Time Of The Month Essentials

I thought I would share a few tips and suggestions to making that time of the month less exhausting *groans*

FOOD IS FUEL
I think it is really important to keep structure during this stressful time, that means having proper meals which give us enough energy to get through the day. This doesn't mean you can't indulge in chocolate- just ensure that you aren't replacing your meals with sugar.

Although, that being said, I'd still encourage you to:

TREAT YOURSELF
It's hard enough dealing with everyday stress, all of which seems magnified during this period (pardon the pun) so it makes sense to chill out and gain a cleaner mindset towards tasks. For the ultimate pamper, I like to have a bath filled with goodies from Lush, along with a hair and face mask. Have a cuppa, read a book, watch YouTube videos or whatever helps you escape reality for a while.

(My current haircare faves)

SPEND TIME WITH FRIENDS

Alone time is important but if you feel a little unmotivated during these days, it can be comforting to be surrounded by friends to cheer you up. Just washing your hair and getting out of the house for some fresh air will really aid in lifting your spirits. If you, like many of us, can't handle company during this time in fear of becoming a mega bitch- dog walks are a good alternative.

EXTRA TIPS
I would suggest being extra organised during this time (always!) to reduce stress, be it through creating to-do lists or setting out clothes the night before school- believe me it'll help minimise the amount of crying over silly things we've forgotten to do.

I know that those women who run during their period make us want to punch something but light stretching or cardio can actually release endorphins which in turn, make us happier. If you are lazy like me then how about try some yoga moves which you don't even need to leave your bed to do! A few are mentioned here: Cramp-Relieving Yoga.

Nothing pleases me more than making a zen atmosphere, deep times I know. light some scented candles or incense and simply reflect on the day so that those essays don't seem so daunting.

♥

March Empties

I've collected a bunch of products I've used up and thought I'd write a review for each item once the box was full- so here goes, my first empties post.

           

First up is something which came in a Lush gift box and so it isn't what usually catches my eye in store...

It's Lush's 'Fun' in Blue, a playdoh-like bar filled with chamomile and lavender oil to use as a body wash, hair wash or for bubble baths. The scent is fresh, sweet and floral but not super feminine. It is pretty fun (excuse the pun) to be able to mould little shapes out of this 'soap' and I'm sure would be a hit with little ones! In terms of price, I'm pretty sure these are under £5 and last for ages.

Next up, two samples from Aesop, the purifying facial exfoliant paste and the 'fabulous' face oil. 

The scrub contained fine quartz, rosemary leaf and lactic acid which was fairly powdery rather than scratchy. Despite the overwhelming herbal smell which was quite medicinal it did a good job of smoothing out all bumps and reduce redness. The abrasive texture meant that I would only use it on the chin area- definitely not on the eye area and was too harsh for everyday use.

The oil was a concoction of juniper berry, ylang ylnag and jasmine, which as you can imagine was quite intense fragrance wise. The scent was spa like but I didn't want to smother my face with it. The residue remained on skin in a strange way as if it wasnt absorbing despite being on for an entire sunday. My dry patches in between eyes remained so not much hydration happening- major letdown.

I am a huge fan of the Twinings green tea and peppermint range but the Salted Caramel was not to my liking. The smell was insanely good, like danish pastries and honey. The taste however was weak and bland with a hint of butter which was frankly, rancid. 

A bit of positivity with this one finally! My ultimate bedtime beverage, a sweet peppermint and chamomile tea from Celestial. If you see this anywhere just give it a sniff- beyond delicious and although it's probably the warm drink sending me off, I find that this really helps me drift off.

Two candles which have burnt beyond reuse, both very subtle. The Gardenia one is more floral and creamy whereas the Muji one is citrusy and sweet. I would recommend both for affordability and lasting power.

Last but by no means least is my go-to cream cleanser by Botanics. Marshmallow and sweet almond oil leave my face nourished and clean without feeling stripped. It is also very soothing on sensitive skin so would definitely reccomend for unruly teenage skin or for those looking for a budget cleanser - this bottle is around £8 and lasts for ages.

Favourite Meals & Snacks

It is a lovely thing to see loved ones enjoy a meal which you have worked had producing, it is also as pleasing when you appreciate something you have made lovingly for yourself. This post includes my current favourite things to eat/drink, hopefully the recipes will be easy to follow- enjoy!

First up is Jamie Oliver's trapani-style pasta:  

This is a 20 minute wonder which is really light and delicious, due to the addition of fresh tomatoes, chillies and basil. Even those who struggle with cooking will ace this dish- go for it! The process is simply to make a paste/sauce to go with some pasta, super simple and mega tasty.

Looks like a winner to me!

My current breakfast option is a homemade juice or some healthy pancakes to kickstart the day with a energy boost. 

Mia's Wake Up Juice: 

Simply juice one chopped apple with three large carrots, a thumb sized piece of ginger and a hunk of celery and you're done! You can also pre chop your ingredients the night before and pop in a sandwich bag to help your lazy morning self.

Lighter Pancakes: 

These are quick to make but slightly stressful to cook as the mixture is a funny consistency. You want to mash up one banana with two eggs before adding extras (blueberries, chia seeds, vanilla etc). Fry for three minutes each side in some coconut oil or butter before serving with some honey or agave nectar.

One Ingredient Icecream!

This is so simple and guiltfree, you'll be able to munch through bowl after bowl without feeling sluggish. All you need to do is chop up roughly three bananas per person and place slices in a sandwich bag and freeze for around 5 hours or overnight. The next bit is simple, chuck em in a food processor and blitz- it will take a few minutes for the grainy mixture to become smooth and you will need to scrape the edges with a spatula a couple of times. In the photo above I added some frozen fruit and the resemblance to your standard tub of icecream is uncanny!

Hummus Alternative- Butterbean Dip

This is a go-to snack for those working at home days as you can simply whip up a bowl and dip some pitta strips in (or veg..if you prefer). 

Pop a drained can of butterbeans into a food processor along with salt, pepper, cumin, paprika, lemon juice, two garlic cloves and olive oil before whizzing until smooth.

Sorry for the lack of picture- this stuff goes quickly in our house!

I really hope you found this interesting, what are your go-to things to rustle up?

♥

Happy Changes

We are nearly into the third month of 2015 and I have made some really happy changes so far. One which I wanted to talk about in this post is my venture into the world of Yoga.

Now I am not very flexible, nor have I ever committed to daily stretching - until now. I am currently attempting Yoga with Adrienne's 30 day yoga challenge and am loving the experience! During the past month I have taken around three days off the challenge purely because I didn't want to force myself into it.

Adrienne's youtube channel is filled with a variety of yoga sessions- ranging from headache fixing yoga to period pain relieving yoga- perfect for both advanced yogi's and beginners like me. Her videos in the 30 days challenge section vary in length from 15 to 30 minutes but the time flies by. Occasionally I will do multiple sessions in a row if I feel like certain areas need more work.

The video's are chatty and uplifting, but peaceful at the same time. She has a knack for allowing you to take the time to find what feels good, to push yourself to the right level and enjoy the time you are spending with your body. I have played around with yoga at different times during the day and all have different benefits. In the morning, I am left feeling more positive about the day to come, having rid my mind of the negative sludge which follows my waking moments. In the evening yoga offers an opportunity to unwind and reflect on the day thus far.

If you have ever felt like incorporating a little downtime (or sometimes up time if it's an especially intense session) - I could not recommend starting your yoga experience with Adrienne enough!

Time Flies, But You Are The Pilot.

Only recently has the meaning of 'time flies' really become apparent in my life, my father may still kiss me on the forehead as if I were a little girl but the reality is that this year is going to be a huge jump on the path to adulthood. Moments flitter past me as if they were tiny flecks of dust in the rays of sunlight swimming lazily, through a windowpane. It isn't long until I will venture out into this world so I will definitely begin making a scrapbook this year to look back on, for now- I would like to share some of my favourite memories from 2014 with you.

 Alice & Marla: These two little cherubs are my twin cousins and they not only returned from their birthplace of Australia at the start of this year, but also 'celebrated' their very first birthday. I have watched them grow from fuzzy, milky little creatures into true characters and that makes me both incredibly happy and incredibly sad. The idea of them growing up and exploring this wonderful, yet dangerous world of ours is daunting but I can't wait to have real conversations with my favourite ladies.

 An unexpected adventure: This summer I arranged to go on the summer programme NCS, which meant travelling away from home and spending three weeks with total strangers whilst challenging ourselves on hikes and organising a social action project. I never went to scouts or did anything action-related, at least not without my family, whilst growing up, so the entire experience was totally surreal to me. Anxiety and frustration aside, it was one of the best things I have ever done. The three weeks left me feeling confident in myself, proud of my team and grateful for meeting some wonderful people. Cheesey moment.

Grateful: I did not spend nearly as much time as I would have liked with my friends this year, they make me extremely happy and the events which did occur- will remain with me forever. This photo was taken of us all on a spontaneous trip to Sandwich, where we trekked through land marshes and golf courses trying to find the beach, which upon arrival was freezing cold! We shared homemade goodies and other picnic food, skimmed stones, huddled from the wind in a tiny tent and felt totally disconnected from reality- a beautiful day spent with beautiful people.

Home: My brother returned from his year away in Australia early in 2014 and if there had to be a single person who I had to choose to spend my last ever day on Earth with, this is your guy. He is the voice which encourages me to speak the truth, my own personal Christopher robin, a best friend, a father figure and so much more. I know I will have many adventures and journeys this year and no doubt he will be right by my side. 

Realisation: This planet offers endless explorations, potential photographs, words and love to be found. I travelled to Spain with my family and best friend at around Easter time and although riddled with tonsillitis in the searing heat, the trip opened my eyes to the possibilities we face during our short stay on Earth. There are so many powerful scenes to be captured and things to experience, it is overwhelming but so inspiring to feel both utterly insignificant and yet in control of something so powerful as your own destiny. I can't wait to see where this world will take me next. 

First times: My other half and I endured our first full-on festival this summer, in Reading. It was stressful, muddy and the intense atmosphere fuelled many an argument, and yet it made us grow as individuals in such a short space of time. We adapted our sleeping schedules, endured the dirt and grime and made the most of the experience. We travelled home soaking wet, exhausted and sniffling but happy knowing that we had seen some of our favourite bands perform. Each and every day I learn more about the person I call mine and I adore celebrating these cherished moments we have spent together. More cheese, not sorry. 

Quiet Reflection

One of my new year 'resolutions' (I prefer to call them commitments) is to be more patient, to listen more, to stop interrupting and have a little faith that the earth will continue spinning for long enough for me to get my voice heard. This is something which I find bothersome in others and therefore tend to want to avoid doing myself at all costs.

It is difficult, to be filled to the brim with ideas and thoughts which although prove themselves useful, often burst out as unfiltered nonsense or phrased in such a way that it is interpreted as pompous or belittling- both of which are most definitely not what I intend for my words to come across as. 

'Be the flower that gives its fragrance to even the hand that crushes it.'- Imam Ali

The quote you will see above is one which I try to keep with me at all times. It reminds me that not everyone has had the advantages I have, or experienced events which although may not be the happiest of memories, they do have a large impact on the way I approach life each morning. It is for this reason that upon discussing the act of speech, it is worth mentioning the importance of how we react to the response we are given.

Being mocked for both my achievements and my flaws is something which fuels me to teach, motivate and bring a little more positivity into lives. Lives which may have lacked such guidance, to the point of which they believe it is appropriate to put others down to make themselves feel a little stronger. Such people deserve just as much love as the rest of us, so I am eager to continue sharing my thoughts and advice in 2015- I just need a little guidance in terms of how to go about doing so without rushing out of nervousness or speaking at the wrong moments. 

I apologise for sounding so alike Nick Carraway in this little soliloquy, but I hope that this will reach at least one person, and give them a different perspective or, at best, something to read on the way to work. 

Do let me know if you have any views on these types of posts, or even what your little commitments are for the upcoming year.

 ♥

A Few Favourite Novels

 

I always love reading book recommendations so I thought it would be appropriate for me to do my own. Just as a heads up, I enjoy reading a range of genres but find myself drawn to dark thrillers, romance and other stories fuelled by mystery.

Ingo by Helen Dunmore. I vividly remember this from my childhood as being one of the reasons I am such a water baby. It is set in a beautiful and dangerous world under the sea where two children realise they have the power to learn the ways of sea creatures on a search for their father lost at sea. This is written in such a clever way and I would recommend this to both children and adults who are seeking an interesting book with bizarre dreams upon reading.

Gone girl by Gillian Flynn. There has been a massive hype surrounding this book and the recent film and my god it is deserving of it- if you like treasure hunts, crime and twisted love then give this a go- I finished it in one sitting!

The Search for Wondla and The Spiderwick Chronicles by Tony Diterlizzi. Both captivating reads, in terms of age recommendations TSC is definitely one for those up to the age of 13, a magical goblin filled world with beautiful illustrations inspired by nature. The Search for Wondla trilogy is one which I struggle to put down, I am yet to purchase the third book but all I can say is to ignore the fact that this is labelled 'for children' as there are moments when the story gets dark and weepy- believe me. Diterlizzi has an ability to explore senses so fully through his words that you genuinely feel involved throughout, if you are interested in what those in the future will discover from our world then please read them!

Why we broke up by Daniel Handler. The main two characters in this book, Min and Ed are breaking up, we are introduced to their relationship through a letter written by Min which describes items in a box which she is returning to him. Inside the box is bottle caps, movie tickets, matches and a number of other things collected over the course of their giddy and heartbreaking relationship. This book accurately portrays heartbreak in a way that teaches not to be bitter, but grateful for the things we learn over time spent with someone.

The following are books which would be perfect as a gift as they are both easy reads and wonderful ones at that:

The Memory Keepers daughter by Kim Edwards. A heart wrenching story about a man who gives away the twin sister of his son at birth so that his wife won't find out that she has down-syndrome. If you like books which are realistic yet written in a beautiful way then I'm sure you will love this one.

The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald. A quick and enchanting read about life in the 'roaring twenties' with a devastating ending. If you like glittering worlds and a novel that will stay with you for all your life, pick this up.

A few other mentions: His Dark Materials, Inkheart, The Goldfinch - more to come soon no doubt!