Food: Dorset Mess

 

This is my all time favourite desert, its Eton Mess with my own spin on it hence being a Dorset Mess! Being on Weight Watchers diet at the moment I wasn’t really sure what deserts I could have without using up all my pro points for the week in one go. That is until I came across Elmlea Light Single Cream Alternative and realised its ZERO points!! Therefore meaning this whole desert is only THREE, yes THREE pro-points which is for the meringues!

Ingredients:

·         Elmlea Light Single Cream Alternative

·         3 mini meringue nests

·         Blueberries

·         Strawberries

·         Raspberries

What to do:

1.      Cut up the fruit to your liking and place in a serving bowl.

2.      Take 3 mini meringues and smash them up using a rolling pin, so they are in small pieces.

3.      Add the meringue into the bowl with the fruit and mix together.

4.      Pour the Elmlea Light Single Cream Alternative over the top to your liking.

 

Voila! A yummy desert for only 3 weight watcher pro points!

BOOK CLUB TAKEOVER: Rachel from 'Spacebound'

Here are my thoughts… I LOVE hearing other people’s views and reviews on pretty much anything especially books! Some of my favourite reads are ones that have been suggested by other people. So thinking along those lines,’ The Book Club Takeover’ was born! Hopefully each week I will bring to you a post from one of my lovely and amazing fellow bloggers who will in turn share with you what their favourite book is, why they love it and a review. I hope you enjoy this feature as much as I do!

Hi! I'm Rachel from spaceboundblogs.blogspot.co.uk and I'm here to tell you a little about a recent book that I've fallen in love with. 

 

Firstly, for all of you know don't know me, I'm a 16 year old Irish girl who has blogging for nearly a year about fashion, beauty, books and every other little aspect of my daily adventures. Tea, cats and cosy nights in bed are a favourite of mine. I have always been a book enthusiast. I completely love reading and my bookshelf never stops growing uncontrollably. However, once I pick up a new book, I cannot put it down until I've read the last page.

I've read many post-apocalypse books (The Hunger Games, The Delirium Series and The Divergent series) so when I heard that there was this Maze Runner series out, I was pretty interested. However I became disheartened when I was told they were quite guy-ish novels. Then one day on twitter, a fellow blogger expressed how much she had enjoyed the book so as you can guess, I was in Waterstones as fast as lightening to pick myself up a copy. And believe me, the book did not disappoint!

 

The novels are wrote from a teenage boy, called Thomas, point of view. One day he arrives in a box to a strange place called the Glade, with no memories of what he is doing there, what has happened or what his second name even is. He is throw into a world filled with other boys around his age and quickly learns that he has arrived at an encampment situated in the centre of a maze. With strange events occurring, Thomas finds himself stuck in the middle of everything. The novel explores fear, frustration, friendship, sorrow and hope. James Dashner brilliantly designs a world that you can only imagine, one with so many strange twists and an unforgettable plot, you will be racing to the end. 

 

To whoever said it was a guy book, you stand corrected as I loved every second of it. You become attached to the friendships and feel the frustration first hand. It is very hard not to become wrapped up in the world that's created between the pages.  It is actually a first for me as I've never read a book from the males point of view, yet I can not flaw it. 

 

If you enjoyed The Hunger Games or any book set in a world with different rules, then I would highly recommend this novel. Or if you love a good adventure with many secrets that unfold, then go grab yourself a copy asap. I personally can not wait to get my hands on the next book in the series! 

 

I hope you've enjoyed my review and are tempted to dive in. Also a big thanks to Gemma for inviting me to post in her Book Club section on her lovely blog! If you want to check out any more of my ramblings head over to spaceboundblogs.blogspot.co.uk or drop me a tweet at @Spaceboundblog x x

Review: Maybelline New York The Rocket Volum’ Express Mascara

 

If you read my blog regularly you will know I am obsessed with Benefit ‘They’re Real’ Mascara. However when I ran out recently and thanks to a poor bank balance, I decided to be brave and try out something different!

During a Sunday night beauty bloggers chat on twitter I was recommended (multiple times!) to try out Maybelline New York The Rocket Volum’ Express Mascara, so I thought I’d give it a go! I went for the waterproof version as I figured it would be good for my holiday.

 

It has a large brush which is easy to apply. It definitely adds volume and made my lashes look longer and it didn’t clump. Whoooop! If I had to be picky the only downside I found to this product is that after a few hours my lashes went a bit flat which was disappointing.

I wouldn’t say it’s at the same standard as Benefits ‘They’re Real’ Mascara but I would say it’s a good back up. I will definitely be purchasing this again.

Revlon Nail Enamel in Siren

 



I am a recent convert to Revlon’s Nail Enamel, I’ve found its lovely to apply and most importantly doesn’t chip and is long wearing. The latest colour I’ve tried out is Siren. It’s a fab coral colour verging on orange, which I LOVE. It goes with everything I wear and adds a spark of colour.

Motivational Monday #21

 

What a difference a week can make! Last week I was feeling pretty down in the dumps but after a long chat with a good friend and a lot of soul searching I am feeling so much more upbeat now.

I’ve realised that I need to start taking charge of my life and that I often take on a lot of other people’s emotions and negativity and let it affect me. This is something I need to tackle and put a stop to, hence todays chosen post!

I am putting on my armour this week and fighting off negative vibes. I will have a positive and happy week!

Feeling Shady

I love a good pair of sunglasses! Living in England I know we have very limited sunshine and are more know for our poor weather, but lately we had a heat wave and every so often we get a sun filled day! Therefore I find its always useful to have a good pair of shades on hand, I keep a pair at the bottom of my handbag for those moments of need, along with my brolly!

I have a few pairs, one I keep in the car, one in my handbag and my favourite pair that I take out on special occasions. Also I am heading off on holiday soon so have been thinking about which shades to take and debating whether to treat myself to some new ones!

  This pair I purchased this summer from Dorothy Perkins. I quite like the square frame.

I received this pair of sunnys as a Christmas present from a friend. They are a black frame with a diamante eyebrow rim. They are quite 60’s retro.

These are my favourite pair of sunglasses that own! They are from House of Harlow 1960 and were pretty expensive! They remind me of Audrey Hepburn who us my ultimate style icon.

As you can see my collection is quite varied! I think you can have so much fun with a pair of sun glasses. They come in all shapes and sizes, can be amazing for wearing on sunny days or just to cover up this tired eyes and hangovers!

I recently came across the brand Cutler and Gross, they do some quirky styles that have definitely been added to my wish list. I am very tempted to treat my self to a pair for my holiday but apart from not being able to pick only 1 design they are a little out of my price range, varying from £300 - £365. A girl can dream!

 These are my favourite designs from Cutler and Gross. I LOVE them!!

BOOK CLUB TAKEOVER: Rebecca from 'itsrebecca'

Here are my thoughts… I LOVE hearing other people’s views and reviews on pretty much anything especially books! Some of my favourite reads are ones that have been suggested by other people. So thinking along those lines,’ The Book Club Takeover’ was born! Hopefully each week I will bring to you a post from one of my lovely and amazing fellow bloggers who will in turn share with you what their favourite book is, why they love it and a review. I hope you enjoy this feature as much as I do!

Hi all. My name is Rebecca of itsrebeccauk.blogspot.co.uk, and I jumped at the chance to take part in Gemma’s Book Club feature as I LOVE reading!

I mainly write my blog about beauty and lifestyle, and what it is like to be married to a member of the Royal Air Force, but in my spare time I have a real love for film and literature and I hope over time to incorporate this love into my blog as well.

I kept Gemma’s review style for this post so I hope you enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed writing it. Thanks for having me Gemma J

Labyrinth by Kate Mosse

 

The Blurb

July 1209: in Carcassonne a seventeen-year-old girl is given a mysterious book by her father which he claims contains the secret of the true Grail. Although Alais cannot understand the strange words and symbols hidden within, she knows that her destiny lies in keeping the secret of the labyrinth safe...

July 2005: Alice Tanner discovers two skeletons in a forgotten cave in the French Pyrenees. Puzzled by the labyrinth symbol carved into the rock, she realises she’s disturbed something that was meant to remain hidden. Somehow, a like to a horrific past – her past – has been revealed.

The Review

 

First up, if you caught the televised version of this that was on a few months ago but haven’t read the book, then you NEED to read this because it is infinitely better. The TV series misses out such huge chunks of story and plot, and left me with a real misunderstanding of the story and I have actually read the book!!

 

Magic and mystery? Check! Men in armour? Check! Mean seductress? Check! Plucky young heroine? Double Check!! I knew this would be right up my street when my Nana recommended it to me; I am an absolute sucker for a historical novel.

If you have read any of dan Browns novels, you will be familiar with the popular storyline surrounding the ‘Holy Grail’. Kate Mosse’s ‘Labyrinth’ is a refreshing take on the idea and quest for the ‘Grail’, and I particularly enjoyed Mosse’s spin on what has become quite an almost over done plotline. Historical elements are heavily but easily weaved into this storyline, and the scenic descriptions are breathtaking. (Having read this novel I looked up Carcassonne and found Mosse’s description to be so effective that I what I had imagined was literally the real thing...Amazing!)

The plot weaves back and forth from Alice in modern day back to Alais in 1209; these two lead characters are clearly connected throughout the plot resulting in a really lovely flow to the story. Mosse’s cast are interesting and complex enough for you to really believe in them. All too often I read books where the characters are so 1D that they are utterly predictable but I really enjoyed the intricacy of these characters and I was gripped from the word go.

It’s tricky to offer a review without giving too much away, but I would definitely recommend this read if you are at all interested in history, and even if you are not I would still say give this a go! The story itself is so enthralling that you will pick up the historical elements as you go along and Mosse does a great job of explaining anything without being to patronising.

 

Kate Mosse has definitely become a favourite author of mine following this book. It is totally effortless to read and is a firm favourite of mine (my dog eared copy has been read about 3 times).

Thanks again Gemma for having me,

 

Rebecca x