Food: Bubble & Squeak

I don't know about you, but I have lots of vegetables and bits and bobs from the Christmas food shop edging towards its expiration date.

There is an easy way to make all these not so spectacular ingredients, into something pretty tasty.

Good old bubble and squeak!

Christmas Cheer!

I have always loved Christmas, when I was younger it was obvs because a load of presents were involved, but now it has a truly different meaning to me.

I thought I would chat about some elements that make Christmas time so special, and why I love embracing and enjoying every moment this month brings. It is nice to sit back and soak in all the gorgeous elements December brings.

Last Minute Christmas Gift Ideas

So you think you are all done for Christmas, then all of a sudden you realise you're not.

All been there huh? Major panic....

I have put together a selection of gifts that are easy to source, and I think these are all gifts that everyone would love, and use.

Beauty: ReNEW Skincare & Aesthetics Liverpool

I was invited alone to ReNEW Skincare & Aesthetics in Liverpool to have a facial peel.

I am 31, and my skin has definitely changed over the past couple of years. I felt I needed to up my skincare routine, and start to delve into professional treatments now and again.

My concerns included my skin looking very dull,  some mild acne scarring that occurred after I had my son, clogged pores around my chin, blackheads, and fine lines.

The facial peel I decided to have, and recommended by Dr Kate was a salicylic peel. I had never had a facial peel before, and was a little apprehensive about having it done. After doing some research online and chatting with Dr Kate via email, I felt a lot more comfortable having the treatment done. I thought your skin actually peeled off, and it would burn and I would be a walking, talking, peeling tomato. Well thankfully, this is not the case.

Beauty: NYX Professional Makeup Sculpt & Highlight Brow Contour

I picked up the NYX Brow Contour by mistake, I was meant to pick up the NYX Auto Eyebrow Pencil as I had read so many good reviews about it. I got all confused (nothing new there haha) and just seen NYX and Brow and lashed the wrong one in my basket.

Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir Candle

With the colder months now well and truly here, we spend so much more time indoors snug as a bug.

Ah it gives me all the feels.

I get a bit obsessed with candles in the colder months, and go through a whole bunch.

I like to have a mixture of scented and unscented candles in my house. Unscented candles help to create a relaxing ambience, and bring a natural dim soothing light to any space. 

Scented candles naturally fill the space with light aromas, that can uplift, relax or invigorate. 

(Plus they are tonnes better than any dodgy air-freshener or plug-in).

Food: Turkey and Stuffing Rolls with Spicy Cranberry Jam

I am such a savoury type of gal, and I could gorge on all the pies and pastries all day long.
This is my take on the traditional sausage roll, but with a festive twist.
The Turkey and Stuffing Rolls, and the Cranberry Jam are super easy to make. The whole process takes around twenty minutes.

Beauty: L'Oreal Paris Volume Million Lashes Mascara - So Couture Black

I am not really a mascara lover, woahhh wait what?

That so came out wrong.

What I meant was, my lashes aren't great, so even the best mascaras don't give me the long, fluttery lashes I crave so bad. (One day maybe, one day).

My Momma picked up the L'Oreal Paris Volume Million Lashes Mascara for me to try, I had read a lot of good reviews about this mascara, so I was excited to give it a whirl.

Food: Chicken and Bean Chilli with Pomegranate And Feta Roasted Vegetables

So this time of year it is all about hearty, filling and hot food - and lots of it.

But I don't wanna pile on the pounds at the same time, so I try and ditch the carbs a little (crying emoji) and up my protein and vegetable intake.

This for me is a dish I would cook of a weekend, when I have a little more time on my hands.

Beauty: Kiss Eyelashes & Giveaway

So lets get this out in the open. I ain't blessed with natural, long fluttery eyelashes.
My eyelashes are short and straight, so I depend a lot on false eyelashes to give me the lashes I always dreamed of.

*Kiss Eyelashes are a relatively new brand that I have seen stocked in Boots.
I was looking forward to trying the lashes and seeing how they compared to my favourite false eyelash brand - Eylure.

Food: Pear & Pomegranate Winter Porridge

Porridge is hands down my favourite breakfast in the Winter.

I found this simple hack on Pinterest, and well I haven't looked back.

Cook the porridge in a slow cooker overnight!

Well this is utter genius.

What is better than waking up, and breakfast is there all ready and waiting?
No rooting for pans, standing over a hob, or waiting for the microwave to ping when it's done.
Talk about nailing the cold winter mornings.

This recipe was a fluke, I basically had some leftovers to use up, and chucked it all in the bowl.
The result was utter perfection

Kirsty Doyle Tulle Skirt

Ever since I seen Carrie Bradshaw wearing her tulle skirt on the opening credits of Sex and The City, damn I wanted one, and her waist line.

I had been eyeing up the Kirsty Doyle Black Tulle Skirt for a while, but I was bit scared to take the leap. Would it suit me? What would I wear it with? I am not the best at putting outfits together, and seem to shy away from anything out of my comfort zone.

CHRISTMAS FOOD BOX APPEAL

After the huge success of last years Christmas Beauty Box Appeal, (more info here).

I thought that this year I would try and get you lovely lot to donate some Christmas themed hamper boxes.
I know it shocks everyone to the core that this day in age, a very large amount of people right through our communities are dependent on food banks.

Beauty: An Evening at The Clarins Spa John Lewis at Liverpool One

I recently had a facial at the Clarins Spa in the John Lewis Store located in Liverpool One.
I got chatting to the lovely ladies there about my blog and love for the brand, and they asked if I would like to attend an event with some blogger friends. Of course: I yelped YES.

Should we take Vitamin Supplements?

With an ever growing emphasis on health, and looking after our bodies, there are an array of products now on the market aimed to assist us on this quest.

I give vitamins to my little boy, just because he has turned into a fuss pot, and I know for sure that he isn't getting all his vitamins and minerals. Probably like most 4 year olds, to be fair.

But moving on to us grown-up people, ideally we should be getting all our vitamins and minerals from the foods we eat. Our body needs vitamins and minerals, they are essential nutrients that help our body work. But albeit, it can all be a little confusing.
Which ones do we need? What vitamins do what? What foods, provide us with what vitamins?

I aim in my life to get all my vitamins and minerals from foods. I love cooking, I love most foods, and I like to look after myself. But this isn't always the case. The colder months when colds and flus are doing the rounds, trips away, nights out, stress, change of circumstances, well anything that puts a chink in our chain,  our diet can suffer, and we can be the first to neglect ourselves and our health.

Enter vitamin supplements.

Food: Salmon Fishcakes with a Side of Creamy Chilli & Lime Peas

I made this dish the weekend just gone, and I swear to Lucifer, it was absolutely delicious.

The chilli and lime peas really pimped it to the next level, they was so easy to make too.

The mixture made around 10 fishcakes, that I froze, reheated, and feasted on through the week. 

Such a quick and easy dish to create.

So as always, I had to share.

Beauty: Kat Von D Tattoo Liner In Trooper

My lovely friend Stacey sent me the Kat Von D Tattoo Liner as part of my birthday gift back in August, and I was super excited to try. The hype around it, and reviews I had read were all top-notch, and I was so happy to finally own it.

Food: Minestrone Soup

With Autumn in full swing, I crave all the hot foods. This soup is easy and fast to make. Perfect in a plastic container and reheated at work, or of an evening. I usually make this of a weekend and freeze - so it is ready to go through the week.

Lifestyle: I Love Amsterdam.

I like to travel and explore different places, visiting the same place for me is something I try not to do often. But certain places, well sometimes I feel you only touch the surface, and a revisit is a must - Amsterdam is one of them places.

I LOVE Amsterdam, I always feel safe when walking around the city, the city is laid back, beautiful and really easy to navigate around.

Beauty: Giorgio Armani Maestro Glow Foundation & Giorgio Armani Maestro UV Skin Defense Primer

Anything that has glow written on, well I am all over it.

I had a play around the the Giorgio Armani Maestro Glow Foundation at a local counter, and was blown away by the formula. It was so different to anything I have ever tried before.

Described as:

"The invisible Glow Revolution Bi-phase nourishing make-up that mixes skincare oils infused with pure pigments - it offers nourishing comfort and a lasting glow." 

Food: Boozy Pumpkin Spice Latte

When I saw that Baileys had a pumpkin spiced latte version of their creamy Irish whisky, well I was super excited. I have been craving a pumpkin spiced latte for so long now, but I don't live or work near a Starbucks, so decided to create my own one at home. Plus have you seen how much sugar and fat is in the Starbucks one, it's a shocker I will tell you that much!

Beauty: Old Make-Up

It is safe to say I have a largish make-up collection.  I have one face, and I 100% got enough make-up to maybe cover 10, with this realisation - I put myself on a type of ban.

A: I have no storage left for any-more.

B: I have pretty much everything I need, and I am only buying because I like it, and put it this way I like a lot of things, and with Christmas around the corner, well it is time to knuckle down.

I have shopped my stash, and picked out some pretty old products, that I forgot about, found again, and loving.

Food: Chaophraya Liverpool Review

I was invited along to Chaophraya in Liverpool to try their NEW menu. I had never visited Chaophraya before, so I hadn't tried the previous menu, but a couple of people I know assured me it was a lovely place to dine.

Food: Mini Pecan & Pumpkin Pies

I remember when I was younger, I used to think what the hell is pumpkin pie? Well I thought it sounded disgusting. I didn't have a clue that it was a sweet dish, and imagined that gravy was poured all over it. YUK!

How wrong I was?

Pureed pumpkin has become something I love so much, and teamed with all spice, nutmeg and cinnamon, well it is just a match made in heaven. I cheated with these little delights, and used ready- made mini-pastry-cases. But the filling is all mine, and the star of the show - and here is the recipe.

Lifestyle: B&M Essences Radiant Red Maple Candle

I love Bath & Body Works candles I recently mentioned them in my Getting Ready For Autumn post, but they don't stock them here in the UK, which is a proper pain in the bum. So when I read The Sunday Girls Blog last week, Adrienne was raving about 2 candles from B&M, yes B&M, that were apparently really good dupes of Bath & Body Works, so I trotted on down to my local B&M to see if I could pick any up.

Food: Creamy Pumpkin Pasta

It is fair to say I go pumpkin mad the whole of October. Even though the majority of dishes I knock up with pureed pumpkin are sweet, this savoury dish is pure comfort food - and a mixture of fresh pumpkin and pureed.

The idea popped in my head driving home last week, and I am so happy with the way it turned out.

Beauty: L'oreal Pure Clay Detox Mask

I seen the 3 new L'oreal face-masks doing the rounds across social media, and after reading and hearing good things I decided to give one a whirl. I was going to jump in and buy all 3, but resisted and thought I would try my hand at just the one to begin.

There is 3 masks in the range:

Purity Clay Mask:  with eucalyptus, it aims to leave skin purified and matte without drying it.

Glow Clay Mask: with red algae and a beaded texture, the cream aims to exfoliate dull uneven skin, to leave a natural glow.

Detox Clay Mask: with charcoal, it is a deep cleansing mask,  that aims to clear pores leaving the skin clear and purified.

Food: Spicy Stuffed Aubergine

I recently visited Jamie's Italian (post here), and fell in love with the stuffed aubergine dish. I recreated my own version at home this week, I didn't add any carbs, and just packed it with some leftover vegetables, spices and cheese. It was pretty much perfect. Just look how yummy it looks. :o)

Beauty: Peggy Sage Aqua Silky Foundation

My friend Nicola who does my make-up when I have a night- out, has raved about Peggy Sage Cosmetics for a while now, Peggy Sage Cosmetics is a French company that has a wide range of beauty products, that are very affordable and amazing quality.

I have seen not just my friend, but a lot of make-up artists in the Liverpool area raving about the brand across social media, for example Kate Hayes who is a super talented make-up artist.

The packaging isn't that luxurious or innovative, but the actual products on the hole are really top notch.

I went to my friends make-up masterclass last month, and the majority of the products she used were Peggy Sage.

When I was chatting to Nicola (Her Instagram is here if you fancy a nose at all the gorgeous make-overs she does) Nicola told me she has used the Peggy Sage Aqua Silky Foundation, and thinks I would really like it, so I picked one up, and well I haven't looked back.

Food: Review Of Jamie's Italian Liverpool

I have been to Jamie's Italian in Liverpool twice, the first time I visited I wasn't overly impressed, but the second time, I studied the menu thoroughly,  took my time ordering, and I enjoyed every course - as did my partner.

I was invited along to Jamie's Italian to enjoy a complimentary meal, and to be honest I absolutely adore Mr Oliver, and I would never turn down an offer to sample some of his grub.

Situated in Liverpool 1, there is always a buzz and lively vibe in the air. 
People on dates, work colleagues winding down, and families looking for a comfortable place to stop, and stuff their faces after a shopping spree.

I visited on a Thursday evening at 6pm, the restaurant was half full, and one thing I always pick up on when visiting the restaurant is how friendly, and laid back the staff are. The staff know the menu, they recommend dishes and drinks, and they are right there when you need something, but don't stalk the table. 

I arrived alone and ordered a drink before my Mum arrived, the drink was delivered quickly. 
(It had been a long day, so this was much welcomed haha).

Food: Salmon With A Pumpkin & Coconut Sauce

I wrote this post, went to publish it and deleted it by accident.
Yup I wasn't a happy soul, and it took me days to muster up any enthusiasm to re-write it.
But well, here I am. I hope you doubly enjoy it. :o)

It is officially Autumn and I take full advantage of all the fresh produce that is gracing us wth its presence. This recipe could be a soup, or a sauce, can be frozen and is easy peasy.

Beauty: Frownies Review

I express a lot of my emotions (usually laughing, a LOT) through my facial expressions, and over the past 30 years of my life, the frown lines have set in.

I love holistic and natural approaches to anti-ageing and 80% of the time I embrace the ageing process, hell we are lucky to see another day, and getting older is a beautiful representation of that.

But I can't lie and say they wasn't annoying me, my foundation was starting to sit in the frown lines on my forehead, and it was making them look a hell of a lot worse than they actually was, this factor was contributing to my skin looking tired and dull, l was on the hunt for a natural product that would help me with this issue.

Oh hiya Frownies. (Wavessss)

Food: Smoky Paprika Chicken

Every week I get asked to cook this in our house, and each week every piece is gone within a couple of hours.

I don't know why I haven't shared this recipe earlier, but hey better late than never.

Food: Sweet Potato & Turkey Pie

This weekend I felt so Autumnal! I could feel the dip in the temperature, the darker nights drawing in, oh and not forgetting the fact I was cooking all the comfort food.
This recipe is a take on Shepherds Pie,  but I 100% prefer this version.
It is so tasty, healthy and filling.

Lifestyle: Getting Autumn Ready.

Autumn is my favourite season, I love wearing tights, boots and hats everyday, I love the darker nights, the cold crisp air, Halloween, Bonfire night, the whole lot, well it gives me all the feels.

I thought I would share some of my favourite bits and bobs, that pimps my Autumn"o" meter to the max.

Lifestyle: Paris

I love, love, love Paris, I could up sticks right now and move there, it is one of my favourite city's to wander around soaking in the culture, sites and food.

One day maybe, one day?

I love that it is an easy non-fuss trip from Liverpool John Lennon Airport To Charles De Gaulle Airport the flight time is a little over an hour - you are there in no time.
From Charles De Gaulle Airport to central Paris this can take anything from 30 minutes - to an hour in a car, depending on traffic. A quicker and cheaper way to get to Paris, is to use the Metro with a station in the airport - it is really accessible, well for some people.

We done the Metro one year with a pram and luggage, it wasn't a good experience, actually it was a bit horrific, as there are so many sets of stairs, so since then we have opted to be picked up, I do this when I book the flights through EasyJet on their website.

This time around we stayed by the Arc De Triomphe, It was a lovely hotel called Best Western Mercedes Arc De Triomphe, it was around a 10 minute walk from the Arc De Triomphe and I would thoroughly recommend this as a base. I found this area more laid back compared to areas by the Eiffel Tower, and Notre Dame - but in all honesty I have loved each area I have stayed in, in its own way.

Food: Low- Carb Frutti Tutti Pancakes

I am addicted to these fake pannies. I can't even describe how good they are without screeching and getting really excited. So I am just gonna dive in with the recipe. (Oh and by the way these are very low-fat, have more or less no-carbs), so yeah you can see why I get a bit ecstatic by the whole thing.

Beauty: Short-Haul Carry-On Flight Tips

Travelling short-haul, and trying to jam-pack everything into a carry-on bag when travelling on a plane - well it ain't no easy task.

Over the years, and getting copious amounts of much loved items took off me, well preparation is key, and after trying my hardest to utilise the very tiny plastic carry- on bag, I think I may have finally nailed it.

So here goes.....

Beauty: First Aid Beauty Milk Oil Conditioning Cleansing Milk

I tried First Aid Beauty a couple of months ago now, and so far have been super impressed with the brand.

I find their products perfect for my sensitive skin, as they not overly fragranced. I particularly enjoy using their Facial Radiance Pads every morning,  review here

Lifestyle: Can A Blogger Keep Their Life Private, and Still be Successful?

I wrote a post a while back now, which is probably one of my most read posts, and here it is.

It talked all about our "inner critic" and how at times, we can be our own worst enemy.
This post is a little inspired by the above.  The BLOGGER Inner Critic, if you will.

I have been blogging for around 4 years now, rebranding and re-naming last year.

In my life, blogging is the one thing I am most critical about, and I  feel a lot of other bloggers feel the same. With so many amazing blogs out there, it is really easy to compare yourself sometimes, and think yours, is well, a bit crap in comparison.

Lifestyle: Social Media, The Good, The Bad & The Ugly.

With the ever growing presence of social media within every inch of our lives, sharing our day-to-day activities to the outside world, is something that is now very much, for the majority "a daily do".

I am all for expressing what we love, and when we are happy, or proud of something - well our natural instinct is to share this passion, and enthusiasm.  I could never fight that, and I love the positive aspects that social media bring to the modern day world. I adore the fact you can share special moments with family and friends, no matter where they are in the world.

I love that you can celebrate, support, and share each others joyous moments, with just a couple of taps on a screen.

Beauty: Concealer Crazy

Favourite products at the mo, well they seem to be all the concealers.

Not wanting a heavy base in this warm weather, but subsequently wanting to hide the multitude of sins currently residing on my face, concealer has been my very best friend these past couple of months.

I think a big contribution to this fuzzy feeling towards concealers, are these 2  new finds.

Food: Mexican Style Chicken and Rice, with Guacamole, and Lime and Chilli Corn on the Cobs.

On a Sunday afternoon I love to stick a load of food on the the table, get my eat on with the fambo, whilst having a good ole gab.

As it's the peak of Summer, the obligatory Sunday roast is a bit much on a hot sunny day.
So ya know, what screams Summer more than the fresh flavours, and ingredients from the Mexican cuisine?

These ingredients are even more so special, when left to mingle with each other. A time-saving trick for this dish, and one that you are grateful for the next day, in terms of cutting down the time spent slaving over a hot stove, but still creating a finger licking dish - is marinating the chicken.

It takes less than 5 minutes to do,  it gets shoved in the fridge, left overnight, and the flavours that develop over this time, well it helps to create a gorgeous tasty feast, in less than 20 minutes.

The recipe is as follows:

Lifestyle: July Favourites

Ah July you was a goodun,  I thought I would have a chat about some things I was loving, some old, and some new. I haven't done a favourites post for so long, so it was quite a job trying to wittle down everything, and pack it into one post.

Lifestyle: The Other Kingdom Bespoke Gift Box

I am so excited to share this post today, as it is a little different.

I was approached by Nickelodeon, and asked if I would like to be involved in the launch of their new show The Other Kingdom which premiers on the 8th August 2016.

The Other Kingdom is a Canadian/American fantasy teen sitcom.
The show is based around a fairy princess called Astral, who doesn't want to be a fairy princess no more, but wants to go to High-School and leave all her mystical friends behind. Huh? Does she know how lucky she is?

Like everything in life, she encounters some bumps along the road, and with over a million views for their first episode in the US, I can see it being a huge success here in the UK.

When I was reading all about the show, the first thing that caught my eye, was the gorgeous bright costumes, and sparkly theatrical make-up used in the show. It truly is beautiful.

I was sent a box of goodies to create my own "fairy" look.

YES I AM GOING TO BE A REAL LIFE FAIRY!

Beauty: First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads Review

I tried the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream, a month or so back now and I really liked it, so when I seen that the brand done facial pads, I was excited to give them a whirl.

I absolutely adore facial pads, and I use them every morning straight after I have washed my face. Religiously. 

Food: Crispy Sea Bass Madras With Sweet Cauliflower Rice

I made this last week, and I was over the moon with how filling, tasty and easy it was to knock together.

I usually make my own cauliflower rice, (just add cauliflower to grate option in a blender, and ta-da), but Asda and all other major supermarkets now do them. A big bag was a bargain £1, and this easily does 2 meals.

Percy & Reed No Oil Oil For Thick Hair

Using an hair oil is a must for me. I have long, thick and very, very dry hair. Which if I had to sum up in one word, well, it's WILD.

The dryness and thickness of my hair makes fly-aways appear even more so frizzy, and the corse thick dry hair that resides at the top of my head, it can look very damaged.

Lucky me hey?

Food: The Soho Juice Co

As the sun is cracking the flags (literally), we are all craving refreshing cool and specifically COLD drinks.

My Mum has been raving about The Soho Juice Co juice to me for a while now, it was the gorgeous packaging that caught her eye. She has a couple dotted in display units around the house, and they look so quirky.

When the company contacted me asking if I would like to try the Juice, well how could I refuse

Beauty: The Body Shop Vitamin C Daily Glow Cleansing Polish & Glow Booster Microdermabrasion Review

I am back at you with another offering from the The Body Shop.

I was invited to their blogger event in Liverpool 1 the beginning of the May, and told the lovely ladies that my skin was a little dull, and they all raved about the Vitamin C range. 

With a 3 for 2 offer on, I took full advantage and picked up 3 items from the range. Today I will be talking about the Vitamin C Daily Glow Cleansing Polish and the Vitamin C Glow Boosting Microdermabrasion.