Motivational Monday #22

 

I am off on my holidays this week! I am heading to Malta for 10 days and can’t wait! I’ve never been to Malta and have only heard positive things so can’t wait to check it out for myself.

Travelling, no matter how far you travel, is so important to me. The world is such a wonderful place and I am determined to see as much of it as I can in my life time. Travelling is so enriching you can only gain and grow from it!

So thinking along these lines I have some awesome guest posts lined up for whilst I’m away from some wonderful bloggers telling you about their favourite destinations. I hope you all enjoy them!

Happy Monday Lovelies!

Younique Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes

 

 

If I was only allowed to use one piece of makeup ever again it would have to be mascara or anything to enhance my lashes! I love good looking lashes so was beyond excited when Nichole from Younique sent me their ‘Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes’ to try!

Youniques’ Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes is meant to add thickness and volume to your lashes while still looking completely real and natural. I’ve seen a few reviews online already for this product and was impressed by the results but was keen to see myself if it actually works. I love the packaging, it comes in a smart quilted black case. Inside is what looks like two tubes of mascara, one is the Transplanting Gel and the other is the Fibers.

So to apply, you need to apply a thin coat of your of your usual mascara and then let it dry. You then apply a thin coat of Transplanting Gel onto your lashes. Then you need to immediately, before the gel dries, apply the fibers onto the lashes. Finally you seal the fibers with another coat of the Transplanting Gel.

 

At first look I thought the application was going to be a bit fiddly and a bit of a pain, but it’s actually quite easy to use. The fibers reminded me of little bits of black fluff but once coated on your lashes it loses that look and smoothes into the lashes quite nicely. I was worried it would look clumpy but when you use the Transplanting Gel, the brush allows you to remove any lumps and create the look you want.

 

The results, as you can see in the photos, are incredible! I normally use Benefits They’re Real Mascara which I adore as I think that adds length and volume to my eye lashes so was interested if the Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes would have much of an effect. Well check them out, I am so happy with the results, they have doubled and look fab! They look so much like false lashes, but are so much better as you don't run the risk of them falling off half way through the night and looking like you have a spider crawling across your face!

I was curious to see how long they would last, whether they would wilt and drop after a couple of hours or not. I applied the fiber lashes first thing in the morning and they were still looking great at the end of the day, which is more than I can say for most mascaras I use! I am going to be using this product a lot, especially on nights out when I want to make a statement!

Youniques’ Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes are not currently available in the UK but are heading this way in the autumn! If you’d like to know more can subscribe to Nicholes mailing list via her facebook page and you can also check out her website www.lipslashlove.com for more information. I can’t wait for it to head to these shores so I can see what other magical products they have!  

 

The Blogmopolitan Quiz

During a late night blog reading session I came across Erin's blog 'Two Thirds Hazel' and this specific post of hers, The Blogmopolitan Quiz which she has created and has encouraged other bloggers to join in to! It looked like a bit of fun, so I figured id give it ago... here is what I came up with!

Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner in Black

 

I have wanted to try Eyeko’s Skinny Liquid Eyeliner for quite a while but have seen mixed reviews and with a bit of a price tag have restrained myself. However when I was in my local newsagents and spotted it as the free gift with Glamour magazine last month, I couldn’t resist spending the £2 for it! What a bargain!

So the mixed reviews I has seen stated that it was hard to use, goes crusty on your eyes and also dries out pretty quickly. Well I have been using it for a couple of weeks now and have to say I am pretty impressed with it.

For sooo long now I dream of being able to do eyeliner flicks to match the great eye flicks of Alexa Chung and Zooey Deschanel. I have a long way to go but I’m a believer that with practice I may get there one day! At the moment I am cursed with being able to do one eye spot on and the other looks like a child has done it. However I will persist!

I tend to use gel eyeliners to do mine but it’s a bit of a faff with the whole pot and a brush, especially if you want to just tidy it up while you’re out. I have tried pens in the past and find they don’t really show up on my lids. So I was really chuffed when this one went on a nice dark black and shock horror stayed like that! It dries pretty quickly so you don’t need to worry about smudging it and I found the brush so easy to use. It allowed me to get closed to my eye line and with its pointed tip I was able to be pretty precise.

Eyeko states that their pen is smudge proof and fade proof, over the couple of weeks I have been using this pen I would have to agree that it’s true. It lasts most of the day and stays put! I definitely recommend this product and when it runs out I may treat myself to it now.

 

How to apply the perfect fake tan!

 

Over the years I have been the key example of how not to fake tan! There has been many a time where I’ve managed to look as orange as an oompa lompa, covered in dodgy streaks and let’s not forget the awesome orange stained hands look! I am the queen of the dodgy fake tan!

I like to think over the years I have finally managed to master the application of fake tan, I think the key thing to remember is don’t use your hands! A fake tan toolkit is key, I thoroughly recommend that you all go and buy yourself a mitt now! This point has been emphasised to me recently when I was kindly sent a few Velvotan self tanning tools by the lovely folk at Hampton Brands (check out their facebook page, they often have fab beauty giveaways!) which has just increased my confidence when applying the tan!

Now I’m not a fake tan addict like some but I do like to have some on during the summer on nights out and events. I don’t want to be stood there looking like a polar bear next to all my mates now! So today’s post is all about how to look like a shimmering sun goddess...

Up first, skin prep is key! You need to make sure you exfoliate and have skin as smooth as a baby’s bottom! I make sure I shave my legs and then I use Velvotans Body Polishing Sponge which helps remove any dead skin. You just need to use a bit of shower gel and warm water and use it as you would a normal sponge. Easy!

When I’m completely dry I then start applying the tan. My current fave is Rimmel London’s Sun Shimmer Instant Tan, which is a wash off tan and is also water resistant, I use their medium shade. I have been using rimmels instant wash off tan range for a few years now and it’s perfect. It’s just the right shade for my skin tone and I like the consistency of it. It doesn’t streak or run and lasts until you next shower.

Now as I’ve said before I use a body mitt to apply all over, it is so much better than using your hands as it gives you a much more even application. I then use the Velvotan Self Tan Back Applicator, which has been a life saver, making those hard to reach areas not so impossible to reach! After my body has an even coat I then focus on my face. I don’t know about anyone else but this is the bit I hate the most! If you get it right you look a sun kissed beauty, get it wrong and you look like you’ve had a fight with a wotsit! Not an attractive look and not one I wish to sport. However lately I’ve been trying out the Velvotan Face Mitt (it is so tiny and cute!) which makes it so much easier to apply and less risk of getting it wrong!

Tadah! I am then ready for a night out with the girls, a bronzed Adonis!

What are your tips for getting the perfect fake tan?

Whats Keeping You From Acheiveing Your Goals?

 

So every week I normally do a Motivational Monday post, so this is a something a little different today! This is due to a number of reasons, but mainly I’ve had today off work, I’ve had an awesome 3 day weekend catching up with friends and enjoying the beautiful weather. I was going to write a post this morning but was too busy making the most of today! It’s taken me a long time to realise its ok to blog when I like, I don’t need a regimental routine and have to post every day, it’s a hobby and I should do it when I feel like it and write because it’s what I love to do! It’s such a great feeling when you have that wake up call, I used to panic if I didn’t blog on my usual days but I’ve learnt that it’s ok!

However I then spent a few hours catching up on my favourite blogs with a cup of camomile tea in hand when I came across this thought provoking post by Elizabeth over at ‘Delightfully Tacky’ titled ‘What’s keeping you from achieving your goals?’ and she encouraged her readers to join in and answer the question too. So instead of bringing you a motivational Monday post, today I am going to attempt to answer the question as I think it’s still in keeping with my usual Monday posts. If you read my motivational Monday series you will know that the aim of me doing them is to keep me focused and positive and to move forward in my life, so this question fits in perfectly.

Well I can’t explain how relevant the question ‘What’s keeping you from achieving your goals? ‘ Is to me at this moment in time. My life feels a little on stand still at the moment and I’m not sure how to move forward. I am 28, living in my parents loft, not particularly enjoying work at the moment and I am piss poor, to say this isn’t where I thought I would be at 28 would be a massive understatement. Although I can’t complain as I have no regrets and have had some incredible opportunities come my way, but right now I am in a rut.

My dream and goal is to travel the world, see as much of it as I can and I’d love to live and work in somewhere like New Zealand for a year. So what’s stopping me I hear you ask? Well I am the queen of making excuses, I am also a giant wimp who lives in a bubble of fear and I also have a sense of responsibility. Let me break these down for you... I am terrified about going travelling on my own, although I have an overpowering need to see if I can and prove to myself I can do it. I also worry that at 28 I am a little too old to be living a backpacker’s life now, I have done a few countries when I was younger and no most people will be a lot younger than me. Also at 28 so many of my friends are settling down, being sensible and buying houses, having babies etc so a small part of me wonders if I should be doing the same? I am 98% sure I am not ready for any of that yet, there is way too much I want and need to do first.

I also have a massive sense of responsibility to my parents, my mum has MS and needs a lot of support and help. My dad is an awesome carer to her, but works full time and doesn’t have the best health himself. So since moving home I have taken on a caring role and do as much as I can to help out. So I’m now going to sound like a complete dick, but I worry they are becoming a little reliant on me and don’t want that to happen as I am desperate to move abroad, on the flip side I would worry about them and don’t want it all to land on my dad’s shoulders. They don’t hold me here, they encourage me to live my life, so I know they’d feel terrible if they knew I felt like this but I guess if you’re a carer yourself you may understand.

Another slight thing keeping me back from achieving my goals is the fact I have zero money. I am useless at saving! I do try but fail miserable! Each month I try and keep some pennies aside but then guaranteed something happens to my car or something pops up unexpectedly. I am now debating working abroad but now sure how I would even start looking for work, I’ve also been thinking about doing a TEFL course and I might be able to get around using that.

I also have a giant fear that I will never get to achieve my goals, what if this is it? Well I can make as many excuses under the sun but at the end of the day my dreams and goals are in my hands and it’s up to me to get myself there. I know I will achieve my goals one day, life is too short not to live it to the max and do what you want. I am determined to sort out the financial situation, to start coming up with a plan of where to go first and how to do it. I get really upset as I wish I could be doing it now, I think I just need to remind myself that where I am now is taking steps towards achieving what I want and its going to feel even more well deserved and appreciated when I do get there.

Apologies for the long waffling post, I’m not sure it even makes sense, but I can’t explain how good it feels to just sit at my laptop and just type all that out. Not thinking about it too much, just letting the words flow. Do you see what I mean I am amazing at making excuses? I think I need someone to come along and give me a massive kick on the bum! I would love to hear what’s keeping you back from achieving your goals?

Food: Nutella Brownies

I am obsessed with Nutella! It is my naughty go to when I want a bit of sweetness, I just dip a spoon in the tub and get stuck in! When I came across this recipe for Nutella Brownie, I couldn’t resist giving them a try. They are now a regular occurrence in my kitchen, they are so easy to make and just way too yummy!

 

 

Ingredients...

8oz Nutella

2 Eggs

5oz Flour

Chopped Walnuts

What to do...

Preheat the oven to 200c and spray a muffin tray with non-stick cooking spray. Then in a bowl mix together the Nutella and Eggs. Add the flour, and whisk until fully blended and smooth. Spoon evenly into muffin tray and sprinkle with the chopped walnuts.

Put in the oven for 10 minutes, this may vary depending on your oven, so just until the tops have set and cracked around the edges. The middle needs to be wet and fudgy! When you remove from oven, leave to cool for 5 minutes.

Bon Appétit!