My Zero Waste Plan

Recently I have been thinking a lot about how I can make small changes to my everyday activities that will help me to reduce my waste production for the planet.  I’m always conscious of recycling, and if I’m out and about I’ll hold onto any plastic bottles until I’m home to make sure they make it into a recycling box.  I keep a hold of receipts so they will be recycling, or where possible I’ll turn them down if they don’t need to be printed at the till.   One of the biggest changes I’ve made recently is making sure that any fresh produce that I buy like fruit and veg are not wrapped in plastic, where it’s possible!  However, despite all this, there are still some things that I can do to make sure that I’m making a greater difference so I thought I would share these ideas with you all in a post, in case this is something you’ve been thinking a lot about too!

Water Bottle

From now on I’m going to make sure that I ALWAYS keep a water bottle on me at all times, and where possible use water fountains when I’m out and about so that I don’t need to purchase a drink in a plastic bottle.  I’m pretty good at this already, however I’m just going to make an extra conscious effort to make sure I follow through with this.  I’ve started taking two water bottles with me to work to 1. Make sure i’m drinking enough throughout those ten hour shifts, and 2. To avoid the need to purchase plastic water bottles because my refillable one is all out.

Lunch Box

Again, I do try and make the effort currently when I know that I’m going to be out during meal times to pack my meals in reusable containers, however sometimes it’s just so easy to chuck something small into a plastic bag to avoid carrying around big chunky containers.  However from now on, I’m going to make sure that I’m only using tuppawear to store my meals and snacks in, and I’m going to ditch the sandwich bags all together.  Even for when I’m making my daily batches of popcorn, it might be annoying carrying around 6 boxes a day to store food, but if it’s better for the environment that I’m willing to do it!  

Bags

From now on I’m carrying a tote bag/old paper bag on me at all times as well as my handbag, so that when I’m out at the shops, be it for food, clothes or whatever, I will be able to say no to the plastic bag.  Typically for me that would be around 3 bags a week, which is 12 a month, and around 144 a year – that’s a lot of plastic bags to reject!

This is where I’m starting for now, I know these are all fairly small and minor changes, however I’m researching everyday how to live a more zero waste lifestyle, and I’m taking it little by little.  If this is something of interest to you, then I’d highly recommend that you check out “A Plastic Ocean” on Netflix, as well as “The Story of Stuff” on Youtube – and let me know what you think!

I’ll be sure to keep you all posted on how I’m coping over the coming months!

Until the next one,

Lauren X

A Crazy Couple of Months

You'll have noticed that I've been very absent over the last couple of months, so I thought I would explain before jumping back into the blogging bandwagon!

First things first, I broke my laptop.  It's still broken, however I will be getting it fixed, or purchasing a new one, very soon.  My point is, I got kinda lazy.  I've been borrowing my brothers one on and off since my last post, but it's so slow and I just couldn't be bothered waiting the 20 minutes to get it up and started each time I wanted to blog.  Lazy, I know!  

                                    

Secondly, I got a new job!  I'm no longer a slave to retail *praise the lord!*  It was a super scary move for me because this job was kind of offered to me randomly, it wasn't something I'd ever consider doing, however, I felt like it was the exact move I needed to make to push me out of my comfort zone completely and to help me find out what it is that I exactly want to do with myself.  It was 100% the best decision for me, I absolutely love my new job, and whilst I still miss some people at my old one, I can safely say that I'll never miss the uncertainty of hours, uncertainty of my job description nor do I miss the bad vibes and atmosphere that so often filled the place.  I'm officially rocking this new work routine - and so now it's so easy for me plan things around my rota and to use my time for effectively.

                                           

Another aspect that I let get in the way of my blogging time was my new business with Arbonne.  Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE it and everything that it has to offer for me, however during my first couple of months I got super absorbed in it and I kind of let the blog slip whilst I was figuring out what I was doing.  Arbonne is still my safety net, my plan B and a great source of fun - however my blog is taking back the number one focus!

                                        

That's pretty much all I have to say.  Having had this little break has given me the chance to plan a lot of different ideas in my mind for the blog, now it's time to put pen to paper and bring these ideas to life!  I'm on holiday this week, totally milking this birthday week thing, and so I'll be using this time to get organised and ready to go! Expect to see a lot of things popping up over the next couple of months...

Here is to a productive end of the year! 

Until the next one,

Lauren X

Day Trip in Aberdeen

Early last month was my little brothers birthday, and seeing as he is a fussy bugger, and wouldn’t tell me what he wanted for his birthday, I suggested that we have a day out in Aberdeen instead.  I never really know how much there was to do in Aberdeen until I started looking into it.  We managed three different activities and a bite to eat on our adventures, so I thought it would be nice to share so that you all could explore too!

Aberdeen Harbour Dolphin Tours

We started off our trip with a morning dolphin tour run by the Aberdeen harbour crew.  The tour lasted one hour and cost £10 per child and £18 per adult.  We were given a quick tour of the harbour before setting off to the beach to see all the dolphins, and it was fab!  Of course it couldn’t be guaranteed that we would see any, after all you are going out to see to see them in their own environment, it’s not a planned out show.  We were super lucky that day, the sun was shining, the water was nice and calm and the dolphins were full of life and energy – and there was loads of them too.  My brothers really enjoyed themselves as did I, they got a shot of steering the boat, and the chaps on board were really fun and made sure everyone on board didn’t miss a thing!

The Tollbooth Museum

This was something that I was really looking forward to, as the idea of exploring an old prison like building fills me with great joy, as did it for my brothers too!  Whilst not very big, and it doesn’t take very long to look around, the atmosphere was spot on, and it was great fun exploring the old prison cells, looking at the old tools and desperately clinging onto the walls and ropes as we climbed the long and twisted stair cases.  The building had an earie feel about it the whole time we were exploring, and with loads of information points to stop and read, it really was a great way to fill in a 30 minute void in our busy day.

Maritime Museum

Whilst I think that this would have been an activity I would have enjoyed more had I done a little more research prior to visiting, this was a great museum to take the kids to and explore and learn about the oil and gas industry, drilling, sea life and even some old school fishing tools.  What we thought was going to be an in and out kind of job actually turned into a near hour stay, there was so such to look at and interactive with, and with so many different floors to explore, they were sure that we weren’t going to miss anything!  Whilst we didn’t actually visit this part, there was a lovely looking café and gift shop that would have been nice had you been travelling from a distance or planning to spend a good couple o hours taking in all the place had to offer. 

We all really enjoyed our day out exploring Aberdeen’s hidden treasures, and I’ll be making sure that I take advantage of what is right on our doorstep again in the near future.

Is there any other places you think I should check out on my next adventure?

Until the next one,

Lauren X

Cruelty Free Brands I love

It is fast approaching my one year anniversary to when I decided to make the decision to swap over all of my cosmetics for cruelty free versions, so I thought I would share some of my favourite go to brands from over the last year!

Superdrug

Superdrug products were my number one brand of choice for the majority of the year, simply because of their low cost prince range and variety of products.  There are very few goodies that I did not enjoy using during the year, their B range and Naturally Radiant goods were up there with my favourites!  The majority of their products are labelled vegan, however there is never any questions about if they are cruelty free – they always are – which was the biggest selling point for me!

Lush

Lush will always have a soft spot in my heart, because in my eyes they can do no wrong with their products.  Whilst I think that the bath bombs and bubble bars are up their with my favourites goodies ever, the face cleansers were also a hot spot for me, alongside the fresh face masks.  Cup’O’Coffee, Love Lettuce and Let the Good Times Roll are all products that I adore, but there are too many bath bombs to share I’m afraid!

The Body Shop

These guys are also another brand that I love using for picking up little treats for myself here and there, as their products always made the best gifts for special occasions, and their special offers meant that whatever gift was on the cards, I could justify a treat for myself too!  The Body Shop recently announced that they are no longer owned by L’Oreal, which caused a lot of controversy before this was announced, and so you can be guaranteed that all of their goodies will be 100% cruelty free from now on!  Some of my favourite products include the body mists, body butters and hand sanitizers, however I’m also a sucker for their shower gels too.

Arbonne

Now that I’m an Independent Consultant for Arbonne, it makes financial sense for me to make purchases from my own store.  They are of course however the newest brand that I have introduced to my skincare routine, however they are by far the most impressive products too.  My favourties so far have got to be the Calm Moisturiser, RE9 Corrective Eye Cream, Shea Butter Body Lotion and the CC Cream, however I can honestly say that I’ve loved every product that I’ve tried out so far.

So these are just a few of the brands that I’ve absolutely loved using since I made the Cruelty Free changes in my cosmetics!  Leave me a comment if you think that there are any brands I’m missing out on, and let me know if you want any more info on any products in particular that I’ve listed above!

Until the next one,

June Favourites

It’s been a while since I did a favourites post, so I thought that this would be a good time to do one!  It’s a bit of a mix this month, but all things that I’ve been loving as of late.

Graze Protein Bites

I discovered these little gems at the end of last month, and since then I’ve seen the popping up in all of the local supermarkets, which excites me very much!  So far I’ve only tried out the banana ones, but let me tell you, these bad boys are good!  They’re super thick and quite flapjack like, however they’re also moist and kind of sticky, like a cereal bar!  I’ve made my way through three boxes alone so far, they’re great for breakfast or my early morning snack at work!

Sound Cloud

I’ve really been enjoying using sound cloud this month to listen to different audio files and to explore different ways of self-growth, I’ve been using this a lot more than watching YouTube!  It’s a great thing to use in the morning when I’m doing my makeup and getting ready for my day, it means I don’t have to be watching the screen and I can just sit and listen to something uplifting and chill before I’m ready to leave.  A lot of the stuff I’ve been listening to is to help me with my Arbonne business, however there have been a few bits and pieces that I’ve tuned into as of late that has just really given me a greater understanding as to why I shouldn’t care what other people think, and I’ve taken a lot away from those audio files that once upon a time I would have thought was a load of rubbish.

Fresh Flowers

As bizarre as it might sound, I’ve really liked picking up some fresh flowers this month for taking my blog photos, as I think they just make a nice touch to the images.  Once my photos have been taken, I tend to just chuck them in a vase and display them in the living room or kitchen, for everyone to enjoy.  I work right next door to a Lidl, and so most of the flowers I’ve picked up as of late have been from there.  I’ve been super impressed with the quality of all off the bunches, they normally last at least five days when they’ve not blossomed yet, and they always have a nice selection to choose from too!

Early Mornings

Another strange one, especially for me, is that I’ve been enjoying getting up super early on my days off – as I tend to get a lot more done.  I’ve been taking martin to the gym in the morning, even on my days off, so that means getting up the back of six and starting my day from there.  Even when I’ve not got much to do during the day, it’s nice to have a proper full day at home to potter around the house and enjoy a full day off!

That’s what I’ve been enjoying this month, lie I said it is a bit of a varied one, but none the less all things that have taken my fancy.

What things have you been enjoying this month?

Until the next one,

All About Arbonne

So many of you I’m sure will be aware by now, but for those of you who don’t know, I’m now an independent consultant for Arbonne.  What’s that, you may ask?  Arbonne are a 35 year old company who create botanic based products using the best of nature and science.  Every single ingredient in every single one of Arbonne’s goodies serves a purpose to the product, and they are constantly reformulating their goods to ensure that they’re never using ingredients that are no longer needed.  We have a wide range of products including everything from skincare, hair care, nutrition and makeup – meaning that we have something for everyone to enjoy, male or female, young or old.

Why Arbonne?  Now that Im finished uni – I’m a 2:2 graduate now ladies and gents – I’ve been thinking about what it is that I want to do forever.  Blogging is my passion, however I know that it won’t pay any bills right now, if ever.  It’s proving difficult to even be considered for a job interview at the moment, never mind making a career.  And honestly, I wanted to do something that I could have fun with, I like makeup, I love skincare and I enjoy nutrition – so really Arbonne was ticking all the boxes!  They’re also a completely vegan company too – so there is never any questions as to if a product is going to be suitable for me, it’s always okay. The best bit about this though?  It’s my time, my effort and my business – so I can work this thing when I want, where I want and for as long as I want.  It’s a completely effort based business, meaning that I have complete flexibly with how much work I put into it. There is no pressure, I can work at whatever pace suit me best, and as long as I’m putting in the effort, I’ll see the rewards of my business over time.  Arbonne have a very successful five year plan to see people through to the highest level of the company, meaning that if I work hard enough right now on the side, I can make it to the top – and that whilst working my current job too!

So what is it that I’m doing?  I’m sharing things I love with everyone – including you!  If I think you’ll benefit from this eye cream, I’ll let you know!  If I think our new lipstick colour will look amazing on you, I’ll shoot you a message!  If I think that out fizz sticks are gonna be the thing that you need to pull you through that afternoon slump, then I’ll hook you up!  From now on, all of my cosmetics and skin care purchases that I will be making will be done through my own online shop, (and I’ll make money on that too!) and so I’m excited to share my experiences with the products on the blog, so that others can see if the goods will be a good fit for them too!  I was never one that would spend quite so much on my skincare or makeup, but now that I’ve made the change and seen the difference that these products have made to my skin, there is no way that I’d ever back to goods I was using before.  Well sell top quality goods at high end prices.  Arbonne don’t advertise publicly, nor do they sell to high street stores.  This means that the money saved from advertising, distribution, retail space and shipping fees is all used to put back into products, making them better than ever.

I’ve loads of information to share and lots of information to give about this whole experience, and over time I will get the chance to share it all with you!  However if you can’t wait for it all to hit the blog, then please give me a shout so that I can help you understand!  Whether it be to try out a product, make a purchase, host a party or learn more about the business opportunity, I’d love to help you out.

You can visit my own online store here: http://LaurenMcghee.arbonne.com/

Until the next one,

Taking Time Out

You’ll have noticed that I’ve been very much absent online as of late, which was very much a result of a build-up of stress. Alongside my dissertation, I also has 2 pieces of coursework to prepare before the end of the month, and a 20 minute presentation to put together.  Although I was making good time and progress on them all, I felt an overwhelming sense of guilty and uneasiness every time I wasn’t doing coursework.  I was beyond excited that this meant that I didn’t have any exams to worry about after my dissertation, as you can imagine a further 5000 words due the week after the big hand in, and a presentation that made me feel physically ill every time I thought about it was a lot on my little plate all at one time.

As a result, I had to take a break from the blog, which although I really didn’t want to do, it did in the end help me in the sense that there wasn’t another thing on my plate that I had to be maintaining.  All of my coursework is done now, and I’m pleased to say that I’m officially done with uni, forever!  I’ve a few months to wait until I get my final grade, but seeing as I’m not overly fussed about the whole graduation ceremony itself, I’ve not decided it I’m going to bother going.  I didn’t really enjoy university as much as I had hoped I would, and so I’m not convinced that I want to spend all that money celebrating a time that I didn’t enjoy.  We will see though, I may change my mind!

For now I’m taking a little time out to relax, hang out and binge watch all of the programmes that I resisted whilst in the midst of all that coursework.  I’ve a bunch of different post ideas that I can’t wait to write up, and I’m looking forward to playing around with my pictures and seeing if I can up my game a bit! 

So that’s it, I just wanted to let you know that I’m not done with blogging, I just needed a little break whilst I finished up a very exhausting semester at uni! 

Good luck to those of you with exams this month!

Until the next one,

Skincare Favourites

This month I’ve been trying really hard to sort out my crazy bad skin.  Two trips to the doctors meant that I was hooked up with some eczema cream that I am hoping are going to kick in properly this week and make a difference.  However this will only really benefit my body, and these last couple of months I’ve noticed that my face has been breaking out and as a result my skin has been pretty awful.  Superdrug and Lush have been my go to places for my skincare as of late, and here is what I’ve been loving recently.

 B. Hyaluronic Acid Facial Spritz 

Ever since I finished my last facial mists a couple of months ago, for some reason I just never got round to picking up another one.  I had been using the Superdrug Vitamin E Micellar Water day and night for cleansing and to give my skin a little bit more hydration.  When I finished up that, I was on a mission to find something that would be suitable to use throughout the day, and this has been the perfect find for applying before my moisturising, before my makeup powder, for setting my makeup, for refreshing my skin throughout the day and for applying late at night for a little extra hydration.  I’m totally obsessed!  I picked this up when it was on offer for £3.95, and I can honestly say that I think it is the best purchase I’ve made all month!  I’ve already picked up my second bottle as I’m very nearly finished this one – which proves just how much I love it!

Let The Good Times Roll

This has been my go to facial scrub for months now, it’s bitty but not harsh, thick but not sticky and really exfoliating without being brutal.  Packed with cinnamon and popcorn, this face and body cleanser gives my skin the exfoliation it needs daily, but also leaves my skin feeling moisturised after.  I’d say that my skin is rather sensitive and really dehydrated, so this has been a life saver since I decided to give it a go last year!  Thank you Lush!

Naturally Radiant Skin Balm

After using up the last of my day and night creams from Superdrug, I wanted to try something that would be super moisturising on the first application.  I really liked the other two, however on days when I feel super tight on my face I would have to apply a layer, wait for it to absorb and then apply another for the hydration I required.  This balm has worked wonders for my skin day and night, it’s super thick and balmy but sinks into the skin beautifully and doesn’t take long to absorb.  It doesn’t leave a sticky or greasy residue, just moisture with a dreamy scent!  I’ve stocked up on this one already, and I’ve also picked up the facial oil and serum from the range to try out too – stay peeled for an update on those!

Have  you tried out any  of the above?  What's  your skincare routine looking like right now?

Until the next one,

Ways That I Save Money, Part 4

It must be something about the New Year that gets me acting crazy, but throughout the whole month of February, and most of March, I’ve been acting like one of those possessed people of extreme couponing.  I’m obsessed!  I’m signed up to websites, I get daily emails and I’ve even got apps on my phone now to help me keep up to date with offers.  I’m addicted, but hey, there’s worse things in life ain't there? 

Printable Coupons

I’ve been checking out Hollys Extreme Couponing site throughout the last couple of months to get the best coupons online, and in doing so I’ve managed to grab several freebies.  Between the fam, so far we have managed to pick up: 3 cartons of soup, 2 bottles of lemonade, 3 four packs of Yazoo, a carton of Optiwell yoghurt drink and 3 bottles of Upbeat protein shakes.  Some of the vouchers stated one free item, others had a specific money value – all of which worked out perfectly for some super freebies when items were on offer.  Sad I know, but I get such a thrill out of picking up bits that I know the family will use for free.  I’d definitely recommend checking out Holly’s site for some fab freebies!

Shopmium

My absolute obsession right now is getting cash back on the items that I pick up in the supermarket, especially as these apps tend to have offers on the items to make them completely free.  The two I use at the moment are Shopmium and Checkout Smart, which between the two of them the apps have given me pretty decent savings over the last two months.  Shopmium is great for offering free items throughout the month – so far I’ve picked up: a loaf of bread, 3 multipacks of Go Ahead breakfast bars, a bottle of Volvic water and a bar of Graham and Brown chocolate, all completely free!  They also offer savings on other great items too, such as 50% off, try for £1 deals and multi savings when you buy two or three of the same item.  Since mid-January I’ve had £15.73 paid back into my account, which is really good considering the majority of my claims have been on completely free items.   You can use my friend code AEYYCHMF to get involved in all of the money saving madness.  You’ll even get a free bar of Lindt chocolate as a welcome gift!

Checkout Smart

This app has brought me the most joy throughout the month, because they always update it with fab offers, on products that I either normally buy, or will buy it for the kids because I know they will like it!  Using this app I’ve picked up free bread, yoghurts, beverages and fruit and nut mixes.  Not only that, but I also got really good cash back deals on other items too: 6 1l bottle of Mountain Dew for £1.50, 5 500ml bottles of Vitamin Water for £1, and other drinks for just 25p!  It’s by far my favourite app right now, and I’ve not long cashed out on my rewards – a total of £27.50 at the end of last month, and I’ve already got another £9 pending as we speak, it’s so easy!  The deals change every other day, and there is always something to take advantage of.  Take a look and see if there is anything on there that you fancy, deals are often tailored to what you but after a couple of uses – making it personal to you and helps you save the most money!

What are your favourite tips for saving some cash when you’re shopping?

Until the next one,

February Favourites

Another month, another favourites post!  Now I don't know about you, but I'm still not sure how I'm feeling about 2017, and I can safely say that this is the first ever year where I've felt like this!  February was busy, but not the kind of busy where I got things done.  I've high hopes for March though, I want to power through my dissertation and I've got a few little projects that I'm keen to get stuck into!  Without further ado, here are the things that got me through February.

Botanics Skincare 

I've been in dire need of changing up my skin care for a while now, which I started to do in January when I swapped about moisturisers. This month I swapped out my cleansers, and also treated myself to an eye cream and cleansing toner from the Boots Botanics range.  The bags under my eyes are real, and for weeks I felts as though my eyes were getting puffier and the day went on!  The All Bright Eye Roll On feels so nice around the eye, it gives a really nice cooling effect and I think it reduces the redness on my eye lids too.  Whilst it's still pretty early days for me to say that it's made a dramatic difference to my bags, I will say that I've seen some what of an improvement, which I am pleased about!  The All Bright Cleansing Toner has in fact changed my skin dramatically though, I'm really obsessed with the stuff!  I'd seen a few reviews where people had said it was a great dupe for the Pixie Glow Tonic, but seeing as I've never used that before I wasn't really sure what to expect, other than it was to match a high end product.  I've been using this at night after removing all my makeup, and it really has just made such a great difference to my skins complexion!  Bizarrely it gives a really good exfoliating sensation, removes any dry flaky skin from the surface and just leaves my skin feeling smooth to the touch and most importantly, clean!  Both products are half price in boots right now, meaning that each item is less than £2!  If you're on the hunt for a new skin care routine, I'd highly recommend giving Botanics a look in.

Collection Concealer 

Back into the subject of my eye bags, I just can't comprehend how I managed to go so long without buying myself a good concealer.  I imagine I've had dark circles for a while now, but this month they just became so noticeable to me that I decided I had to hide them to the best of my abilities!  I've seen everyone raving about this stuff, and so I don't think I need to go into too much detail here.  It works, its cruelty free and best of all it's really reasonably priced at under £5!  I'll be needed to stock up on some more this month as I have been going to town on mine,  but if you're the kinda gal who only needs a few dabs here and there to cover imperfections, I imagine that this will Last you a very long time!

Kings of Leon

For mums Christmas I bought her KOL tickets and with the help of my dad, treated her to a trip away to Glasgow for the event!  This was the second time I'd seen them, both times having gone with mum, and so it was pretty special as they're mums all-time favourite band!  We were so close to the stage, and they put on such a good show that it made waiting the 4 months to see them all the more special.  When we were away we also got to try out some tasty vegan sandwiches and the lovely vegan pizzas at Zizzi, because what is a trip away without some food indulgences?!  Kings of Leo definitely brightened up the rather gloomy February that I had for sure!

There we have it, these are the goodies that have seen me through another month. What have been your go to favourites as of late? 

Until the next one,

Feel Good Brews

Over Christmas I received a lot of different varieties of teas that I’ve really been enjoying trying out.  I’m still a massive coffee gal at heart, but there really isn’t anything better than jumping into bed with a nice cuppa tea at night!

Tea Pigs

Like I said in my January Favourites post, I’ve been adoring the Tea Pigs Spiced Winter Red Tea that I purchased after trying out a sample in my pix’n’mix box.  It’s the perfect tea for when you’ve got a bit of a sweet tooth, but you’re not too sure what for.

PG Tips

Now I’m that person who tries and tries again to enjoy a cup of green tea, and every single time I’m left even more disappointed than the last by the bitter taste and odd flavour.  I want to like it, I know it’s good for me, I just can’t bring myself to do it.  However, PG Tips have made this problem disappear for me, as they’ve upped the green tea game with their new strawberry cupcake flavour!  Although the green tea flavour is still very much present, it really does taste like a sweet cupcake, especially with a trusty splash of agave nectar in there too.  I picked these up from Morrisons for £1 a couple of weeks back, but I’ve since seen them in Home Bargains too for just 89p!

Clippers

I won’t go into too much detail here because I did already speak about this lovely brew in my routine for good sleeppost, however what I will say is that if you’re a fan of cinnamon and enjoy a night time tea anyway – this very well might be the brew for you!

Daily Cultures

I’ve been a fan of these guys for a little over a year now, but over Christmas time I was lucky enough to win one of their Instagram competitions – which resulted in them sending me over a whole month’s supply of their yummy peppermint tea.  Each brew is loaded with probiotics to help heal your gut naturally, and so seeing as peppermint tea is great for soothing stomach pains anyway, this has gone down a right treat over the last few months with my boyfriend and myself.  I like to reach for this on days when I’m feeling poorly or even if I’m just feeling a little bloated, it always makes me feel better within a couple of hours of drinking, and it’s one that I like to keep in my handbag too… just cause you never know when you might need it!

Cuppanut

I treated myself to the coconut and turmeric flavour back in November when I had a 1/3 off voucher to use in Holland and Barrett.  Unsure how I was going to feel about the stuff at the time – I had actually picked it up as mum had told me she liked the look of it  - I was actually pleasantly surprised by Mr Gareth Gates tasty creation!  It’s a really nice sweet and coconutty taste with a lovely almost creamy sensation to it too.  The turmeric isn’t at all noticeable other than in the colour, which I guess isn’t a bad thing as I’m not sure how I was going to feel about it.  I’m looking forward to trying out the other Cuppanut brews that Holland and Barret have to offer too!

What's your favourite brew at the moment?

Until the next one,

January Favourites

That’s it, we are a whole month and a bit into 2017 already, and if I’m being completely honest, I’m not feeling it so far.  It’s been a pretty crappy start to the year, but here are my January favourites that have seen me through the month!

Tea Pigs Spiced Winter Red Tea

This has been my all time favourite brew this chilly January, it’s basically a cinnamon tea – but it’s mixed with loads of Christmassy spices that creates a delicious blend for a tasty brew.  It’s been my go to tea on a few evenings now, ever since I got one of these in my Pick ‘n’ Mix box at Christmas time.  So far, it’s been the only one that I’ve felt the need to go out and repurchase since then, so I think that is saying a lot!

The Body Shop Lip Balm

Another item that I received at Christmas was the Body Shop Christmas scented lip balms, in both Vanilla Chai and Frosted Berries.  Now had I been in store myself and seen these, I know I wouldn’t have picked it up as I prefer a lip balm stick opposed to the ones where you need to use your fingers to apply.  That being said, I’m so pleased that I was gifted these because they’ve honestly been amazing for my lips, I really love them!  They last for hours on end, they keep my lips hydrated and pretty without being sticky, and best of all, they taste pretty good too!

Superdrug Vitamin E Range

I’ve been super impressed with the quality of the Superdrug Vitamin E range this last month, although I have been a fan of their products ever since I went cruelty free in the summer, and I’ve loved their day and night cream for years now.   These creams work really well at giving my thirsty skin a little extra moisture both morning and night, and they never feel sticky or heavy on applications either.  This last month and a bit I’ve really fallen for their body butter, it’s super gentle on my sensitive skin and just works wonders at tackling the dry patches when my eczema breaks out.  It’s a super quality body butter, and I’m talking The Body Shop quality, at just £2.99 a tub!  Another products from the range that I’m really liking is the micellar water which I’ve been using both day and night to remove any leftover make up from my face and to just give my skin a little bit of an extra cleanse before applying my moisturisers.   What I’ve been loving the most about this is that surprisingly it’s actually feels really hydrating on my face, it doesn’t leave my skin feeling dry or tight after I’ve used it – which is a problem I tend to have with a lot of micellar waters that I’ve used in the past.  All in all, I’m so impressed with the whole range and would absolutely recommend that you give it a try yourself!

So although pretty late compared to everyone else’s January Favourites, these are the goodies that have seen me through the month and have gave me a little bit of joy too!

Have you tried out any of the above?

Until the next one,