I Went Shopping - Whoops

Fire Waves iSound Bluetooth Speaker

This was actually a belated birthday present from my lovely boyfriend <3 it's a super cute, tiny speaker with big sound, and a rather pretty glowing middle. Review coming soon.

Whittard of Chelsea Instant Strawberry & Blueberry Flavoured Green Tea
I picked this up last weekend from their Nottingham shop. It's a tea that I used to drink years ago and I wanted to try it again. Unfortunately, i'm not allowed it at the moment because it has a couple of high fodmap ingredients (don't know what fodmaps are? click here), but i shall definitely be trying it within the next month or so, once i'm back to a normal-ish diet.

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

I have seen this on so many blogs recently! I love Real Techniques brushes, and being a steal compared to the Beauty Blender, i just had to grab it in Boots. Review coming soon.

Superdrug Deep Action Pore-Cleansing Nose Strips

I have some pretty persistent blackheads on my nose - hoping these will be able to rid me of them! I've heard good things about the Biore Pore Strips, but i refused to pay and extra £2 for essentially the same thing. We'll see how they go.

Maybelline Dream LUMI touch Concealer

Stocking up while it's still 'buy 1, get the 2nd half price' on all Maybelline products in Superdrug. (review here)

'Self-Saucing' Gluten & Lactose Free Chocolate Brownies (FODMAP-friendly)

My recipe for some super-simple, scrumptious and totally fodmap-friendly brownies...

Ingredients:

Makes approx. 12 medium-sized brownies in an 8" x 10" baking tray.

125g Gluten-Free Plain or Self-Raising Flour 

   > I used Dove's Farm Gluten & Wheat Free Self-Raising White Flour 

70g Golden Caster Sugar

25g Cocoa Powder 

Pinch of Salt

50g Butter (melted) plus a little extra for greasing.

   > (click here for more information about the lactose content of butter)

2 Medium Sized Eggs

75ml Lactose-Free or Rice/Nut Milk 

   > I used Lactofree Semi Skimmed Fresh Milk (not suitable for those allergic to cow's milk)

Dark Chocolate Chunks 

   > (check ingredients/allergy advice for lactose content) I used Lindt Excellence Orange Intense

For the sauce:

100g Light Muscovado Sugar
12.5g Cocoa Powder

Method:

1) Grease a shallow baking dish with butter, pre heat to oven to 180C/160C fan/Gas Mark 4 and put the kettle on.
2) Put the flour, caster sugar, cocoa powder and a pinch of salt into a bowl, and stir until combined.
3) Whisk together the melted butter, milk and eggs until smooth. Add this to the dry ingredients and mix together until smooth.
4) Stir in the chocolate chunks and pour into your baking dish.
5) For the sauce, mix 150ml of boiling water with the muscovado sugar and cocoa powder, then pour this into the baking dish, on top of the brownie mixture. It will look very strange at this point! Don't worry though, just pop it straight into the oven and bake for 30 mins until the surface looks firm, risen and crisp.

As you scope out your brownies, you should find a glossy, rich chocolate sauce underneath - yum!
Eat immediately while they're warm and gooey or save for later - just make sure to pop them in the microwave for about 15 secs to heat them back up!

Good luck :)

xo

Missguided Wishlist

Maxi Dress // Belt // Tie Dye Kimono // Paisley Kimono // Gorgeous Wedges // Lace Slip Dress

IBS & FODMAPs

IBS

At the beginning of June last year (2013), I began to notice strange pains in my lower tummy, back and sometimes my sides too. I have been through many many tests and antibiotics none of which seem to have done the trick and most recently (end of October 2013) I was referred to a gynecologist with possible endometriosis. He told me that it could be endometriosis or possibly IBS. He asked me to keep a 'pain diary' in order to try and work out whether my pain was related to my cycle (most likely endo.) or my eating (more likely IBS).

Within the last month or two I have noticed that my pain is often associated with my eating habits, more so than my cycle, and I have pretty much diagnosed myself with IBS - i will be going back to see my doctor within the next month for a professional diagnosis, and will update you all on how that goes.

For more information on IBS click here.

FODMAPs

While researching into the causes, symptoms and treatments of IBS, i came across the term 'trigger foods' and the idea that IBS can be controlled through diet. Most notably i came across something called the FODMAPs elimination diet. Developed by a research team at Monash University, the diet aims to control the symptoms associated with IBS, by focussing on a group of carbohydrates they've called FODMAPs.
Click here for more information.
The idea of the diet is to cut out foods high in these carbohydrates and focus on a diet of low-FODMAP foods instead. Below is a simple table that illustrates the basics of what foods are high and low in FODMAPs.

I have begun following a low-FODMAP diet to try and see if i can get rid of my pains for a while. After a couple of weeks I aim to begin reintroducing certain food groups to see if they 'trigger' anything.
In the meantime I will be posting some of my FODMAP-friendly meal ideas and recipes. First in line is a recipe for 'Chocolate Self-Saucing Gluten & Lactose Free Brownies', sound good?

Some of my favourites for more information and recipes:

Hungry Hungry Hippie

Kate Scarlata

The Healthy Apple

Pinterest

xo

*DISCLAIMER*

This post is completely my own opinions and choices. Please do not begin any sort of diet without consulting your GP first.

Rimmel Apocolips Review | 402 Across the Universe

Size: 5.5 ml

Stockists: Superdrug, Boots & Larger Supermarkets

Price: £6.49

Colour: A burgundy/raspberry/mulberry colour. Warm and wintery, it reminds me of the colour of red wine. It's a very opaque colour, and definitely doesn't need a lipstick under it, but i like wearing a thin coat over Topshop's Beguiled.

Formula & Application: It's a pretty thick formula and goes on very opaque. It can be a little 'gloopy' and it's pretty sticky too. Definitely had a lot of "Ahh, my hair's caught in my lipgloss!" moments with this. It's got a doe foot/sponge applicator which is alright but, for such a heavily pigmented lipgloss, it picks up way too much product and i found it extremely hard to get a neat/clean lip line so ended up using it with a lip brush instead.

Smell: What I can only describe as a 'warm berry crumble' smell. It's probably nothing like that at all aha but that's what it reminds me of! It's nice.

Staying Power: It's not bad. It stays for quite a while but it does that thing where it fades from the inside out, which means you end up with the inside of your lips looking a dull stained red and a thin bright red line on the outside - not great. So definitely a product that needs regular checks and reapplications.

Final Verdict: I like it for special occasions or when i'm going for a really statement lip, but otherwise i'm just too lazy for the constant check ups that this needs. Also, i hate having sticky lips!

Have any of you guys tried this? What do you think?

xo

Saving Money

from Tumblr

So one of my big aims for this year is to save save save! I tend to get to the end of every month and wonder where on earth my money's gone. So i've decided i'm going to try to limit my spending to £30 a week, which sounded like plenty at first, but i spent £40 last week :/

I have a little diary, which I write down my spending in for each day. I add it up as I go, so if i reach £30 i know that i'm not allowed to spend anything else for that week. If i do go over (like last week) i deduct the amount i've gone over by from my £30 allowance for the following week. E.g. I spent £10 more than i should've last week, so this week I only have £20 to spend... which is going to be super tough since I'm going to Nottingham this weekend and the train's gonna cost me £15... 

...Hmmm starting to think maybe I should be allowing myself £40 instead. 

I'll see how it goes. I wanna give it a good go.

I'll try to update you each week to let you know how it's going, wish me luck! :)

xo

Do I, don't I? Champneys Facial Cleansing System

I've just seen this at boots...

.... so tempting!!

I was seriously considering buying a clarisonic last year but could never find a way to justify spending £120 on what is essentially a glorified electric toothbrush for your face. However, £20 is a whole new story! I'm supposed to be saving money, and i'm fully aware it's not something i need, but i really want to try it out. I just know it's in danger of being a fun new gadget for the first two weeks but then quickly becoming something that's too big to travel with and too long-winded to use, ultimately ending up spending the rest of its life living in a bathroom drawer being neglected. 

...still kinda want it though. And for £20....

Ahhh, it's gonna have to be a 'sleep on it' decision i think. 

xo

Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer

Size: Approx. 15 ml

Stockists: Superdrug, Boots, Larger Supermarkets.

Price: £6.99

I bought this concealer the other day and oh my gosh i'm quite in love! I usually buy higher end concealers because i have some pretty serious dark circles. I used to use Benefit's erase paste, and had recently run out of Sheer Cover's mineral cream concealer when I suddenly found myself concealer-less. I wanted to go back to Benefit's erase paste, but didn't have the money at the time. So I popped to town thinking "i'll just pick up a cheap alternative, which'll be rubbish, but better than nothing for the time being."

My goodness, how wrong I was! Who needs to spend ridiculous amounts on high-end concealers when we have this little beauty on the high street? 

It's a double ended tube, with a twister at one end and a synthetic brush at the other, into which the product is dispensed. I use the brush to apply it to my skin and then blend it out with my fingers. I do like this application method and the twister makes it fairly easy to control how much product comes out.

The formula is pretty thick and probably wouldn't be great for very dry skin, however it works nicely on my combination/oily skin. The coverage is brilliant and not cakey at all. As for the 'highlighting' qualities, i'm not so sure. It highlights for me since it's slightly too light for my skin tone (i always buy concealers a couple of shades too light because i think they work better that way). But i wouldn't say the formula is particularly 'luminous' and it's definitely not glittery or shimmery for those who might be worried.

Anyway, regardless of highlighting, for me it's like baby bear's porridge - just right.
I want a concealer to cover my dark circles and stay put all day and this does this both of those things. And at £6.99, it's perfect!
I am actually tempted to go back to Superdrug and stock up on them since they have a 'buy 1 get the 2nd half price' offer on at the moment.

Have any of you guys tried this? I'd love to hear your thoughts :) if not, what's your holy grail concealer?

xo

"Real Women DON'T Have Curves" by Arkansassy

I have just been introduced to Tyler Lucille's blog: Arkansassy, and one of her posts in particular caught my eye - Real Women DON'T Have Curves (link).

The issue she discusses is something i've always felt strongly about. It was so well written that it inspired me to write this, not only to share her post with you (as i think it's something everyone needs to read) but also to address it from my point of view.

I'm personally thankful for what she's written because I know exactly what she means about shaming thin women by saying "Real women have curves". Is that to say that a woman who doesn't have curves isn't as "real"?

Since about that age of 11 or 12 numerous people have asked me why i'm so thin, told me that i need to eat more and i've even been called anorexic.

But it's not about food. It's about genes too.

I have a very fast metabolism, it's part of my genetics. No matter how much i eat, it's extremely hard for me to gain weight. Some people might say that's lucky but to be honest i've always been extremely body conscious and have wanted to gain weight since i stopped growing at the age of 14. Like everyone else, i have my own issues with my body - i think being slim makes me look lanky and the fact that i'm rather 'straight up and down' makes me feel a bit boyish. I would much rather have kim kardashian-esque curves but, thanks to my genentics, that's never going to happen. Having people saying that i need to eat more or calling celebrities of my size 'disgusting' really doesn't do much for my self esteem or for any other slim girls' self esteem for that matter.

I've never understood why fat-shaming is so frowned upon, but thin-shaming is so accepted. 

You would never tell a big girl "eat less!" Or call them 'disgusting', or ask them why they're big. But that's exactly the same as telling a slim girl to "eat more!" Or calling them 'disgusting' or asking them why they're so thin.

People need to think more about what they're saying before they say it, because shaming is extremely hurtful no matter what size you are.

Real women are all shapes and sizes.

As Tyler put it: "If anyone is really worried about the self-esteem of tomorrow's youth, perhaps we should be teaching them instead that compassion is the thief of joy. Maybe we should tell them that whether they're built to look like Miranda Kerr or Adele, that they are beautiful and have value as a woman."

I'd love to hear your guys' opinions on this subject. Do you think size-shaming is a problem? Do you agree with what Tyler says? Let me know.

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser Review

Size: 100ml (Pump Starter Kit)

Stockists: Larger Boots Stores & John Lewis online and in store.

Price: £14.75

What It Says On The Tin: "Naturally Active Ingredients. Rosmary, Chamomile, Cocoa Butter & Eucalyptus Essential Oil. Cleanses and gently exfoliates for smoother, clearer skin."

The starter kit came in a small turquoise zip-up pouch with two (huge) muslin cloths and directions.


Consistency & Smell
I initially found the consistency a little off-putting - it's basically a very thick white cream. This coupled with the fact that it is applied to dry skin reminded me of a moisturizer which i found strange. I'm a little more used to it now that i've been using it for a week,  however it is definitely completely different to any cleanser i'm used before.
The smell is strong, so not great for anyone who's easily put off by fragrance. I wouldn't describe it as unpleasant but then i wouldn't say it's lovely either, i couldn't even tell you what it smells like - pretty useless here aren't i, sorry!

Does it work?

My cat insisted on getting in on my photoshoot aha

Simply, yes! I love it, it leaves my skin feeling super clean and fresh and very soft too. It seems to have no problem removing my layers of foundation, concealer, powder, bronzer & blusher. It does remove eye make-up too, however, if i'm wearing more than just mascara, I personally prefer to remove the majority of it first using an eye make-up remover.

Have any of you guys used this? If so, what do you think of it? I'd love to hear your thoughts :)

xo