March Favourites | LIFESTYLE

Yet again, another month has been and gone! The days are finally getting longer and the weather is slowly but surely getting warmer. Now that March is over, April is here and summer gradually approaches, I could not be more excited to ditch the extra coat and leave the umbrella at home (hmm maybe not… I am still living in the UK of course!). March was another month of exploring new places and trying new products!

These are my March Favourites:

The White Company “Day” Perfume:

The White Company is full of the most beautiful candles and diffuser sets so I can never resist leaving without purchasing something. I cannot explain how incredible this perfume smells! It has a refreshing sweet scent and is light and subtle. It is perfect for work and brings a hint of spring to your wardrobe.

OPI Nail Polish - Elephantastic Pink:

This colour screams SPRING! It is an absolutely gorgeous shade of pink and is perfect for those wanting to add a bit more colour to their outfit. It stays on during the week without chipping and not to mention looks great. For those who aren’t afraid of a little colour, this is ideal!

Lancôme Bi-Facial Cleanser:

I am very new to the cleanser game. I know, I know, I should have been using one! I have to admit, this was a great investment. Looking after your skin, eyes and face is extremely important. I use this to remove my eye makeup at the end of the day. With a cotton pad, it gently removes any makeup including water proof mascara. This is also gentle enough for contact lens wearers. I would highly recommend.

Garnier Moisture Bomb Night Gel:

Along with looking after your skin, moisturising is very important as well. It is especially important for those with dry skin like me. I have begun using the new Garnier Moisture Bomb Night Gel after hearing and learning all about it at the Glamour Beauty Festival I attended last month. It feels great on and doesn’t leave your skin feeling oily or sticky. The serum melts on your skin leaving you feeling refreshed.

Laura Mercier Lip Gloss - Pink Pop:

I have never been a lip gloss type of girl but how could I resist when it looks this gorgeous?! The colour is very pigmented and super vibrant. It is perfect for every day wear or if you are heading for a night out.

Benefit “They’re real!” Mascara:

This is an incredible mascara that lifts and adds volume to your lashes. My favourite part about it is the brush. It has a specially designed tip which lets you reach to the inner corner making your lashes stand out even more.

Jane the Virgin (TV Show):

I jumped at the chance to watch this show when I saw it had become available on Netflix and I quickly became obsessed! The story line draws you in and leaves you wanting more at the end of each episode. The show is based around a catholic girl, Jane, who has vowed to remain a virgin until marriage but then gets accidentally artificially inseminated and becomes pregnant. The story follows her and her family as well as her love life. Not only is the story romantic, there is also drama, murders and loads of funny moments.

Living in London and living on a budget can be very tough. I am sure that a lot of people can relate to this. I know that it will become harder to purchase new products each month so I thought I would start a segment where I mention some of my favourite FREE things to do, see and hear.

Song of the Month: DNCE – Cake by the Ocean

This is a super fun and funky tune that I cannot help but want to sing and dance along to!

Book of the Month: Khloe Kardashian – Strong Looks Better Naked

Strong Looks Better Naked is an incredible book that Khloe Kardashian has written. It is all about her journey and struggles with her weight and fitness. It is full of motivational stories and advice, as well as recipes and quotes to keep you wanting to work at your health and well-being.

Movie of the Month: How To Be Single

This movie starring Rebel Wilson and Dakota Johnson was absolutely hilarious! The story follows Alice and Robin on the pursuit of the single lifestyle. I laughed, cried and really loved the deeper meaning to this film. It is the perfect movie for a girl’s night in!

If you have any suggestions on what book I should read this month then please leave a comment below! I would love to hear from you.

Thank you for reading.

Amber x

Choose to be Kind | LIFESTYLE

Choosing to be happy when you are having a bad day can be one of the hardest things to do, but trust me it’s worth it. When change happens in our lives it can be difficult and at times discouraging especially when you are surrounded by the wrong people like a lot of us are. Moving to one of the largest cities in the world, I don’t know what I expected life to be like. Taking your first tube ride at rush hour will tell you! Everyone seems to be in a rush and coming from a very relaxed lifestyle this is a huge change. In this very fast paced world, it is important to stop and smile, to apologise if you bump into someone, and to lend a helping hand to those in need.

There is too much hate in this world. Let’s start making it a better place for those around us. Let’s stop being so judgmental of those who are different. Let’s accept other cultures and beliefs with open arms. Let’s love one another for who we are created to be. No one is the same and we are all on a different walk of life. Surround yourself with people who love and accept you for who you are.

Always be kind, because you never know what someone is fighting on the inside. Be the person who is known for your kindness and grace.

• “Be kind to one another” – Ephesians 4:32 and Ellen DeGeneres

• Kill em with Kindness – Selena Gomez

• Treat others the way you would like to be treated. - Unknown

• “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Luke 6:31 and Matthew 7:12

• “Do not judge, and you will not be judged.” Matthew 7:1

• Good manners and kindness are always in fashion. - Unknown

• A warm smile is the universal language of kindness. – William Arthur Ward

• “But the fruit of the spirit is love, peace, kindness, gentleness, joy, patience, goodness, faithfulness, self-control.” – Galatians 5:22-23

• “Anxiety weighs the heart down, but a kind word cheers it up.” Proverbs 12:25

• “Let love and kindness never leave you.” Proverbs 3:3

• “I came so that they may have life and have it abundantly.” – John 10:10

Thank you for reading and please share if you enjoyed.

Amber x

A Long Weekend in London | TRAVEL

It was a warm spring day in London. The first day I had not been wearing a coat since last year. I couldn’t believe how warm it was! Today was definitely a day not to be wasted sitting inside. We began the day with a long tube ride to the historic East End of London, getting off at Liverpool Street and walking towards our first stop, lunch. We arrived in Shoreditch and I instantly fell in love with the street art, old buildings, vintage shopping, food stalls and the independent little shops selling adorable random gifts. I couldn’t get enough of this area! 

I had been speaking to friends earlier in the week who had recommended a place called Cereal Killer Cafe on Brick Lane which I thought sounded AMAZING. 

It was a small cafe with the walls lined with all different types of cereal to choose from. The choice of milks ranged from soy to bubblegum flavoured and the toppings ranged from marshmallows to Oreo. 

This is a cereal lover’s dream! We sat downstairs to eat our incredible creations. The seating area was set up as a 90s kids bedroom with old cartoons playing on video and posters from old magazines that covered the room. The seats were beds with Simpsons duvet covers. The Cereal Killer Cafe was definitely a winner and super funky!! If you are ever in this area make sure to check it out!

We continued walking down Brick Lane taking in the atmosphere, food and vintage shopping. Shoreditch is a place for the creative mind to wander. It is known for its art and hipster culture and my favourite part about this area is the graffiti and street art. The street is lines with colour and vibrancy and there seems to be a story being told on every wall we passed.

Right in the middle of Shoreditch is the iconic Spitafields Market. There the locals sell a mixture of handmade jewellery, clothing, skincare and food from all over the world. Shoreditch has a blend of the old and the new making it an incredible place to visit and experience.

We then jumped back on the tube and headed to Covent Garden. One thing you should know about me is that I love architecture and I continue to fall in love with the beautiful old historic buildings that surround me in London. So when I had heard of a place called Neal’s Yard which is tucked away in a corner of the Seven Dials in Covent Garden, I couldn’t resist checking it out. It is a brightly coloured little courtyard with shops and cafes. It is perfect for photos and a must see in Covent Garden.

I had one last stop planned so once again we hopped back on the tube and this time we got off in North West London at Regents Park. 

One thing that I miss about living in a smaller town is the open space and green grass so what a better way to end a warm spring day than for a walk through one of London’s Royal Parks. Regents Park is beautifully designed and full of perfectly placed flowers, fountains and trees. It is also home to many species of wildlife and the London Zoo. It is a lovely place for a walk or run on a sunny afternoon.

Before we knew it we were at the end of the park and found ourselves at the bottom of Primrose Hill. 

We walked to the top along with many others hoping to make the most of the sun. Even with many people around us we were blown away with the view from the top. We could see every part of the city from here including The Shard, St Pauls Cathedral, The Gherkin, The BT Tower, the London Eye, the Thames, and the Fenchurch Building. 

We decided to sit down and take in the sights some more. There were couples cuddling, people sunbathing, and dogs playing all around us. It was a perfect end to an amazing day.

THE NEXT DAY:

We loved Shoreditch so much that we came back the next evening to the most exciting place I have ever been... A CAT CAFE! Yes, they exist outside of Japan and there is one in London! I heard about Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium a few months ago and knew this was something I had to do. I was not surprised when I had to book 2 months in advance and pay £6 per person just to get a reservation. After the long wait the day was finally here! We made our way back to the exciting culture of Brick Lane and this time continued down Bethnal Green Road until we spotted the cafe. 

We went in and I couldn’t wait to be seated. We walked past a few sleeping cats on the way to our table which was downstairs. 

The walls were filled with cat pictures and play areas for them to climb on and sleep. There was even a book shelf full of magazines and books about cats. 

We stayed for a few hours playing with the cats and chatting to the lovely waitresses about their job (which I am slightly envious of). Just before we left they brought out an adorable kitten named Victor which they had rescued from Brick Lane.  I love that they are helping out animals in need which is something I value and think is extremely important. I will absolutely be back and would highly recommend this experience to other animal lovers like myself.

The best weekends are the ones where you don’t need to spend a lot of money, but you still enjoy yourself anyway.

I am very blessed to have had an amazing Easter Weekend.

Let me know what you did this Easter or if you have been anywhere exciting that you think I should check out!

Once again, thank you for reading.

Amber x

Skincare Routine for Clear Skin | BEAUTY

Clear and flawless skin is something everyone longs to have. The good news is there are ways to achieving this without having to pile on the foundation! I am very blessed to generally have pimple free skin. But that doesn’t mean it is perfect, in fact it’s far from it! My face can be very sensitive so this week I chose to venture out and try some new products. Here are my secrets to clear skin.

My secret is really simple! I try to use as little on my face as possible. I wash my face with water and a facecloth in the shower to get off as much makeup as I can. I will then use a face wipe and gently wipe my face for any excess makeup that the water may have missed. I choose a face wipe that acts as a cleanser as well and one that is gentle on the skin.

Cleanser:

I don’t use a cleanser often as I find that the water on my face makes a huge difference. If I do, I will use the Liz Earle Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser. The hot cloth cleanser quickly removes make up and leaves my skin clean and incredibly soft. This really does make a difference and my skin feels much cleaner after use.

Eye Makeup Remover:

I tend to opt for something that is gentle on the eyes. I have recently begun using the Lancôme Bi-Facial Cleanser which is an eye makeup remover. It is great for all skin types, is perfect for sensitive eyes and for contact lens wearers. Can we also talk about how beautiful the blue formula is!!

I also like the Nivea Extra Gentle Eye Makeup Remover which is very cost effective and is great for the price. If you are on a budget and need a cheaper alternative to Lancôme I would highly recommend this!

Moisturiser:

I have very dry skin, especially in winter so moisturising properly is SUPER important.

I love and have always loved the Nivea Soft Moisturising Cream which is what I use as a base each day. It is light on the skin, quickly absorbed and keeps my face smooth and soft throughout the whole day.

After I have removed my makeup at night I use the Nivea Night Cream which is a much thicker moisturiser. This provides more intense moisture to my skin and after leaving it on overnight, I wake up to my face feeling much smoother and softer.

I learnt all about the new Garnier Moisture Bomb last week at the Glamour Beauty Festival. I know how important it is to keep you and your skin hydrated so I wanted to try this out. I have been using the Garnier Moisture Bomb Night Gel-Cream which is super light weight and doesn’t leave your skin feeling sticky or oily after use.

Lips:

My lips are always in need of hydration so I will always carry around with me Vaseline or some form of lip balm. Vaseline locks in moisture keeping my lips looking and feeling healthy.

Hands:

We can’t talk about skin and not mention our hands! Dry hands are very common in winter and this can be hard to avoid so it is important to keep them moisturised. I have used Vaseline Intensive Care Hand Cream for years and I can’t get enough of it! It is affordable and does an amazing job at keeping my hands hydrated.

I will always have with me a small hand cream in my handbag. I LOVE the Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Hand Cream as it is super hydrating and moisturising. It absorbs quickly and leaves my hands feeling incredibly soft.

I also love the Ted Baker Body Lotion and use this as hand cream because it smells incredible and this also leaves my hands nourished and smooth.

Tips:

·         Have makeup free days! These feel great and your skin will thank you for this.

·         Choose to use a powder instead of a cream foundation as it is a lot lighter on your skin.

·         Make sure to keep hydrated and drink lots of water as it helps with dry skin and keeps your face clear.

·         Eat well. This is super important as what you eat really does affect your body in all types of ways. Steer clear of fatty foods as much as you can as they can cause breakouts.

·         Wear sunscreen as the sun is incredibly damaging.

Every person is different so let me know below of what works best for your skin. Also let me know of other brands I should try.

Thank you for reading.

Amber x

Disclaimer: I realise every skin type is different so make sure to talk to the professionals, read the labels carefully and discontinue use if your skin becomes irritated.