and potassium. With many health benefits they really are a super food, but I'm

 going to tell you how avocados can help us look great on the outside as well as feeling good on 

the inside. 

Skin: When used as a butter (produced from the flesh of the avocado) the fruit is very hydrating

 as it softens and soothes the skin. If your skin is a little thirsty it will drink up the moisturising

 properties of avocado and will certainly thank you for it later. Avocado also contains

 antioxidants which help protect against free radicals and in turn eliminates wrinkles and prevents

 premature signs of ageing. Avocado oil is also thought to be great for reducing the visibility 

of age spots, fine lines and scarring. All in all avocado is pretty much your skins best friend.

Hair: Avocado oil has been used for centuries in products such as hair conditioners and masks

 as it is nutrient rich and restores health. Dry, brittle hair will benefit from avocado oil as it is

 rich, nourishing and softening. The oil increases the tensile strength of the hair (that is how far you 

can pull it before it snaps) as well as adding a gorgeous shine. 

This healthy, natural ingredient is basically a health and beauty marvel, particularly for those 

with dry or ageing skin. Will you be incorporating avocado based products into your beauty routine? 

My Everyday Make Up Routine

I love doing my make up but as I work 9-6 five days a week I soon found that I needed to
 discover a lasting but quick and simple daily make up routine. I like to keep my day to day
 make up routine simple and my face looking natural, so I keep the amount of products I
 use to a minimum. I decided to show you my everyday make up routine, as I am quite
 boring and stick to the same thing every day.

Face: After prepping my skin with a morning cleanse and moisturise routine I apply the Revlon Photoready
 Skinlights Face Illuminator in Pink Light. I use this to brighten up my skin as it leaves a dewy finish.
Then I use my Real Techniques Expert Face brush to buff the Nars Tinted Moisturiser, in Finland,
 into my skin. The Expert Face brush is a bit of a cult classic in the beauty world, and personally
I have never used anything that has left such an even finish with my foundation. As the weather is
 getting warmer I recently switched from foundation to the Nars Tinted Moisturiser as it is lighter
 and has a high SPF. I finish off my my face makeup by lightly dusting on the Illamasqua 
Translucent Loose Powder using the Mac Duo Fibre Face Brush. Then, using the same
brush, I lightly sweep the Illamasqua  Powder Blusher in Naked Rose over the apples of my
cheeks and up along my cheekbones.

Eyes: After finishing my face I then move on to my eyes and usually start with my brows. I use
 the Illamasqua Eyebrow Cake in Thunder and the Benefit Hard Angle Brush to lightly fill in my
eyebrows and give them definition. I find a powder gives more of a natural finish than a pencil
when it comes to perfect brows. Then I apply a very light dusting of Mac Vanilla Pigment
 (this is such a wonder product!) over the top of the eyelid using the Real Techniques Base 
Shadow Brush . I don't like to wear eye shadow every day but I find that the vanilla pigment
opens up the eye and leaves it looking brighter, which I am all for. I finish off my eyes with a
few coats of Loreal Miss Manga Mascara in Black on both my top and bottom lashes.

Lips: On a day to day basis my make up look is very natural, and so I like to choose a lip
 colour to reflect this. I usually opt for the Mac Matte Lipstick in Kinda Sexy as the shade
 is a neutral pinky-rose and blends well with the rest of my daytime make up look. I love
 the matte look of this lipstick but it can sometimes be a little drying so I finish the whole thing
 off with a dab of the Lush Cosmetics Honey Trap lip balm as is is nourishing and hydrating.

What is your daily make up routine like? Do you use any of these products?

Weekend Eats: East Avenue Bakehouse

East Avenue Bakehouse, Bold Street, Liverpool

For me it really wouldn't be the weekend without eating out at least once and this weekend 

was no exception. Today me and Harry decided to head out for lunch and we were both keen 

to try somewhere new. Liverpool seems to be such a hotspot for independent businesses 

at the moment,which means you are never short of new places to eat, drink and shop.

I had heard great things about East Avenue Bakehouse, located on Bold Street, so as we 

were feeling pretty hungry we decided to give it a try. The bakehouse is light, airy and decorated

 to perfection. Although the aesthetics of this eatery are pretty appealing it is clear to see that there 

is so much more going on here. East Avenue Bakehouse are very proud of their locally sourced

 ingredients, friendly staff and changeable, seasonal menu - and quite rightly so. What they

 should be most proud of though is their incredible bread and cake array, all baked fresh in

 store each day.

As I was wanting to try out their homemade bread I went for the pastrami sandwhich with

 mustard mayonaise, and I certainly wasn't dissapointed. Harry went for the eggs benedict and

 he too was pretty impressed - especially with their homemade english muffins! 

We finished the whole thing off with a slice of freshly baked cake each and, after enjoying every

 last mouthful, we both left with full, happy tummies. I can't wait to go back to East Avenue

 Bakehouse and, after seeing some ladies enjoying an afternoon tea, I am hoping to share the 

doughy love and take my friends along too.

I really can't reccomend East Avenue Bakehouse enough, and what makes the whole thing 

sweeter is that there is 10% off available to all Independent Liverpool card holders.

Topshop Gloss Ink in Sloe Gin

Gloss Ink in Sloe Gin, Topshop, £8.00

I admit it, I haven't tried that much of the Topshop make up range yet. I know, it's been out for
 4 years and as a beauty obsessive I really should have ventured into the unknown. However, the
 few products I have tried from the range have all been amazing.

I picked up this Gloss Ink lip stain in 'sloe gin' on a whim when I was panic buying an outfit just
hours before a night out with the girls. I wore it that very night and was really impressed with the
way it  looked. The colour is slightly more pink than I was expecting, as on the wand it looks pretty
 purple. However, I have found that you can build up this stain on the lip to deepen the colour and
take it from a hot pink to a deep raspberry wine.

The lasting power of this lip stain is pretty incredible. I can apply this lipstick early in the morning
and it will last well into the early evening before I would have to top it up. The finish of this Gloss
Ink is pigmented enough to be a lipstick but also has a great sheen much like a lip gloss. 

The perfect 2 in 1, no?

After giving the Topshop Gloss Ink a go I am really keen to try more pieces from the Topshop

 make up range. Roll on pay day!

What pieces do you recommend from the Topshop make up range?

The Best Budget Buy: Hand Cream

Norwegian Formula Concentrated Hand Cream, Neutrogena, £3.85

I'm not much of a hand cream lover but sometimes needs must, you know?

My hands work incredibly hard: in the gym, at work and when I'm blogging- they just 

don't stop. As hands are the place that show the first signs of ageing I decided it was about time 

I started to show them the love they deserve.

I picked up this little tube when I was waiting at a train station before a long journey with 

work. I don't know what tempted me to purchase this product but when I first rubbed it into 

my hands I was pretty impressed. The formula is thick as it is glycerin enriched and, when

 rubbed in, it coats the hands in moisture. The reason I have never been much of a hand cream 

fan before is the greasy feeling that most leave on the skin. Sticky hands are such a no-no!

This cream however, leaves the skin feeling mattified, nourished and smelling beautiful. 

The fragrance isn't strong but floral enough to leave a lovely powdery lingering scent.

The size of this bottle is another bonus of this hand cream as it is pretty handbag friendly.

My only criticism of this hand cream would be that the bottle states that it lasts for 200 uses. 

I'm not sure if I am using far too much but it certainly wouldn't last that long for me.

However, considering the price of this product I will be sure to be repurchasing again in the future.

What is your favourite hand cream? 

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Ingredient Focus: Honey

Years of working for Lush Cosmetics has given me a great in-depth knowledge of natural 

ingredients and the effects they have on the skin and hair. No matter what problem you may

 have with your skin or hair, honey often holds the answer.

When used in cosmetics honey does so much more than provide a sweet smell.

 The nutrients in honey provide many benefits to us when consumed and used externally as part

 of a cosmetic product. I have outlined below the different cosmetic issues we might face and 

how honey can help.

Acne - Honey has been traditionally used as an acne treatment for years as it is

 naturally antibacterial and antiseptic. The antimicrobial effects of honey mean that it kills 

spot causing microbes and stops their growth. Goodbye spots, hello clear skin!

Dry skin - Honey is a natural humectant, which means that it attracts and retains moisture 

in the skin. This means that honey is really moisturising and soothing for both the skin and hair.

Ageing - Packed full of antioxidants, honey is great for skin that is showing signs of ageing.

 Antioxidants help slow down the ageing process, as well as helping protect from the damaging 

sun rays.

Dry, frizzy hair  - Hair will be nourished and enriched by honey. The emollient properties of 

honey make it a natural softener and it improves the condition of the hair follicle. This in turn 

encourages the hair to grow, leaving you with soft, long hair!

As if this wasn't enough honey is also naturally self-preserving, which means that the use of 

nasty chemicals are not needed in honey based cosmetics. There are lots of companies that use

 honey in their products (Lush being the main one), but honey is also great to use at home for 

D.I.Y masks etc. 

Do you love to use honey as a cosmetic? How do you use it?

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Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

Micellar Cleansing Water, Garnier, £4.99

Recently I have really been struggling with my skin, it just kept breaking out 

and I couldn't figure out why. I'm drinking more water and I've completely 

upped my skin care game so something just wasn't adding up. The bad skin continued 

until just last week when I switched up my evening cleanser. I was previously using an oil 

based cleanser and I feel like this was causing more problems for my already 

oily complexion.

Micellar cleansing waters have been all over beauty blogs for a while now, 

particularly the ones from Bioderma. When I was in Barcelona last summer I picked up 

the Bioderma Sensibio H2O water but wasn't overly taken by it. Since then I had pretty

 much written off micellar waters thinking that they simply weren't for me.

When browsing the shelves of Superdrug recently I spotted this Garnier Micellar

 Cleansing Water on offer and just couldn't say no to such a bargain. I have started using 

this cleanser every evening to remove my make up and I absolutely love it. The water 

removes all dirt really quickly and leaves the skin feeling completely refreshed. This cleansing 

water is super gentle, even when removing stubborn eye make up.

The micellar waters work by capturing and lifting away from the skin, and the fragrance

 free formula means that it is suitable for even sensitive skin types. I use this cleanser by 

applying a few drops to a cotton pad and wiping over the face. It really is that simple!

Since using this cleanser on a daily basis I have seen a really great improvement in the 

condition of my skin and break outs seem to be much less frequent.

Have you tried any micellar water solutions? What do you think of them?

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Home Bakes: Banana Bread

Banana bread is such a nostalgic sweet treat for me. Both my Auntie and my 

Mum used to make it for me when I was a little girl, and now that I am older

 I enjoy baking it myself for other people. 

When it comes to baking I like to make the whole affair extra kitsch with lots 

of cute Cath Kidston bake wear. It just makes it all taste better, you know?

I've always been an avid baker, so I'm really excited to be able to share some of 

my favorite recipes on my blog.

This Banana Bread recipe is the same one my mum uses and it gives the same 

tasty results every time. Be sure to use over ripe bananas to get the best banana 

bread you have ever tasted.

Ingredients:

4 ripe mashed bananas
2 free range eggs
10oz of plain flour
4oz of butter - plus a little extra to grease the tin
8oz caster sugar
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/2 tsp of salt
2 tsp vanilla extract

A 8 in x 5 in loaf tin is required.

Method:

- Preheat the oven to 180c / gas mark 4

- Cream the butter and sugar together in a large mixing bowl until the
consistency is light in colour and a soft fluffy texture.

- In a seperate bowl sift the flour, bicarb and salt. Leave this mixture to stand.

- Going back to the sugar and butter mixture, add the eggs, mashed
bananas and vanilla extract. Mix well.

- Slowly fold in the flour mixture and ensure it is all mixed.

- Pour the mixture into the greased loaf tin and bake in the oven for 60 mins.
The loaf should be well risen and golden brown on the outside, but still soft on the inside.

- Allow to cool in the tin for 5-10 mins before removing and leaving on a wire rack.
Once completely cooled you can enjoy your first slice of this delicious loaf.

If you want to you can add either chocolate chips or chopped walnuts to the mixture
before baking to add even more flavour.

Will you be giving this Banana Bread recipe a try?

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Lush Cosmetic Warrior Fresh Face Mask Review

Cosmetic Warrior Fresh Face Mask, Lush, £6.25

If your skin is anything like mine you will need this product in your life. Rare is 

the day where my skin is completely spot free, so I usually spend my

 mornings trying to cover the blemishes. That is until recently when I decided 

to up my skincare game in order to prevent the blemishes and allow myself 

to use a lighter base.

I decided to incorporate a regular use of a cleansing face mask into my skincare

 routine. When it comes to face masks, for me only Lush will do. Their face masks are 

completely fresh and are made up of fruit, vegetables and the finest essential oils. The fact 

that these face masks are fresh gives a great excuse for a regular pamper as they need to be

 used up in a 3-4 week period.

Cosmetic Warrior is made up of garlic, fresh grapes and tea tree oil, among

 many other fine ingredients. At first sniff this mask can be quite strong and over

 powering, but once you see the effects it has on the skin you won't even think twice 

about the smell. I apply the mask directly onto clean, fresh skin and then sit back 

and relax for 15 minutes whilst it works its magic. This mask is great for combating spots

 and troublesome skin as it has many anti-bacterial properties including honey and 

organic free range eggs. 

Although this mask might sound like more of a meal than a skin care product it

 really is becoming a holy grail essential for me.

Have you tried any of the fresh face masks from Lush? Which one do you like the best?

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Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser Review

Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser, Nars, £29

With the on set of Spring here in the UK I was keen to switch up my beauty look 

and lighten the load on my skin when it came to coverage. I've never been one for

 tinted moisturisers as my uneven skin tone often demands a heavier coverage. 

However, when I saw my ultimate beauty guru, Kate, raving on about the Nars tinted 

moisturiser on her blog and I decided  to bite the bullet and give it a try.

I made the purchase at Harvey Nichols Beauty Bazaar in Liverpool after 

chatting to the lady on the counter about the product. She colour matched me to 

Finland which is one of their lightest shades. I opted for this tinted moisturiser as the 

coverage can be built up, meaning I can apply more to cover any areas that 

need a little extra love.

I have been using this product on a daily basis for almost two weeks now and I certainly
 do love it. This complexion perfecting fluid has both anti-ageing and skin perfecting
 benefits, and the high SPF is also pretty appealing as it helps to protect against
the elements. Personally I would only use this for day to day use as I would prefer
something a little more matte for an evening look.

I use the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush to apply this base as I love the way it
buffs into the skin. Once I've applied it evenly I'm left with an even skin tone and a
 fresh, healthy glow which is perfect for Spring.As far as tinted moisturisers go this
offering from Nars is the crème de la crème.

Do you opt for a lighter base for spring/summer? What do you use?

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The S/S '14 Shoe Edit - The Ugly Shoe Trend

Topshop, Novice Chunky Buckle Sandles, £52

Birkenstock, Arizona Two Strap, £49.95

River Island, Block Heel Cleated Sole Sandals, £55

Vagabond, Aurora Slip On, £75

As we're approaching Spring/Summer there seems to be one shoe trend to 

rule them all.The ugly shoe trend has girls up and down the country

 divided in opinion. 

In one camp there are those who are totally in favour of the brash, 

chunky soled shoes. The fashionistas that follow the runway religiously will all 

be seen sporting a Birkenstock this Summer. In the opposite camp, however, 

are the girls who wouldn't be seen dead in anything that could be remotely 

described as ugly. The girls in this camp would much rather stick to their stilettos thanks.

For me I'm kinda sitting on the fence with this trend.When I first saw them on the runway

 I just couldn't warm to them. Whether it was the floral beaded sandals seen at Givenchy 

or the sports luxe styles at Prada, I just hated them all. However, since the ugly shoe 

trend has hit the high street, I must admit I am warming to them. I found myself 

eyeballing this pair in Primark and decided to try them on despite thinking

 that 'they aren't very me'. After trying them on I was completely sold and have been

 praying for warm days ever since so I can wear them out and about. They not only

 look great but are so comfy and can take you from day to night. The perfect shoe no?

Ever since buying this pair I've found myself falling for other shoes which would

 be categorised as 'ugly'.

I hate to say it but I think I'm guilty of loving the ugly shoe trend

Will you be embracing the ugly shoe trend?

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