Wheat Free Ideas For Breakfast

The Weekday Option
During the week everyone wants to savour those precious few moments that you can stay wrapped up in your warm duvet cocoon. So I keep my breakfast quick and easy. But I also need to it fill me up for the next few hours because you do not need nor want to know me when I'm hungry.

Plain Yoghurt with Granola, Your Fruit of Choice and Honey

In this photo I had some pomegranate lying around, but you can use anything that you have. Grapes, apples, bananas are some of my other favourite options.

Rye Toast and Peanut Butter

Quick, easy, filling and yummy. This is my go to breakfast for those mornings when I can't decide what to wear, my makeup goes wrong and I have five minutes to get out the door.


The Weekend Option
On the weekend I like to have more of a substantial breakfast as I have more time to prepare something. And why not?

Rye Toast with Mushrooms, Scrambled Eggs and Raspberries

The alternative to a greasy Sunday fry up. And only takes 10 minutes to cook and serve.

Banana and Egg Pancakes

This recipe has been taking the blogosphere by storm recently so of course I had to try it out. And I can confirm they are delicious and don't taste like bananas or scrambled egg. I like to have mine with maple syrup and raspberries.  The recipe I used was from this blog.


There is one thing that I keep the same each day and that is my drink. I like to start the day with hot water and lemon. It's really refreshing and has lots of benefits!

NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien

Everyone's always on the search for the lip shade that suits them, they feel comfortable wearing and looks great with any look. In other words te perfect neutral shade.  Well ladies and gentlemen I think I've found mine. The NARS Satin Lip Pencil in 'Rikugien'. In the bullet it looks like a dark rosy shade but on my lips it is the ideal 'your lips but better shade'. It gives a satin finish, which is inbetween a matte and a shine. I would happily wear this everyday as a slick on and go because it's easy enough to apply without needing a mirror.

Lusting: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushers

Individual images from Pinterest

Some of you might remember that at the beginning of this month I pledged that I was not going to spend any money on any beauty related items. For a self confessed shopaholic I feel like I have done pretty well so far. I have been restrained, apart from that one time at duty free which was nigh on impossible to avoid. Howeve recently I have found my self-constraint slipping. I am currently lusting for one of the most exciting launches this year, in my humble opinion, an Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush. They are just so pretty and have been raved about so much, I feel like it would be rude not to. The shades above are 3 of my favourite at the moment (L-R Dim Infusion, Mood Exposure, Luminous Flush), of course I only want to purchase one, let's not get ahead of ourselves. If I had all the money in the world I would buy all 6 shades, but priced at £28 a blush I'm not quite at the point where I can afford to do that. A girl can dream.

I could lie to you, but I won't. I've already caved, in my mind, and decided that I am going to make a visit to my local Space NK as soon as we enter the month of May and purchase one of these beauties. I've just looked at my calendar and the 1st May is a week today! Hourglass blushers, I am coming for you.

Transitional Pieces

It may be Spring time here in England but that doesn't necessarily mean that the weather is warming up day by day. The sun is still making us wait unfortunately so what I wear day to day has needed to be adapted to fit the needs of these cool days. They're not freezing, I haven't worn my winter coat in a month or so now, but it's also not yet time to bring out the short shorts just yet. Instead there are a couple do pieces that have come to my rescue in this transitional period. 

1. Midi Skirts- worn with tights and a 3/4 length top

2. Lightweight Jacket

3. Blue Pumps - to brighten up an outfit, it is Spring after all 

Shoes - New Look Basic Ballet Pumps £7.99
Skirt - Topshop (not on website, bought in February)
Jacket - Boden Cotton Biker Jacket £79

Holy Grail: Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish

It may surprise you that I have only ever used 2 cleansers since I started the whole 'Cleanse, Tone, Moisturise' cycle. The first being The Body Shop Vitamin E Cleanser, before I moved onto the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish when I was about 14.  It has been with me and my skin through its rough periods, and by that I mean the dreaded teenage hormonal skin and I am still using it now. Although I would say that my skin has changed over the past year or so I still feel like this cleanser is doing it's job. Once upon a time I had quite oily skin and now it's more normal/combination. My mum also uses this cleansee and she has normal/dry skin.   So I would recommend this to anyone out there.

I use it morning and evening with a muslin cloth that comes with the cleanser. In the evenings though I prefer to do a double cleanse. Using it first to remove majority of the makeup I'm wearing and then the second time it can properly cleanse the skin. I've definitely noticed a difference in my skin since I've been doing this. I can't see myself straying from this holy grail product any time soon!

The Weekend Post: Vogue In The Sunshine

I am currently lying in the sun, Vogue is open on my lap, my book is to the left of me and my iPod is playing. I am well and truly relaxed. Before those in the UK get excited don't get your hopes up, there's no heat wave yet. I am actually in Tenerife! The grey skies and endless days of wearing jeans were taking its toll and it is so nice to escape the dull weather for a  while. This trip has been getting me through the past few months. Ever since January when it was booked I have been counting down the days when I can lounge around by the pool and wear shorts and skirts without the risk of freezing. I wore shorts for the first time yesterday since, I'd say they were last worn in September. That was a whopping 8 months ago!

I started the day off how it should start, with fruit, frozen yoghurt and pancakes (drenched in chocolate sauce, bien sur). And I've been lazing on this sun lounger for the past few hours now. Lunch is the next stop. For now though I'm going to get back to reading Vogue (read: skimming the articles and studying the makeup on each model, as you do). Buenos Dias! 

Why I Want To Be A Makeup Artist

1. To be creative in my job means everything to me

2. There's no day that's the same 

3. You are constantly learning new skills

4. It's not a regular office 9-5 job

5. The oppurtunity to travel 

6. To work with other creative people 

7. I love makeup and creating different looks 

8. There are so many directions to go in: tv, film, fashion, prosthetics... 

9. Did I mention that I love being able to be creative? 

Using Blush To Contour

A tip that I picked up recently was to use your blush to subtlety contour. Obviously not the bright pinks, corals or reds that you have in your collection but a muted brown. Instead of using a bronzing or sculpting powder this works just as well and is one less product to pack if you are going away or just trying to save time on your makeup in the morning. The shade that I have is 'Sincere' by MAC, but I know that 'Buff' and 'Tenderling' by MAC also work well.

Start by using an angled powder brush and taking the blush from along and slightly under the cheekbone from where the cheekbone meets the top of the ear to where it stops at the apples if the cheeks in a forward motion. You can then place some of the product in the usual contour places, in the hairline and under the jaw. I like to then use a pink blush just on the apples of the cheeks to add a pop of colour. In this case I've used 'Apricot' by Bobbi Brown. 

The Holiday Reading List

One of the best thing for me about going away is being able to get through a good few books. At home sometimes life can get in the way and reading can take a backseat, something which I aim to change as I find it to be one of the most relaxing things to do out there. I love getting lost in another world.

First: Magazines. One of the main reasons why I love the start of a new month is the release of all the new magazines. I get ELLE and Vogue to catch up on all the latest trends, read the articles and let's be honest I spend most of the time studying the makeup and hair looks on the models on the advertising pages. Alot of my inspiration comes from those pages. I've been buying Company for a while now, I love that they include alot of blogger and social media aspects into their articles. It's always very up to date and there are always interesting and relatable features 

Second: Books. Yes I do do some proper reading as well. I've got the Bridget Jones Omnibus (both books in one, er yes!) because no holiday is complete without a trashy, girly book. Plus my mum virtually forced these books on me when she found out I hadn't read them. Then I've also got the first two books in the Divergent series, because I'm interested to see what the fuss is about and they look like an easy read. Finally I've got what some may call a 'proper' read, The Girl At The Lion D'Or. I found this on one of the book cases at home and thought I would give it a try.

I won't lie, alot of my suitcase is taken up by reading materials. But seeing as I am going to be spending the majority of the week lying in the sun reading it kind of makes sense. Now just to find the extra space for makeup, skincare and clothes. Pray for me.

Cleanse, Tone, Moisturise

I was first introduced to this mantra, routine, law, whatever you want to call it at the tender age of about 13. My mum emphasised to me the importance of this routine and I have stuck to it morning and evening for the past 6 years. It's a part of my day now, like clockwork. I don't even have to think about it. When I wake up the first thing I do, once I'm up and out of bed, is go to the bathroom and wash my face, the same thing goes for the evening time. No matter how tired I am I always do this  because it takes absolutely no time at all. You might be surprised to hear that I have never gone to bed with my makeup on, even after a night out. I just can't do it when this routine takes so little time in the first place.

Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanser 

Liz Earle Toner

Choice of moisturisers: La Roche-Posay Hydreana Legere (am)/ Riche (pm) or The Body Shop Vitamin E Moisturiser