My To Do: May

 

1. Buy holiday bits

2. Control portion sizes 

3. Tone up a small bit 

4. Get phone fixed

5. Finish reading Don't Sweat The Small Stuff

XO

Ways to keep the gym entertaining and pass the time a little bit quicker

1. Switch up cardio methods

When you find a cardio method that you really like it's easy to get stuck in that routine and stay doing just that method, but in order to keep things exciting you should switch things up, not to mention it helps weight loss to change things around instead of your body getting used to one thing. Even if its just ten minutes out of your routine to do something different or something like a 5 minute warm up on the treadmill, a workout on the elliptical and then 10 minutes on the bike it can keep things interesting!

2. Time calories with your minutes

This sounds a bit strange but recently I've found this method the most effective lately to pass time in the gym. I keep my calories tied in with my time, so when I have 5 minutes on the elliptical I like to aim to have 50 calories burned. This gets a lot harder once it gets to the 170 calorie mark and you tend to need to work a bit harder to keep it even.

3. Interval training

Interval training is basically low to high intensity workouts dispersed with some resting moments. I find this entertaining and a way to speed through the gym because I'm paying attention to the time and getting to the next minute. I'm usually so focused on "okay it's time to go harder now" that before I know it I'm 20 minutes into my workout!

4. New music and working with it

I love updating  my iPod with new, high intensity songs that I find during the week It gives me the same motivation as new workout clothes give to some others. When I get a few new songs I'm dying to go to the gym! I like to workout to the beat of the song too if I'm not doing an interval workout, it's a lot of fun to workout faster and slow down to the rythm of a good song, you don't even see where the time goes.

I hope these tips help you fly through your routine and keep things exciting!

XO

Rimmel Match Perfection: Review

 I have been on a hunt since I started wearing make up to find an actual shade that matched my skin tone without being too pale or too dark, and it hasn't been until the last few months that I can say, after six or so years, I might actually have it! I'm a very pale person (even when I wear fake tan sometimes it looks like I have a natural skin tone) and I feel like nothing is ever light enough!

I recently picked up Rimmels Match Perfection foundation in the shade 100 Ivory and to my absolute pleasure it matched my skin more amazingly than any other foundation I've tried. This foundation really seems to last pretty well throughout the day without flaking off or rubbing off in certain places and doesn't wear off around my mouth when I eat which is a problem I've had with a lot of foundations recently.

One big plus for this foundation is also the fact that it's only €9.99 in most stores (It's €6.99 in Penneys/Primark if you're lucky enough to have one that stocks it) and it has an SPF of 18 which is lovely (I don't find any flashback with this foundation either! Thumbs up!). It comes in eleven different shades which I think is a pretty decent amount to please a majority of the public. I'm surprised I haven't heard more people raving about this!

Match Perfection look so beautiful on the skin with or without a powder because its a "light perfecting radiance foundation" and it's build-able too. I can get a really nice natural looking coverage with a small amount of product which is why I love it for my "no make up make up" days, build it up to a more medium coverage for day to day or I can make it full coverage for a night out. I also love the versatility of this when it comes to colour matching when I use fake tan, I find that even when I'm between tanning and it's a few days after application Ivory seems to match well with both my semi-tanned skin and my natural pale self and that saves both money and effort! (Even though I have this foundation in three different shades) 

Edit: More on the longevity of this product, today I was running some errands in town so I had applied a sheer to medium coverage base with concealer and a powder over the top, I then went to the gym and didn't get to take off any of my foundation because I had forgotten any wipes or cleansing waters (oops!) and worked up a real sweat with 40 minutes of cardio, I topped up any redness with some concealer on my cheeks but left it at that, I then came home and did some Insanity abs and then got a shower (don't judge me) after all that sweat and wear throughout the day I can safely say that it's lasted super well. The only problem I see is some creasing under the eyes which I'm not entirely sure is down to the foundation or the concealer I'm using! 

XO

Monthly Goals April: In Review

Start doing arm weights and ab exercises

I'm quite proud of myself, I've incorporated a good amount of at home and gym arm workouts, abs are a bit hit and miss but I've also found some at home inner thigh workouts that I've been getting into too.

Save, save, save!!

I'm on my way for my savings for Portugal, I have some money saved for my phone and bill, I saved a good bit for a new laptop and also for my upcoming renewal of my gym membership! So far so good I say.


Get my phone fixed

Unforuntaley I could probably have gotten my phone fixed this week if it wasn't for some unexpected phone bills that reared their ugly heads and demanded I use my savings to fix my phone to fix my bill. Maybe next time!

Take more photos of Kea and I

There's been some, not many though which is disappointing, I just seem to forget it all the time! It's hard to do without a phone though!


XO

Mental Health Mondays: The Benefit of Making Lists

To do lists, bucket lists, wish lists. List making for me is a form of therapy. I write lists about absolutely everything. Do I need something in town? List. Make-up I want to buy eventually? List. Packing for a festival? List. Things to do today? List. Getting ready for a night out regardless of how many times I go through the exact same process? List. 

Lists help my head become clear and organised because when I'm thinking of a million things at once, it becomes exactly how it sounds, my brain gets so over crowded and smothered by all these thoughts flooding my brain, so it's so much easier to write it all out and see it in front of me and that way I can go over it and revise it, make sure I'm not forgetting anything, and add to the list when I need it. I can't describe the stupidly good feeling when I finish writing a list and I'm able to kick it out of my head and stop worrying about it because, hey, it's right in front of me now!

Personally I prefer to write out my lists in physical form rather than making ones online or on my phone. That's not to say I don't make them on my phone because more times than not I have it written on my phone and then also written down on paper too!

If I use an online form of list making I usually use Todoist which comes in app form and they also have a website where you can sync your lists from your app to the site. Another amazing website I love to use is Listography, I love the layout of this website because you can add friends and see their lists and get ideas for your own and you can sort your lists into individual little sections that are fully customizable so you can have colour co-ordinated sections based one what kind of lists you have or you can just change the colours to make it fit with you overall theme.

Listography also have some amazing books! They have just about everything to fulfill your list making wants and needs. They have books such as My Life in Lists, My Future Listography, as well as parenting, music, film, love and travel listography books (and more!). When I say they have a list book for everything I mean everything.

List making is also known to be very beneficial for your health, it reduces stress and anxiety (like for me when I realise I have things organised), it improves your focus, helps to organise your thoughts and it can even help your self esteem. Think about it. If you write out a to do list, and write down even the little things (shower, make up, grocery shopping) and you can tick them off it feel like you've gotten things done, like you're accomplishing something!

XO

Dear Me:

Dear Me:

First of all, younger me, I'd like to commend you on your frame of mind when it comes to your bullies. You have every right to feel that you're better than them because if I'm being honest, you are, and you still will be all these years later. It's incredible that you don't let them get to you even though you now have a small fingerprint of a scar on your hand (even though you can only see it when it's pointed out) and after all the atrocious things that we're said. You will be left with sometimes crippling anxiety because of it (and some other things) but don't worry, that will pass for the most part and you'll be able to live a relatively normal life. 

He's making a fool of you, and this is only the beginning. You deserve way better and there is going to be someone else who will love you. In a way what will happen will be the worst time of your entire life but your life will be shaped for the better because of it. You won't see how it can get any way better but oh my are you in for the surprise of your life. You will finally find who you are, you will still make mistakes though let me add, but it's all a process and you wont even believe how happy you can be! I can't even begin to explain it. The heaviness in your chest will leave, and come back again but don't get disheartened because you'll get a hold of it eventually. 

You will laugh more in the two years following your darkest time and you will meet so many new friends who are great people, and keep three of the current ones you have because they are the most amazing three girls ever (I mean realistically who keeps in touch with all of the "best friends" they had? Don't worry, it's for the best) and you will do more than you ever even imagined. Your life will finally be exactly what you always dreamed it would.

Stop thinking you're fat, you're not even close trust me on this one you're not. You're going to look back at those pictures of you when you were a little stick figure and wish you had just copped on and kept that figure. It's going to be quite a struggle from here on out so please learn your discipline now! 

Also stop just putting tan on your legs...honestly you look dumb. Thank God you don't go out often.

Get more photos with people, not those stupid posey duck face ones with your friends, get nice ones with them but get nice photos with your family too, stop trying to hide yourself it looks worse than you think you will if you just smile. You're really going to regret this one. And stop putting them all in black and white, I mean you can but save the originals too you'll want them later.

With love, 
Older You.




 XO

Time to Fly Away

In two months time I will be leaving for the beautiful beaches of the Algarve in Portugal. This was kind of a last minute buy, I mean we had been thinking of a going on a holiday just my boyfriend and I but we just didn't know where exactly. To cut a long story short we managed to book Portugal with a bunch of friends in a split decision over a night out and I can't seem to contain my excitement! I've already made lists on what needs to be packed, what I need to do coming up to June, budgets and what needs to be bought before holidays. I'm absolutely rearing to go and I'm just dieing to pack my suitcase haha. I've also been working hard in the gym and although I know I'm not going to be some beach goddess by the time June rolls around but I do plan on being a bit more toned and and a but slimmer for the beach. I don't want to be too caught up in my weight so that I don't enjoy my holiday so I'm trying to just keep positive and not have too high of an expectation.

There are some amazing sea caves around the Algarve area which we plan on seeing and exploring. They look so beautiful and just like something out of a dream. I think I could be in my element!

I'm also looking forward to some of the great restaurants around the area and most of all having fun with some good friends. 

XO

A Quick Note

I've been a bit slow with posting lately as my internet is beyond lagging and my laptop was broken to the point of frustration, I've been having a slightly elongated anxiety attack which has included an abnormal amount of tiredness, but I'm pleased to announce that I have a brand new, shiny laptop and regular posting will resume shortly! Just give me a day or two to get back into the swing of things :)

XO

A few of my recently empty products!

Herbal Essence Ultimate Blends Shampoo & Conditioner

This shampoo and conditioner is in the "marvelous transformer" version and it left my hair feeling so soft and so shiny after the first use because of the argan oil that they have in it, which paired with the camillia oils smells just divine! These bad boys can be found in Penneys/Primark for under €4 each which is such a bargain for a great hair care duo. I'd easily purchase these again.

Wella Shockwaves Ultra Strong Hairspray

I quite liked this hairspray for its hold, it held up really nice and smelt pretty good too. My only disappointment was that it made my hair kind of hard (which I didn't mind so much) but that meant when I brushed it out afterwards it would leave a kind of white, glue like, substance behind which was hard to get out of my hair. I
don't think I'd purchase this again.

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

I already have another bottle of this well lined up because I really do love this product so much! If you'd like to read more about it I put it in my February favourites which I'll leave here. I would most definitely purchase this again.

Nyx Matte Finish Setting Spray

I like to apply this on my face before I apply any primers or foundations and also after I finish applying any powder products (bronzer, highlighter, setting powder etc) and it does seem to really work. I don't have oily skin that needs mattifyng but it was the only one available when I purchased it and I'm quite happy with it as a cheap everyday setting spray while I keep my M.A.C for more special nights. I've already purchased this again.

Catrice Camouflage Cream in 010 Ivory

Catrice are one of those brands that I think are so under-rated, they do so many nice products for a cheap price! I'm thinking of doing a Catrice post soon! I love these concealers, they are creamy and pretty heavy duty, the only downsides are that they can crease in your undereye and they really don't have many shades at all! If you manage to luck out and find a shade that suits you then this is a really amazing product to own. I've already purchased this again.

XO

March Monthly Goals: In Review

1. Book holidays!

As of last week, we are going on holiday to the beautiful Algarve in Portugal! We're going with a group of friends who had theirs booked for about two months now but at the time we didn't have the money, but magically we managed to get the same flight and dates (but sadly a different apartment building) as the original group. Bring on June!

2. Buy Paolo Nutini tickets/book hotel.

The tickets are bought and in a very safe spot but the hotel hasn't been booked yet but realistically that can be done closer to the day in July.

3. Start running/jogging in the gym

Yes!! This is such a big accomplishment for me! I haven't however run since that, and maybe I only ran for 4 minutes tops, but I ran and that's the point haha!

4. Finish anniversary present shopping/making for Kealan

Yep! All done and dusted thankfully! Although I am still waiting on one from Etsy....grrrrrr. I'm giving it two more days! 

XO

My To Do: April

1. Start doing arm weights and ab exercises

2. Save, save, save!!

3. Get my phone fixed

4. Take more photos of Kea and I