Boots/The Body Shop Travel Beauty Haul

Boots:

Boots City Lights Cosmetics Purse (£5) - small but fits in much more than you might think

Boots 200 Cotton Buds (£1.05) - 1000 uses!

Colgate Advanced White Toothpaste 50ml (£1.85) - small travel size

Neutrogena Deep Clean Invigorating Daily Scrub (£3.99) - value for money

The Body Shop: 

The Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Lotion SPF 15 50ml (£10) - expensive for the size of the tube but great for moisturizing dry/sensitive skin

The Body Shop Chocomania Body Butter 50ml (£5) - smells so amazing you could eat it - DON'T!

The Body Shop Pink Grapefruit Shower Gel 60ml (£2) - really fruity, perfect travel size for a week

Carpe diem xx

No-Sugar No-Cook Quick "Cheesecake" Dessert

Source: http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/quick_cheesecake.html

(For 1 serving, 1 person):

2 wholewheat crackers (Fox's Wholemeal Crackers)

2 tablespoons ricotta cheese

4 teaspoons jam (St Dalfour and Clearspring are only sweetened with fruit concentrate)

Carpe diem xx

Honey and Tooth Decay: The Hidden Perils of a Model Diet

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/claremcm/5309737690/in/set-72157625588177289

'Healthy' diets can actually be more harmful to your teeth than you may realises. Here are some of the sweet or acidic 'healthy' alternatives in your diet that may be forming cavities in your teeth:

1) Fruit juice - most fruit juices are very acidic and damaging to tooth enamel. Consider cutting down on it or diluting with water.

2) Citrus fruits - many citrus fruits can be acidic and therefore wear down your teeth. Many fruits - apart  from berries - are also usually high in natural sugars, also bad for teeth.

3) Honey - I thought I had a pretty healthy diet and substituted honey for sugar on my cereal. When I last went to the dentist I was shocked to discover that I needed my first filling. My dentist then explained that it may have been caused by the honey and that many models have the same problem! Natural sweeteners or alternatives to sugar often have the same harmful effect on teeth.

Carpe diem xx

How To Get A Job In A Recession

So I've just finished my second year at university and like thousands of others, as well as school leavers, I'm suddenly faced with the prospect that after next July I have nothing planned. No more years in education to finish, no training or apprenticeship organised. I suddenly realise....I have to get a job. Not only that, but I have to get a job in a global recession where thousands of people are being made redundant. But never fear, there are thousands of people in the same position as you, no more clued up, qualified, experienced or ready for work than you feel. Here are some top tips that can help the transition into the workplace....

1) Make use of social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook to up your internet profile, learn about new job or work experience opportunities, and communicate with future employers

2) Volunteer in your local area

3) Try to build up as much relevant work experience in the sector that you're interested in working in

4) Build up your knowledge and skills through training qualifications that will help you in the work that  you'd like to do

5) Learn from the experience of others who are or have been in your position

6) Read literature such as Denise Taylor's 'How To Get A Job In A Recession'

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0956175511/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d1_i1?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0WKATH0YJWQSDPP3BCRF&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=467128533&pf_rd_i=468294

Carpe diem xx

OOTD: Asymmetrical 'Mullet Hem' Shirt

Asymmetrical 'mullet hem' white shirt - Miss Selfridge

Grey treggings - Marks and Spencer

Waist belt - Whistles

Carpe diem xx

Current Haircare Saviours/Favourites

 

 

 

My current favourite haircare favourites:

Black and gold Tangle Teezer - I have never gone back since finding this perfect compact brush for tangled hair!

Aussie Take the Heat Leave-in Spray - gives a great smooth shine and protects from any heat

Remington hairdryer - great for fine hair

KMS California Add Volume volumizing spray - a salon finish when brush through roots

Plain black Alice band - keep your hair out of your face without using hairbands with metal that can snag your hair and create split-ends

Carpe diem xx

Genealogy: My Family in 1911

In a short diversion from both beauty and food, I wanted to write a blog about my genealogy work. Here's some of my family history, told through the stories of three of my ancestors living in different classes in 1911.

Upper Class:

My paternal great-grandmother Agnes Grace 'Jan' Cancellor (10) living in Kensington with her brother, aunt, and uncle, my paternal great-great uncle Henry 'Harry' Lannoy Cancellor (49). Her mother had died and her father had was exiled abroad for fraud, and she spent most of her childhood living with different 'aunts'. 'Uncle Harry' was a wealthy barrister and kept three servants. His wife, Lily 'Aunt Lil', ran a bookshop and was involved in the suffragette movement.

'Jan' Bateson (nee Cancellor), in her 80s

Middle Class:

My maternal great-grandfather Albert Miller (10), living with his parents Richard (67) and Sarah (49), sister Ruth (9) and housekeeper Ellen Message (41). His parents ran a laundry in Hailsham, Sussex.

Albert Miller, 1989 (aged 88)

Working Class:

My maternal great-grandmother Clara Wright (14), living with her parents William (37) and Clara (37), brothers Frank (9) and Frederick (3), and sister Ida (7). The family were poor and lived in the East End of London; the census shows that Clara gave birth to 2 children who later died.  Her father was a bricklayer and possibly Jewish. I believe that my grandfather Peter Wright was born illegitimately in Wandsworth in 1922, where he then was adopted and lived with a large family in Sussex.

All Rights Reserved to Ancestry.co.uk

Carpe diem xx

Chocolate and Banana Cupcakes | Recipe

 Ingredients:

120g plain flour

120g caster sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground ginger

A pinch of salt

80g unsalted butter, at room temperature

120ml semi-skimmed milk

2 eggs

2 large bananas, peeled and mashed

Method:

1) Preheat oven to 170oC (325oF) Gas Mark 3

2) Put cupcakes cases in 12-hole cupcake tray

 3) Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, salt and butter (preferably in a freestanding electric mixer otherwise your arm will get very tired!)

4) Slowly add milk, and then eggs, beating well

5) Evenly disperse mashed banana into the mixture

6) Spoon the mixture into the paper cupcake cases

 7) Bake in preheated oven for approximately 20 minutes

 8) When cool decorate with chocolate frosting/icing and sprinkle with hundreds and thousands!

Chocolate frosting:

250g icing sugar, sifted

50g cocoa powder

50g unsalted butter, at room temperature

125g cream cheese, cold (I used Philadelphia Light)

(Adapted from The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook)

Carpe diem xx

Petite Style: How to Dress Taller

Source: http://www.fabsugar.com/Teen-Choice-Awards-America-Ferrera-568923

(America Ferrera, 5'1")

Some people are short, get over it! So if your petite, style yourself in a way that will lengthen your body and make you feel great, rather than trying to change for a taller world. Here are my top tips:

1) Posture - stand tall

2) High heels - wear comfortable high heels, instantly reducing your BMI

3) Monochrome - wear one colour that continues through your outfit, lengthening your body

4) V-necks - V-neck cut dresses, tops and cardigans draw the eye down

5) Small patterns - choose clothes with small patterns rather than big patterns or wide stripes

6) Vertical lines - vertical stripes are lengthening and much more flattering than horizontal stripes

7) Fitted clothes - wear fitted clothes rather than baggy or oversized clothes, instantly bringing you into proportion and accentuating your figure

Best High Street Shops for Petites: Next, Debenhams, Topshop

Best High Street Shops for Wide-fit Shoes: Next, Clarks, Marks and Spencer

Carpe diem xx

Turner Syndrome: Celebrities with Turner Syndrome

Source: http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ma/melissa-marlowe-1.html

Full name: 'Missy' Melissa Anne Marlowe  Height: 5'1" (155 cm) 

Weight: 95 lbs (43 kg) 

Born: August 25, 1971 (Age 40) in Maisières, Hainaut, Belgium 

Affiliations: Rocky Mountain Gymnastics 

Country:  United States 

Sport: Gymnastics

1988 Olympic gymnast, currently spokeswoman for the Turner Syndrome Society.

Source: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001373/

Born: Lydia Susanna Hunter

April 2, 1945 (Age 67) in Morristown, New Jersey, USA

Height: 4'9" (145 cm)

Actress: Linda Hunt

The Bostonians (1984), Dune (1984), Silverado (1985), Eleni (1985), Waiting for the Moon (1987), She-Devil (1989), Kindergarten Cop (1990), If Looks Could Kill (1991), Rain Without Thunder (1992), Twenty Bucks (1993), Younger and Younger (1993), Prêt-à-Porter (1994), Pocahontas (1995), The Relic (1997), Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World (1998), Dragonfly (2002), Yours Mine and Ours (2005) and Stranger Than Fiction (2006)

Real inspirations for all budding actresses, actors, gymnasts and swimmers...

Carpe Diem xx

Style Confidential: How to Dress Like Hilary Duff

Source: http://www.peoplestylewatch.com/people/stylewatch/gallery/0,,20314826_20694570,00.html

'All In Black' Outfit No. 1: hoop earrings, light brown tassel scarf, black top, long black cardigan, black leggings, oversized black sequin bag, bracelets, black high heels, mobile phone

Source: http://www.peoplestylewatch.com/people/stylewatch/gallery/0,,20314826_20694570,00.html#20694579

'Casual Shopper' Outfit No. 2: oversized thick-rim glasses, white V-neck top, long light grey cardigan, dark wash skinny jeans, large black tote bag, mobile phone

Source: http://girlstalkinsmack.com/hilary-duff-departing-from-l-a-x/

'Parisien Travel Chic' Outfit No. 3: oversized thick-rim glasses, light grey scarf, long white jersey top, black leather jacket, dark wash bootcut jeans, high heels, tote bag

For me Hilary Erhard Duff is the perfect example of a stylish petite hourglass. She has honed her own personal style, taking classic looks and pieces and giving them her own twist. These three outfits are great examples of her put-together look.

Accessories: big bags, big glasses/sunglasses, scarves, big earrings, hoop earrings, clutch, waist belt

Clothes: skinny jeans, leggings, bootcut jeans, leather jacket, blazer

Shoes: high heels, black boots, cowboy boots

Make up: pink lipgloss, mascara

Carpe diem xx

Homemade Flapjack Recipe

Ingredients:

8oz Quaker/porridge oats

3tbls Tate and Lyle golden syrup

6oz butter

3oz demerara sugar 

Method:

1) Melt butter in a saucepan

2) Add syrup and sugar

3) Stir in porridge oats

4) Cook for 20-25 minutes at Gas Mark 4/180oC

5) Leave to cool on a wire rack

6) Cut into portions/biscuit size

Have you tried these?

Carpe diem xx

Top High Street/Drugstore Lipsticks

High street lipsticks can be a mindfield, but there are some lipsticks that are perfect dupes for their designer cousins that go for two or three times the price. These are some of the best reasonably priced lipsticks that the high street/drugstore has to offer.....

Best Plum: Maybelline ColorSensational (338 Midnight Plum) - deep plum for vampy evening looks

Best Classic Red: MaxFactor (853 Chilli) - classic 50s movie star red for evening and Marilyn Monroe looks

Best Light Pink: Revlon Super Lustrous Matte (002 Pink Pout) - matte everyday candy pink

Best Dark Pink: Rimmel Moisture Renew (180 Vintage Pink) - ALL TIME FAVOURITE deep pink for daytime and evening looks

Carpe diem xx

Olympic Gold: Top High Street In The Nude Lipsticks

Proper 'nude' lipsticks are notoriously difficult to find, particularly for pale skin. And so, all in the name of cosmetics I have tried out a few and come up with my top 3 drugstore/high street 'nudes'. Enjoy!

3rd - Rimmel Lasting Finish (206 Nude Pink): A shimmery nude pink, but can look cracked if you apply too many layers, not really a 'nude' on my lips

2nd - Topshop Lips (Nevada): A nice nude to blank out your lips for smoky eye looks, but can look cracked if your lips aren't moisturised enough

1st - L'Oreal Color Riche (235 Nude): Perfect nude/my-lips-but-better

Do you have any recommendations for nude lipsticks that you love?

Carpe diem xx

Student Meal Of The Day: Healthy Eating Inspiration

Carpe diem xx

Student Meal Of The Day: Healthy Eating Inspiration

Carpe diem xx

Student Meal Of The Day: Healthy Eating Inspiration

Carpe diem xx

What I Ate Today: Meals of the Day

Carpe diem xx