Lush, Baths and Spiralised carrots.

Hi Blog, in the words of Joey Tribbiani, How ya doooooing ? 
It's been a while, you know that song, Eat Sleep, Rave Repeat. My life has been going something like this, Vibe, Work, Sleeeeeep, Repeat. With gym and circuits chucked in the middle. But yeah, I thought I'd kick it off with a few things I am lovin.

If you guys didn't now, I am now working with the company of my dreams. Lush.3 weeks ago, Lush opened the world's largest Lush store. 3 floors of Lush heaven, a mecca if you will, residing in London's very own Oxford Street. And they didn't stop there ... 200 new, YES. NEW. Products. A tiny bit of wee just came out. I am hoping to venture up there in a couple of weeks time, but my lovely managers took lists of goodies we couldn't wait to try and bought them back for us.I had a lovely selection of bath bombs/melts, their pretty straight forward. Smelling lovely of course. But the golden wonders I received, Cup o Coffee face mask, Hair custard and Damaged hot oil treatment.  All of which I am in love with. 

Cup o Coffee, is like dunking your head in a bag of coffee beans, refreshing and energising. Not to mention what it does for your skin. Talc, Kaolin, Agave Nectar and some ground coffee for exfoliation. I love the smell of this, and I hate coffee. Best used in the morning, if your feeling sleepy and need a perk up. Or when your hungover. Yeah, when your hungover.

Hair Custard. THE. SMELL. Argggghhmaaaaagaaaaawd. The smell. Argan oil, coconut oil, fair trade cocoa butter, egg whites, vanilla. And THE SMELL. This is pre blow dry treatment as well as a styling cream. It makes your hair feel soft as a babys bot, but gives it volume. I want to say this is the egg whites ? But who cares, soft, yummy, scrummy, I WANT TO EAT IT.  

Finally the cherry on the top. Damaged hot oil treatment. Some cocoa butter or something in this, maybe vanilla. (I am too lazy to go find the packaging, it's my day off alrite) But it made my hair so soft it may as well have been waterproof. TRY THIS. TRY IT ALL.

One thing I can't wait to get my hands on is the makeup.As much as I love all the things Lush. I do use other things, be it a fair few but there are things. Aloe Vera Gel. My spots life saver. I love Grease Lightening, but sometimes this little thing helps the little blighters go. Finally Baths and massage bars. I am working out a lot more these days, I blame the two weddings I am going to, one I am being a bridesmaid. Exciting, but I need to get this booty in shape. So most evenings I will spend in the bath. My favourite, Big Blue and Sunnyside, topped with a rubbing down of hottie or wiccy massage bar. The water looks like mermaids water. 

Mind Blown 💨😮🔫

Pair this, with my iPad and Vampire Diaries. Perfect evening. 

Vampire Diaries probably deserves a mention. Bit late on that wagon, but yeah. Vampires, werewolves, witches, blood. It's like an action packed less sparkly Twilight, but with better actors. Ooooh. Sorry KS and RP. You are better in other films. My spiraliser, I've been wanting one of these bad boys for ages. I got one. It's amazing. Courgettii with pesto, plum tomatoes, a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. Bon appetite. Chicken, satay sauce, with carrotii and veggies. Yum. 

As well as working on my body I am trying to get my mind in check. I am a firey  passionate person by nature, but want to put in more positive outlets. AKA I am one mad B****.  I already crochet. Now I Yoga and Meditate. I am still working this into my routine but the little I have done, I am loving. Youtuber Yoga with Adrienne, she is my yogi master. Check her out. And am test running some meditation apps. Headspace, Digi Pill and calm. I will let you know how those work out. And that probably won't be to the end of this year at the rate i'm blogging ...

Finally, I am loving my mum.  I embarrass her so much on my Facebook, but she truly is an inspiration. My inspiration. And i've always said that, even before she got "The C word." (Do watch BBC's adaptation of that by the way !) Mum has now had all her treatments, chemo, mastectomy and radiotherapy. It's now recovery. Or rather back to work full time and kicking my ass, even now, at sprinting. Yeah, she's even joined the gym again. A month after radio finished.

#HENCHWENCH

Ta Ta for now ! 

HAPPY HENNA : Tips + Tricks !

HAPPY HENNA.My tips and tricks to a stress free henna.
I would recommend henna to a banana I love it that much. It is ideal for those "dye-a-phobes", like me. Who has only dyed there hair once and wants to do something a little different to their hair, but not much because they are boring. Yep, that's me. I use Lush henna, which means ethically, it is the dogs. No pun intended ... It has the best ingredients, and is surrounded in rich fair trade organic cocoa butter. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm good. (name that film !) I eased my way in with colours. Starting with Noir, then half noir and half brun. Now I am full head of brun. I haven't managed to succumb to the likes of marron and rouge. I am biased brunette through and through.
Not only is Lush's henna packed with all things good, it is also a gentler way of colouring those locks. Henna wraps around your hair like a hug, works with your natural hair colouring and makes it shinier than a bald mans freshly polished head. Whilst also thickening the hair. Which for my fine hair, I aint complainin. Compared to chemical dye, it's a hoot. Chemical dye penetrates your hair, alters the hair colour itself and makes in generally weaker. There is some techincal lingo, but ya know. It's a sunday.
I think today marks well over my 5th Henna and I have some tips and tricks for ya'll.
Tip 1: BE PREPARED + ORGANISED !
Make sure you have all the necessary tools. This comes down to the cling film and scissors. Cause once you got it on your head, dancing around the kitchen with head full of henna can only mean disaster. 

TIP 2 : KEEP CLEAN + TIDY !
This is made easier if tip 1 is well mastered. Before I even chop my henna up, I make sure I have bin bags down, the sink is prepped and everything is out of the way. Cause it does like to fling everywhere. Like a pig in mud. 

TIP 3 : The kitchen sink.
I set my henna station up over the kitchen sink. Then I can lean over it, and if you haven't had any jumpers, it will just wash away down the sink. If it jumps, then tip 2 will take in to effect.

TIP 4 : Consistency + temperature.
Something I feel I have mastered. I achieved the perfect texture of henna today. Smooth, just like chocolate. Also, leaving your henna over the saucepan of water to keep warm whilst applying also helps to achieve a richer colour.
TIP 5 : Sectioning.

I work with my hair in two halves. Always start from back to front. Always comb your hair through before applying. Always start at the root. Simples.

TIP 6 : Washing.
Again Tip 1 and 2 really help here, but I always find jumping in the shower nakey is the best way. It takes about 1 rinse and two washes, and I don't want a neck ache. To ensure an easy clean up, rinse the bath between rinse and washes. And a clean bath before hand, means stuff don't cling to them dirty patches.

There, I think that's it. Happy Hennaing chappies !
Let me know if your keen to give it a go !
x

My little lush secret !

If you haven't worked it out yet, I am little Lushobessed. 
Juuuuuuust a tiny bit.

My recent favourite comes from there EB range. This stands for Emotional Brilliance and is a very unique makeup product. With names chosen specifically to cator for different moods. I like to think of them as a sort of face paint, which can be used anywhere on the face, giving you more than just your averge make up feel, but makeup with a purpose.  

Dynamic is a peachy pearlescent, making this very versatile. It blends beautiful and can be used all over the eye, as a highlighter and even on the lips for that beautiful peachy sheen. 

Rose, jojoba and almond oil to keep it all nourishing. With cupuacu butter and glycerine to help blend and set the makeup. Oh and it hasn't been tested on animals. And for a bonus point, vegan !

This will certainly make a spring glow. 

Have you tried any of the lush EB range ? 

Mineral makeup goes Harry Potter !

B E A U T Y 
Woah woah woah it's magiiiiiiiic. 

Mineral Magic that is. I picked this up on a whim in Asda well over a month or two a go. Then I asked my mum to pick me up another. Yeah, it's not often I repurchase a product. So that say's a lot ! Pricing up at  just under 10 pounds this little beauty is a thing of wizardy. It's a kaolin base, which from my trusty Lush knowledge it is oil absorbing as well as being good for spot prone skin. Which is me down to a T. T-zone that is ! You can use this as a finishing powder or as a foundation. It has little beads, purple, yellow, green and pink. Making this correcting and concealing. With a little bit of collections lasting perfection concealer, you are wingardium leviosaing your ass to oil, spotless free skin and a flawless coverage that last's all day. I know, MAGIC. 
Have you tried any of JML's wonder products ?

My Charlotte SunJelly bag !

My Charlottes already getting her fill. Full of wool and crochet projects. This week I was the proud winner of Beauty In The Mirrors Twitter competition to win my very on SunJellies bag. Boy was I excited. At first I hadn't realised I had won, due to Twitter notifications on my app being down for the day. Then on the morning of my vibe class, I awoke to beeps and tweets. I immediately contacted the lovely people at SunJellies and requested the beautiful Charlotte. Black of course, that is the only colour I seem to wear. That, or white and the occasional red or floral/Paisley/Aztec pattern. But that is strictly occasional. For special times. They don't happen much. 

And on Thursday, it arrived. All collapsed down like nobodies business. Easy to assemble and in less than a minute I was taking photographs and posting pictures. 5 minute after that I had already filled it with yet another of my many crochet projects. I cannot wait to test this baby out, food shopping, beach times, even a makeup/hairdryer storage. With a tidy price of £10 you can't go wrong with this sheek black bag. Next on my list, black SunJellies sandals. 

Summer, hurry up please.

Do you guys remember jelly shoes ? 

Don't believe the hype : Fruit water bottle diffusers.

H E A L T H 
Actually, do. 

I'm sure all you food fitness fanatics have seen this plastered over your social media. Instagram, facebook. IT IS EVERYWHERE. And me being a sucker goes, oooh, yeah, gimme. So I gotta. I was careful though, looked high and low for the decent bargain. And bam, found one TK MAXX 4.99 thank you very much. And the hype, well now I know what the whole fuss is about. 

I find myself reaching more for my lemony water than I would the usual plain tap water kind. Not to mention all the benefits lemon water has. Digestion, weight management and skin. WIN WIN WIN.

Have you guys tried any fruit water bottle diffusers ?

I went to watch Fifty Shades of Grey and I bloody loved it.

I went to watch Fifty Shades of Grey and I bloody loved it. 

There. 

I said it.

We have all been there, fallen all smitten for characters and their love story.

The Twilight Saga, being one many can relate to. Yes, you did, admit it. Even though now, your like, what the hell was I thinking ?  We have all been there. 

The same can be said for the love story of Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele. Because "kids", that's why we read them and that's why my ass was in that seat at 1'o clock this afternoon. Not because of its questionable written literature. No offence James, you do a good story, but if I have to read; "looks up at him through my lashes" one more time I'm gonna go green man Hulk on you. 

Unlike Twilight, poor choice in actors, (I think just heard the whole world gasp). The people casting Fifty did good. I mean, real good. And it wasn't until I was 5 mins into the film that it had me convinced, because you know, you got to go in with a, "hmmm now I know this could be a bit s***", mentality.

Wrong wrong wrong and wrong again.

They seriously hit the nail on the head. Even how the dealt with the hot and steamy scenes, all were done delicately and weren't distasteful. Do I mention the submissive part ? Yeah, I do. So much controversy has been shed on this story, the films really highlight the turmoil of wanting that relationship and the struggles of what it will bring. But, in all honesty feminism and all that, if that's what floats your boat, then sail away sailor. 

Hats off to the actors, Jamie Dornan and Dakota Jonson, those scenes must have been, errrrrr ... uhhhhh ... difficult ? I am glad I am not Dornan's wife right now, s'all I am saying. 
It was very close to the book. The casting, directing, the music were completely on point. It's Beyoncé people, BEYONCÉ. 

And the ending, oh the ending left me wanting more. Let's hope they start shooting the next one ... 

How do you feel about the Fifty Shades Series ? Are you a lover or a fighter ? 

See movies trailor here ! 

On the go breakfasts, because sometimes you can't be assed for food preppin !

H E A L T H 

Friday was one of those mornings where breakfast certainly was not on the agenda, but something I was willing to squeeze into my schedule. 

In flew Moma to save the day. When I say flew, stared at me as I was perusing the shelves of the cafe before hopping on my train. 

Made with whole grain jumbo oats, apple juice, low fat Somerset yogurt and real fruit. Balanced. And stupendously delicious. Moma pride themselves on giving a balanced, slow released energy fuelling breakfast that will keep you pepping till lunch time. 

What you didn't see is the cheese and ham panini I had straight after. But that's either here nor there. 

What are you favourite on the go breakfasts ? 

Tasty nummys for my tummies !

H E A L T H 
Food. Need I say no more ? I have been playing with what I put in my tummy. From healthy mug cakes, to simply changing my bread from seeded to rye.

Here are a few of my faves. And the inspo behind them ! 

Iced green tea ! Now this little gem came from the amazing Carly Rowena, if you not aware of this youtube hottie. Then get aware. Inspiring, helpful videos and the bod to go with it ! 

So I adapted the recipe a little, chill a jug of green tea. I like the stuff with lemon. Leave this overnight then in the morning blend with frozen mango, a squeeze of honey and the juice of lemon. Booooootiful.

Next is the mug cake ! Now I followed this recipe to the T so head over to Mind Over Munch, where the beautiful Alyssia will rock your world with healthy alternatives. I was a greedy ganit last night and added half a sliced banana, a spoonful of Greek yog and a squeeze of honey. I can't get enough of this sweet treat. 

Now this crumble, is made of some sorcery. This little recipe I found from the lovely Kryshka Cooks, and this is what got through the dark cold winter months. A simple crumble made with cornflakes, a little flour, a little butter and cinnamon. My favourite fillings are peach and cherry. Canned peaches, the ones in its juice. And frozen cherries. Cheap and cheerful. Don't forget to check out this Welsh babes blog, you won't be able to stop yourself. 

Finally, just a simple poached egg on rye toast. With cut up avocado, tomatoes with salt and cracked black pepper. DELISH. 

What is your favourite healthy dish ?

Sunday's Skin.

B E A U T Y

Whilst in town with the ladies yesterday, I thought I'd take advantage and nab myself a sample of Cliniques new foundation. Beyond Perfecting foundation and concealer ! And boy, a little goes a long way. So this pot, will last me a fair few months ! The foundation is thick, but not heavy on the skin and sets well with just a little powder to finish it off. 

I got the fairest of shades, Alabaster. It could have done with being a little lighter, but that's just me being a picky piggy. It blends well and covers most. I had a big ass spot on my forehead too. Nothing that a dense brush and a dabbing motion can't hide. Giving thst airbrushed no massive mountain spots on my face look. 

For dryer skins moisturising is definitely a must, or a dewy finishing spray upon finishing. But for myself, a bloomin oil slick, it was fine. After a couple of hours wear no oil was obvious, although could have done with a little more powder to stop it sliding. Oil slick problems people, foundation just don't wanna stick. 

I paired this with my usual brow kit from Topshop, smudgy black liner and a slick of Rollerlash on den lashes. Which ladies and gents, y'all gonna wanna try that ! See blog post here ! Oh and not forgetting to set it all with some of Lush's emotional brilliance powder, which is a dream. 

Don't forget, most big brands offer samples, so always take advantge of that and don't waste those hard earned dollazzz.

Happy Sunday people ! Have you sampled anything fun recently ? 

Sucked me in !

F I T N E S S 
... And I am not just talking about the belly flab. Today has been the perfect running weather. For me, that is cold, dry and sunny. Nothing beats an icy chill as your pounding away to some drum and bass beats. Or heavy metal, or Fleetwood Mac. Variety is the spice of life people ! As much as I enjoy the cold, getting out there takes a lot of ... balls. Especially when you haven't gone for a run in well over 6 months. So H & M's fitness gear gave me just that, balls.

These full length Lycra are an absolute steal at £14.99. YES. That's on par with Primarks prices. Team that with a long sleeve top, gloves, your trusty sports bra and well worn trainers. 

Outfit, done. 

Have you tried any of H & Ms sports wear ?

Elle makes you feel like a REAL beauty blogger !

B E A U T Y
My first day back and I am wondering the aisles of our local co op. Alas, I stumble across the magazine section. And there it was, with the words, be the first to try Benefits new rollerlash, or something along those lines. SOLD. So I off I trotted, dolla in tow and purchased the blighter.

Benefit and I have a love love relationship. No hate, just a whole lotta love. I adored their original BAD gal mascara and the same applies to They're Real. And now, Rollerlash. I'm all about quick and convenience. So, one swipe and you are volume, length, defined, curled, out the door and running to work cause y'all always late, lashes! The wand is truly something, it hooks the lashes, gripping them to give them a coat of the good stuff.

I cannot wait for this to be released. For those Benefit lovers the date is the 12th of this month. Although, my bank account will just have to wait a little longer ! 

Did any of you guys pick up the March addition of Elle ?

It's Jess !

I'm back !

Hello 2015, yes I realise it is February, but my fresh start, it start's now. None of this new year new me bull**** ! Why not hey February, let's makes some changes cause I don't really like you January.

So, what's new ? 

Other than the blog title, not much. I have been taking some time out and just dealing with well, a lot. 

I moved. My mum got cancer. Then I moved back again.

No easy way to announce that really. But, that's what I have been doing. It has not been easy and support and smile is what has gotten us through this. Cause you know, my mum, she is like my best friend. We come as a one. You know the Gilmore Girls ? Yeah, that's me and her. With just a little more swearing. Well, a lot more swearing. 

But it is, what it is. And I am back. And ready to blog. 

Well, at least I think I am.  

Yes. I am. 2015, let's see what you have to offer !