New Year Hangover Cures

As the New Year comes in with a bang 

Here are some Hangover Cures to stock up on before you need them.

I honestly can't even think about food after a night of drinking unless I'm still already drunk and we've stumbled upon somwhere that does chips. Come morning and I actually have to function as a human being it takes me a while before I can really stomach anything and this has come from a lot of trial and error.  A major error being my mum thinking a full english breakfast would be a good idea after my first proper drinking session and I was violently sick whither it was the food or the drink we'll never know...

Innocent Antioxident Smoothie.
I genuinely didn't know how I felt about this the first time I drank it but now I reach for it when ever I'm in need of a pick me up. It honestly just makes me feel miles better, whither I've been out all night having a drink or just been up all night binge watching a show.  Defiantly one to put in your fridge.

Irn Bru
I'm a sugar free kinda gal, but the regular stuff would work too. Sometimes you just need something fizzy and Irn Bru is a honest to god hangover cure. I always grab a bottle of this especially if I have to work or socialise after a night out as it keeps me awake as well as keeping me sane.

Water 
I make sure I have a bottle of water ready to take up to bed with me when I come in and force myself to drink it eveytime I wake up, which is a lot as I have really bad sleeps if I've been drinking. This really helps me wake up a little bit fresher as the few times I have forgotten this have not been very pleasant as well.

So remember to drink responsibly and have a fantastic New Year.  

Adventures in Wanderland 2015

I've had an absolute wonderful time  fulfilling some of the Wanderlust that I have this year. Starting with a trip to London and ending with Celebrating my Mums 50th in Lanzarote.  The trips I have taken have hopefully just been a simple stepping stone to what is to come.

July|London


July| Paris


July| Milan


August| Rome


October| Lanzarote

#MusicMonday: Something I need - One Republic

I can't believe that 2015 is drawing to a close its been such a weird year of incredible highs and weird middles.  I can't wait to see what 2016 has in store.  I'm really ready to be over with this year and start a new chapter of my life.

The final Music Monday is Something I need by One Republic this was in my recommended songs on spotify months ago and I loved it and haven't really stopped playing it since. I love the tempo it keeps me upbeat and its so easy to sing along to.

One Republic 

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Take a Break: Hot Chocolate

There's a lot that I love about christmas but shopping is not one of them. I tend to like to do most of it online where I can be in the comfort of my own home and get in delivered without the hassle of queues, leaving the house and the high possibility of getting soaked from the rain.  

All of which happened to me as I found that I actually needed to enter shops to get presents this year. So off to town I trudged. 

And of course I took a moment for myself so as well as treating myself to a gorgeous Urban Decay Nude Matte Lipstick I stopped off at my favourite place in the world Starbucks.  

Starbucks do this amazing thing during the holiday season they introduce there festive flavours and I fell in love with the Honey and Almond Hot Chocolate last year when I tried it on a whim not totally sold with the fact it said Almond, cause I always find that things like that can be a hit or a miss. But luckily this was a hit.  

Any who I took a moment out of my torturous trip at the shops to have a seat and a lovely hot chocolate. The almond and honey make it sweeter and just way more amazing and I was eagerly anticipating winter so I could have it again. My first trip into town at the beginning of December saw me rushing to the Starbucks at the train station to get a Red Cup of this amazingness. 

So treat yourself before this festive fave leaves us for another year or try the Egg Nog Latte another one of my absolute favourites. 

#MusicMonday: River - Joni Mitchell

It's coming on Christmas there cutting down trees... for my last instalment of the Christmas Music Mondays, until next year, I have picked Joni Mitchell's "River". Simply because I find this song hauntingly beautiful .
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When Idina Menzel released her christmas album in October 2014, I was reminded of this song, cause ya know its track 10. I forgot how much I love it. Its amazing lyrically, the melody is amazing.
And its just so simple but perfect.

So as christmas draws in, I'm sat perfectly contended listening to all my favourite Christmas tunes. And though its not even finished yet I'm already looking forward to red cups, fairy lights and christmas tunes in 2016.

Joni Mitchell

Itunes 

Idina Menzel 

Christmas Wishes 

The Happiness Planner 2016

I recently opened my Happiness Planner after is sitting waiting for a moment I could do so on camera. As I wanted to accompany it with a first impressions video. My impression is that this is a fantastic idea.

The Planner comes with extra sheets to write your New Year's Resolutions, Goals, Bucket list and a Goal to change a habit in 30 days.  As well as some paperclips to keep track of these.

The planner itself is contained in a lovely cardboard box. And has two colour options blue and pink. Due to the Pink having an accent of Gold on the front cover I picked that and would probably have opted for the blue had it been gold and not dark blue that had accented the cover.

Before you get to the year the Happiness Planner asks you nine questions that seem to be a guide or a Happiness Roadmap, to see what you want as aims in 2016 and what your goals could be. Then there is a space to write what you want your focus to be each month.

Then is is the a plan for the month, to set goals and happy things that you will do. Each day then comes with questions about the day ahead and then questions to reflect not that day.

When 2016 there are questions to reflect on the year as well as a space to tally your scores from the year which are based on 5 questions you are asked each month that you score out of five.

I'm really looking forward to filling this planner out and looking back in a years time and seeing how I have actively chosen to be happier... I hope. And done things that bring happiness into my life.

2016 already feels like its going to be an interesting journey. 

The Happiness Planner 2016

The 100 Day Happiness Planner 

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#MusicMonday: Fairytale of New York - The Pogues with Kirsty MacColl

In an idillic world, I would be sat in a bar somewhere in New York, it would be Christmas Eve and just as last calls were ordered this song would come on, then once it had finished I would step out into the cold night and wander for a while.

"Fairytale of New York" is my all time favourite Christmas Song, its truly timeless.  Shane McGowans harsh and gritty voice paired with Kirsty MacColl's more melodic voice, make an unlikely but amazing pairing.

The song as what must be some of the greatest lyrics ever and an even greater story arc. Not just for a christmas song. This is always the first christmas song that I choose to listen to. I never get tired of it I can spent hours without realising that I have had it on repeat.

Fairytale Of New York

iTunes 

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The Pogues

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Take a Break: Skin Care

Being a little strapped for cash with it being the festive season I was left sort-of neglecting buying my cleanser and just using face wipes. Which do serve a purpose they just don't do an amazing job.

So after my face decided to have a bit go a major breakout I decided I just had to go and get some and have a little TLC time with my skin.

I have combination skin normal and oily. Have suffered from spots since I was about 10 and have when through many different brands, creams, cleanses. Some made my skin breakout in not
only spots but rashes. Irritating my already irritated skin. Some came in at too hefty a price, some just didn't seem to do much at all.  Skin care is all about what works for the person, and of course not breaking the bank trying to find it.

I started using No7 Beautiful Skin Normal/Oily products at the beginning of the year and have used them on and off again as I am terrible at keeping up with skin care routines. My mind often goes to a place where I think my skin is terrible so why try. Which is the worst attitude to have because then it gets worse and days like these need to happen.

My Face TLC routine:

I first use a face wipe to remove most of my make-up. I wear a full face most days as thats my preference and how I feel most comfortable. Though I know its not necessary whats best for my skin. Then I use the Cleansing Water to properly rid my face of any remaining make-up and then I use the cleansing foam to help refresh my face and make it feel less dry, which I sometimes feel the Cleansing water does.

I then exfoliate both my skin with the No7 exfoliator. And my lips with the amazing Bubblegum lip scrub from Lush, which leaves my lips feeling amazing, especially in the winter when my lips dry up and go a bit chapped.

I then do a combo mask putting the Pore vacuum mask on my T-zone are and the Purifying mask on the rest of my skin. My favourite thing about the purifying mask is that it heats up as you rub it into your skin. Then I leave that whilst I have an relaxing bath, because how else would you complete a pamper session.

Once I take the masks off, the worlds most satisfying feeling I think is removing the Pore Vacuum mask as you peel it. Then take the Purifing mask off with just water.  I once again  using the cleansing water to make sure my skin is fresh and clean and then moisturese.

I can literally hear my skin thanking me as yes I can sometimes be found going to bed without removing my make-up which I know is such a huge faux-pas.

Looks like Christmas

I come from a family with few traditions but as Christmas comes in we are jam packed with great festive traditions. One of my favourite is putting up the tree which we do whilst watching a movie... normally a Christmas Movie and eating a box of Quality Street.

We tend to keep things minimalistic, our trusty pre-lit tree has survived all 7 years at the new house and is probably needing to be replaced but its what we know and every year when it comes down the loft we anxiously await to see if it turns on once again. We changed up the bobbles this year as many of them from the previous years lost there string. And most other directions and bought in pairs or threes. And of course everything has its place.

The world just feels better when its lit by fairy lights. And though because of work I don't spend many cosy nights in the house with the room lit by the tree. There is honestly nothing better than coming in whilst its wet and windy outside to a little cosy haven.