SNACKING SAVIOUR - GRAZE LIGHT BOX

Two days down, three to go...hmm that still sounds like quite a long time when I put it like that! Oh well, the week has begun and we have the bank holiday weekend to look forward to! Today's post is a food post, because I wanted to share something that has helped me through those long days at work where the time just doesn't seem to be budging!

I had a free Graze box coupon that came in an order I recently made with Amazon and so I thought 'what the heck' why don't I give it a try. Those who know me, know I am a constant grazer. I am not one for having 3 big meals...I like to graze throughout the day! I think it's because I can be so indecisive sometimes, that grazing allows me to 'get a bit' of everything and no big decisions have to be made!
I logged onto the website and had a browse around what boxes they offer and I was amazed at the choice! I tried a graze box a couple of times when they first started, but to be honest the choice was pretty limited, so I was shocked at how far they had come! You can get boxes for breakfast, bakery boxes, savoury boxes, chocolate boxes and even sharing boxes! I was stuck for choice, but as I am trying to be healthy at the moment, it was between the popcorn box and the light box. I decided to go for the light box, purely for the variety and the fact that all snacks are under 150 cals (I will be purchasing the popcorn box next).

Now, I love receiving post...there is something SO exciting about receiving post. I think it's because I am of the 'technology generation' and everything is done online. After ordering my light box, I was super excited for it to come and checked my mailbox every day in the three days that it took to arrive, and when it did, I've got to say how impressed I was with it. The box is a cardboard box that is perfect letter box size (I haven't bothered to measure it, sorry). The cute summer design of ice cream cones on a turquoise blue background was really appreciated and really entranced me to open up the box. As I opened it, I was greeted with 4 snack-sized portions of what looked like some pretty exciting stuff! My box included;

Maple and Pecan Granola 

This was absolutely delicious, I was so impressed with how nutty the granola tasted, but also how they managed to incorporate the maple flavour throughout. I often worry with granola that is is full of fat, but this little portion only had 0.6g of sat fat...perf! As it was a snack-sized portion, I had it over some strawberries, blueberries and greek yogurt and it was absolutely delicious.

Super Carrot Cake 

Now this certainly was a sneaky surprise! Cake...under 150 cals in a light box! I love cake, it is 100%  my guilty pleasure and I always try to sneak in a slice on a cheat day! This little slice came with a tea bag...perfect for afternoon tea and cake. The cake itself had a lovely spiced flavour to it which really complimented the carrot.

Lightly Toasted Pistachios

I can be fussy about eating nuts on their own...don't get me wrong I love nuts, but you won't often find me gnawing on them plain. I was a little dubious about these, I haven't had pistachio nuts for years and couldn't quite remember if I liked them or not, but when I tried them...they certainly went down a treat! I enjoyed this little portion whilst at work when it hit that awkward 3pm slump and it certainly cheered me up!

Pitted Beldi and Kalamata Olives 

Another firm favourite of mine! I love olives. I think they are a great snack and just so plain damn tasty. This perfect punnet provided SO much flavour and I really enjoyed them. I took these to work and put them on my salad at lunch and they added so much to it! Not something I would have expected in the box, but it certainly was a nice addition.

The box also came with a list of nutrition and allergen advice for each punnet, which I think is really good, as people (especially me) like to know that kind of information! I was really shocked how each snack was so tasty, but was also low in fat and under the advertised 150 calories. Although each box retails at around £3.89, which is a little pricey...I really did enjoy the novelty of having a graze box! It was great that someone picked my snacks for me and I didn't have too! I probably won't order one weekly, purely because of price, but it is definitely something I would look at doing perhaps fortnightly or monthly.

Have a try and see for yourself...


Much love

PRODUCT OF WEEK - MAYBELLINE LASH SENSATIONAL MASCARA

Happy Sunday everyone...who else is super sad that the weekend is over? Monday morning seems to be rolling round a little too quickly for my liking!

I love doing my 'Product of the Week' series, because it gives me the space to reflect on the product or item, that has most likely been my saviour for the week! I am going to go straight in with it and reveal that my product of the week is Maybelline's 'Lash Sensational Multiplying Mascara' in waterproof. 

For years I have used mascara made by Maybelline, I have jumped on every hype when a new one is brought to market...I have owned "The Falsies', 'The Rocket', 'The Colossal' and 'Leather Black'. I have loved all of them, and have always found myself repurchasing Maybelline mascara. When the Lash Sensational came out, I was buried in my love for Benefits 'they're Real' and so didn't jump on the bandwagon straight away, but around a fortnight ago, my Benefit mascara ran out and I was on the lookout to try something new! Before I knew it, my feet shuffled over to the Maybelline counter, where I was sure that a trusty old friend would be waiting - to my surprise, a new friend was awaiting to be purchased, so how could I say no.?

I went for the waterproof version of this mascara, which is not something I often do, as sometimes I feel mascara's can be too waterproof and be a right pain to take off and you just end up smudging it around your face, but I decided to give this one a go! 

I have found this to be a great product so far. The Layer Reveal brush allows for the mascara to be really build-able and layers my lashes really well, making them appear far longer and fuller than they actually are. I have been able to wear this for two days straight without taking it off and just applying an extra layer and my lashes still looked great! The intricate detailing of the brush, with the slight curvature at the end and throughout, means no lash is left behind. I often find that the lashes in the corner of my eyes get missed out and it can be a right pain trying to reach them! That is not a problem hear whatsoever. The waterproof aspect of it is great too, I went swimming yesterday with it still on my face - I was so worried I was going to get out of the pool with panda eyes, but no nothing, not one tiny smudge. The great thing as well, is that it has been a dream to take off, I have found that it really reacts well to make-up remover and comes off with complete ease! 

I have been really pleased with this mascara and I have loved what it has done to my lashes. I would definitely recommend checking this out if you are on the lookout for a new mascara, it really is everything you could want! It retails at £5.99 at Boots, which is really reasonable for what it is!

What has been your product of the week?

Much Love

**This post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own

SATURDAY AFTERNOONS - GREENWICH PARK!

Well hello mini heatwave! How glorious was the weather today? Although, I am a self-professed summer scrooge, I really did appreciate the blazing sunshine and the heat on my skin today. Being stuck in an air conditioned office all week, doesn't leave much of a chance to be out in nature getting some fresh air!

Today we decided that this Mediterranean style weather should be celebrated with a picnic in one of my favourite parks in the UK...Greenwich Park. I am really lucky to only live a 20 minute drive from Greenwich, so throughout the year, sun or rain, winter or summer, we often frequent it. I love how it gives you the feel of being completely stuck in with nature, but also, the breathtaking views of our cities spectacular skyline! You can literally see right from the O2 arena and the Olympic stadium all the way over to St Paul's Cathedral and The Shard, it really is magnificent! There is so much history and beautiful architecture, that even someone who is not so great with history, can become completely entranced! Not forgetting the Greenwich Observatory, where you have the chance to stand at the centre of worlds time! 

The 'Flower Gardens' is my favourite place to have a picnic, it is just so pretty and the perfect place to catch a few rays of British sun. Today our picnic was from Waitrose (I know I know, I should totally make it myself, but I just didn't have time and Waitrose was there to help a brother out). After feeding our tummies and having a cheeky Summer snooze, we took a walk around the park and then down into Greenwich town. I love Greenwich town, I think it has the bustle of being a London borough, but isn't crazy busy that it is just plain annoying! Down towards the river you have Greenwich Market, which promotes glorious hand made food from around the world, to cute trinkets and nic-nacs and then of course the Cutty Sark, which is a great big ship from the 19th century! Now, I am not going to profess to knowing anything about it, but it is pretty amazing to look at and I would definitely suggest checking it out if you are in the area. 

After a wonder round the town, we headed back up to the park for another walk, a cheeky ice cream and a sit down under a semi-shady tree. The atmosphere was incredible and it was so lovely to see families and children happily playing around together - it made me very proud to be British!

Have you ever been to Greenwich Park?

Much Love

**This post what not sponsored and all opinions are my own 

OUTFIT REVIEW OF THE 2015 TEEN CHOICE AWARDS!

I thought I would do something a little different this week and have a look at some of the outfits worn to the 2015 Teen Choice Awards. I love awards and award season as I get completely obsessed with the beautiful gowns and stylish dresses. One thing I love about the Teen Choice Awards, is that it incorporates people of all ages and it is so nice to see younger people have a chance to walk the red (or in this case blue) carpet. 

From what I have seen so far, the standard of this years fashion has been really high, so I have picked a couple who have really caught my eye. The Teen Choice awards are known for being a more casual event and this was definitely represented in the fashion! I don't really agree with picking the best and the worst dressed, because quite frankly it is not very nice. Nine times out of ten, celebrities have been told what to wear and I would hate it if I was slated for something that I thought looked good! If you are comfortable with what you are wearing and you feel good because of it, then that is all that matters!

So here is a couple of celebs who really caught my fashion eye this year...

Lucy Hale - even though I am a massive PLL fan, I promise I was not biased in including Lucy in my review. I absolutely love this midnight blue Julien Macdonald dress and I think Lucy pulls it off really well. The plunging mesh neckline adds a very cheeky element to the dress, yet the understated accessories and hairstyle allows for her to still look classy and sophisticated. I would definitely buy this dress (or something similar at a fraction of the price). As the dress is quite short, the high strappy sandals make it seem longer than it is and it is perfect for a red carpet look.

Zendaya - I am completely obsessed with the elegance of this outfit and I think it looks so beautiful. The classic A-line pencil skirt paired with a white, off the shoulder ruffled crop, looks amazing. Both the skirt and top are from Ashi Studio - who I hadn't heard of before, but I am now completely obsessed with them. You can't see in this picture, but Zendaya has a long fishtail braid and it looked so pretty. The large hooped earnings are not something I would have gone for, but it has actually worked really well and lets be honest - that leg line slit looks incredible.

Maddie Zieglar - I have been watching Dance Moms for years - way before it made it onto the big screens of the UK and it is one of my favourite TV shows ever! I was so happy to see Maddie looking so sweet and charming on the Blue carpet. Her floral Mac Duggal Dress allowed her to look classy and sophisticated, but didn't threaten her tender age of 12. I think the shape of the dress is really flattering as it pulls in ever so slightly at the waist and then out in a skater skirt style. She has paired the dress with hot pink shoes and a pink clutch and they really tie the dress together nicely. 

Sarah Hyland - Again, modern family is one of my favourite TV shows and I watch all 6 seasons on repeat constantly. Guarenteed it will be on my TV at some point during the week! I think Sarah is absolutely stunning and she has a very enviable bod! She went for a lemon cropped Christian Siriano two piece. The lemon colour really compliments her skin tone and the minimalist accessories allows for all attention to be drawn to the outfit. Although very simple, there is a certain attraction to the outfit and she looks very sleek and sophisticated. I love how she has gone for a red lip - although not something I would have thought of, I think it has worked really well in this instance.

Lea Michele - This is definitely the style of outfit that I would normally go for. I love dresses that pull in at the waist and then have a skater skirt style at the bottom, as I feel that is accentuates the female body in all the right places - the classic hourglass! Lea is wearing a beautiful white, blue and red floral Monique Lhuillier two piece. Yes, that is right, although it looks like a dress, it is actually a high-waisted skater skirt and crop top! I love the intricate detail of the flowers and I love the contrast in colour of the pattern. I have massive hair-envy when it comes to Lea Michele as I think it always looks super shiny and healthy and I love the way she has styled it . The signature red shoes make a great pairing!

I hope you liked my little selection of some of my favourite fashion of the 2015 Teen Choice Awards. As you can see, it is a lot more causal than many other award ceremonies and I think that is what makes it so different and special. It seemed like people favoured two piece outfits this year and it has definitely been reciprocated in high street stores as I have seen a lot more two piece ensembles in stock.

What did you think of the above outfits, which one is your favourite?

Much love

NIKE JUVENATE TRAINERS

I had to share one of the most beautiful purchases I (well technically not me) have made this year and it may surprise some of you! I have recently got back into the gym. I used to go all the time when I was at uni, but since graduating, life has kind of got in the way and I lost my mojo with it...so I knew something had to be done!

Now, I absolutely love fashion...I love looking good and I love feeling like I look good too! So what's better than incorporating fashion into fitness, to give that extra boost of motivation to get your butt into gear! I haven't bought new trainers for myself in around 5/6 years, so it was about high time I got some new ones and this time I wanted super cute and colourful trainers that could be worn outside of the gym (my last ones were purely practical).

When I walked past the 'Nike Juvenate Teal Retro' trainers I knew I just had to have them! They were exactly what I was looking for and I instantly fell in love with the teal/mint colour. I felt really naughty, but I asked the shop assistant if they had them in a size 5 and said to myself 'if they have them, then it is meant to be' (pretty silly when I was 99.9% sure they'd have them) and of course they did! Before I knew it, I was at the checkout and my boyf was buying them for me - it all happened very quickly, but boy oh boy am I glad it did! They honestly are the most beautiful trainers I have ever owned.

One thing you should know about me, is that I am all about comfort...if I am not comfortable, then I'm not going to be happy and this rule most definitely applies to my feet! I have to say, these are quite possibly THE comfiest shoes known to man. They have a memory foam feel to them and they are very light and airy - it feels like you aren't wearing any shoes! The stretch like material allows them to slip on so easy that it puts Cinderella to shame! As they are so light, they are great for any kind of exercise - running, walking, jogging and of course weight lifting as well. The flat nature makes them perfect for squats and lunges (no more excuses now) and the stretchy mesh material allows for a perfect fit!

I love to wear them, even when I am just pottering about and running errands, because they look so darn good! The colour of them stands out so nicely that they pair perfectly with some black jeans and a sweater - they definitely tie an outfit together!

I would massively recommend buying the 'Nike Juvenate' trainers (especially in teal) for anyone who is looking to buy or upgrade their current trainers. I can't stress enough how comfortable they are and how perfect they are for exercise. As they look so good, they definitely encourage you to work out! They retail at around £70 - I know that is a little pricey but investing in good quality trainers saves you a lot of pain in the future! 

Now, until you go buy them I shall make you super jealous with some photos...

Much Love

MIDWEEK BREAKFAST - SUPER SMOOTHIE

It is a well known fact that I am not really a breakfast person. The last thing I think of when I open my eyes is food - I have never been a massive fan of breakfast and I don't think I ever will be! It is not ideal, because as I am sure you all know breakfast is THE most important meal of the day!

Since starting a new, full time job, I have realised just how important it is to feed my body in the morning! It is such a dilemma because I love my sleep - I slam my snooze button about 5 times in the morning before I rise and my only goal of the morning is to squeeze in as much sleep as possible. This proves difficult to have a healthy, nutritious breakfast and only leaves the options of grabbing something ready made, which is most likely full of sugar and other questionable ingredients! 

I got into juicing and smoothie making about a year and a half ago and when the idea clicked that I could chuck a bunch of things into the bullet and it would create a nutritious and tasty meal, my breakfast woes were over. 

I often find that a smoothie keeps me going longer than a juice. If I am using the nutribullet as a meal then I will do something thicker, like a smoothie, but as a mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack I will do a juice - so I thought I would share with you this delicious breakfast smoothie recipe that keeps me going at work for hours!

You will need:

1 banana

1 handful of blueberries

1 handful of strawberries (around 5/6 strawberries)

3 tablespoons of 0% fat greek yogurt (you can use full fat I just prefer fat free)

1 tablespoon of porridge oats

1 teaspoon of Nutriblast Superboost 

Chuck it in the nutribullet and away you go!!!

What smoothies do you enjoy?

Much love

PRODUCT OF THE WEEK - MERIDIAN ALMOND BUTTER

This week's product of the week is completely different to what I normally do...and by that I mean it is not a beauty related product at all. 

Now, to start us off, as I child I pretty much lived off of peanut butter. Any chance I would get, I would stuff my face with the thing! You can imagine my dismay, when I found out that it wasn't the healthiest thing in the world!

I am constantly on the look out for healthy replacements for foods that I love, so after some hefty research, I finally found the BEST replacement for peanut butter ever.

Meridian nut butters pride themselves on being 99.5% pure nuts (with the 0.5% being a tiny bit of salt). The nuts are roasted in the oven and them somehow crushed and made into a smooth butter. After my immense research, I decided to go for the almond butter, as almonds are lower in saturated fat than other nut alternatives and they also are high in both fibre and calcium and of course high in protein. I am not gonna lie, I was a little unsure when I purchased the almond butter, as I didn't know if I would like it, as I had never really had almonds before...but my my my it was incredible!! I can not describe to you how happy I was that it was genuinely so delicious. In fact, I think it has a better taste than regular peanut butters. The butter itself is really smooth in consistency (I bought smooth not crunchy) and it is really, well nutty. It is so great to know that you can eat something knowing it is purely what it says it is and it doesn't have any of the added rubbish that other products have.

I will always pick almond butter over peanut butter now, and meridian nut butter over any other brand. I now buy myself a 1kg pot as I eat it so much and so it is way better value! If I am not having it on toast or a ryvita, I like to chop up various fruits such as bananas and apples with maybe some celery as well to dip into the almond butter. I find it can be a really satisfying and healthy snack and is great after the gym or when my blood sugar levels tend to drop around 3pm and I lose all hope and concentration!

I would massively recommend checking out the meridian nut butters and especially the almond butter itself...it is just so darn tasty that it is not worth missing out on.


Have you had almond butter? What do you eat it with?


Much love

SATURDAY AFTERNOONS

I thought I would share today how I spent my Saturday afternoon. I love going to cafes, sandwich shops or tea rooms...I am an absolute sucker for them. Wherever I go, I have to stop for a tea or a coffee somewhere...it is just a must!

Anyway, quite recently I found a hidden gem of a tea room, quite local to where I live and I have already been there a couple of times since (I actually mentioned it in my post about my birthday weekend here), but I went there today and I thought I would share my trip with you. The cafe in question, is called 'The Drawing Room' and it is located in Locksbottom which is a small village/town just outside of South London. 

We shared a pot of tea for two, which came in the the most charming, bone china teacups with the matching teapot. To eat, I had a delicious hummus and roasted vegetable panini, which came with a side salad and the greatest homemade coleslaw I have EVER had! My boyfriend had a bacon, brie and mushroom toasted baguette, that I also had a sneaky taste of and was incredible too!! I loved how the food was presented, it came on a beautiful floral china tray and the side salad and coleslaw were served in little teacups! Absolutely delightful! 

The tea room itself is really cute and quaint with the walls covered in picture frames and pretty mirrors. The table and chairs are all wooden and antiquey looking, which give a really cosy feel to the place (even in the blazing sunshine). It also has seating outside, which is always a plus. The staff that work there are really kind, and nothing is too much trouble.

Now just look how amazing those cakes look...I am definitely going in for the kill next time and having a great big slice of Victoria Sponge!

It is unlikely that many of you would be able to go if you aren't local to the South London/Kent area, but if you are, I massively recommend it. I love reading posts like these and seeing how other people spend their days, so I thought I would do the same. 

Have any of you been somewhere similar, or to the Drawing Room itself?

Much love, 

A PASSION FOR NATURAL

I am really excited to be writing this post, because I think I have found a new brand that is going to become one of my skincare favourites.

Passion for Natural is a relatively new brand that prides itself on being, paraben and SLS free, 100% organic and manufactured in the UK using the healthiest leaves from the aloe vera plant. It is developed with natural betaine sources, which have the ability to support skin regeneration and elasticity. The combination of ingredients in the products are designed to soothe and heavily moisturise dry and irritated skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Now, as someone who suffers from psoriasis, which is a chronic skin condition leaving you with dry and irritated skin (I am going to write a more detailed post on this), I was really intrigued to try products from this range, as I am constantly on the look out for products that will soothe my skin. I love aloe vera, I find it very soothing and comforting and most importantly, I am absolutely obsessed with the smell. It leaves me feeling incredibly clean and fresh and most of the products I tend to buy are aloe vera based, so I was really pleased to try the following products.

Aloe Vera Moisturising Mist - I am absolutely and utterly obsessed with this product and it is on my 'constant re-purchase'. The mist itself was designed to deliver aloe vera to your skin in a 'refreshing and quickly absorbed' way, that doesn't require any rubbing in. It is like they designed this product specifically for me. As I mentioned above, I constantly suffer from dry and irritated skin and this has been a godsend during one of my bad psoriasis flare ups. I have found that it instantly hydrates me, leaving my skin feeling refreshed and soothed, relieving any itch or irritation. As it is easily sprayed on and doesn't require any rubbing in, it is quick and easily accessible for me and I don't have to stand there for ages with sticky moisturiser lathered all over my body. I would massively recommend this product to anyone with a skin condition or for people who suffer from dry skin.

Aloe Vera Lip Butter - I love trying new lip products. There is nothing worse than having dry, chapped lips, so I am constantly applying lip balms. The consistency of the product is really smooth and has a very noticble aloe vera scent - which I love. I have found that it has done wonders for my lips so far and has left them feeling really hydrated and soft.

Aloe Vera Body Scrub - I often find that exfoliators and body scrubs can really irritate my skin, so I am really fussy when it comes to trying and buying new ones. Considering I had such good results with the above products, I thought I would give it a go. This product also contains walnut shell which allows it to be extra hydrating and has been designed to have an easy rinse formula. I rub it onto my skin in a circular motion whilst I am in the shower and then gently wash it all off - I only ever use a body scrub twice a week maximum to prevent any irritation. I have to say, it is incredibly gentle. The exfoliant beads are soft enough to not cause any irritation, but still have the ability to leave my skin feeling radiant and glowing. It has been a perfect pre-moisturising product and really compliments the moisturising mist!

I would really recommend these products and have loved using them...keep and eye our for part two of my review. 

Much love

**All opinions in this post are my own, however I was very kindly gifted the products by Passion for Natural