Detox Night | beauty

Although crazy, exciting and bursting with joy, Christmas can be a really stressful time. And by really I mean really really. Last-minute scrambles in charity shops for gifts to present to loved ones the very next morn, burning parsnips and Brussels sprouts and ovens exploding in billows of steam. And that's only a little bit of an exaggeration. One of the most comforting feelings in the world is being able to sink into a hot bath brimming with bubbles and wash away the grime, sweat and stress of the day. If you're ready to kick-start 2K16 on a high just keep reading. Enjoy!

music
There is food to feed your body, books to grow your mind and music to nourish your soul. Cheesy, I know, but it's very, very true. If I could have a soundtrack in the background of my everyday life I would - music is one of the things that can cheer me up on any rainy day. Put together a playlist on your phone of all of your favourite toons and let it play as you sink lower into the cauldron of bubbles that is your bath. One song I've been chilling with during the holidays is 'Magnets' by Disclosure ft. Lorde. It's kind of unsettling but it has really classy vibes and I absolutely love it.

skincare
Take this as the perfect opportunity to pamper your skin with all the sweet loving it needs (ie it's time to whip out those face masks, spells and potions and lather them on without fear!). I personally love to use coconut oil as a makeup remover and moisturizer for both my face and body because not only does it smell like heaven, it's 100% natural and has so many benefits for your complexion! Some other bits n bobs I've been experimenting with recently are the Shiseido (please don't ask me to pronounce that) Hydro-Nourishing Softener moisturizer and Eye-Soother eye cream as well as a rich clay face mask from Argiletz (yeah, I can't say that without stumbling either), all of which work wonders at cleaning and strengthening your skin.

diy mani-pedi
What could be more fun than messing around with miniature bottles filled with all the colours of the rainbow? Start by gently warming a small bowl of olive/coconut oil and dipping your fingertips in it for 5 - 10 minutes. This will soften your cuticles and any tough skin around the nail bed, making it easier for you to push it back. Next, take a damp, heated cloth and begin softly massaging your hands with it before going on to push back any dead skin and clean underneath the nails. Clip, cut and file, and you're ready to apply the first coat of polish (I prefer to spread a clear base coat on first, but that step isn't vital). Finish off by topping your freshly-painted nails with a glistening top coat and you're ready to rumble!

bath bombs/ salts
Throw 'em in your bath and watch the magic happen. 

A Day in the Life of Gossip Girl | travel

Hey all you Upper East Siders, Gossip Girl here. 

First of all here is a fashionably late but very merry Christmas to all ye filthy animals out there! I hope that all of you who celebrate Christmas had a very pleasant day filled with food, love, and yet more food (did I mention food?). Second of all, it's story time, so make yourself as comfortable as you can and get ready to find out about my adventures in wonderland/ the big apple/ the city that never sleeps . . . otherwise known as New York. Enjoy!

So, over the fall mid-term break, instead of lolling around the house in pyjamas, a bowl of chocolates in one hand, the TV remote in the other, I was strutting through the hectic streets of Manhattan, purse in one hand, Starbucks (PSL, what else?) in the other, breathing in the chilly, over-poluted, magical air of New York City. And, of course, I decided that this experience was in dying need of a blogpost, so here you have it: a day in the life of GG and co (yes, I actually went with five of my closest friends to visit another friend who had moved to the good ole US of A around two years before). I hope you like this blogpost!

XOXO - Gossip Girl

 

 

 

Autumnal Room Decor | Lifestyle

Transitioning from summer to fall is never one of my favourite yearly events. Early mornings with a midnight sky, the school bell bringing me to my senses, mugs of milky hot chocolate, a dribble of froth oozing down the side of the- well, OK, scratch that, not everything about the fall season is vile and repulsive! However, I do know that it can be a struggle to let go of the warmth and amiability of the year and dip into the unknown months ahead. 

So, because room decor is one of the most simple yet effective ways to brighten your mood, this is my way of spreading a little positivity and magic to help you cope with cold nights in and the beginning of the end of a year. Enjoy!

little patchwork hearts

These little babies are fabulous for bringing a hearty (get it, get it?!), festive vibe to any empty room. Think Santa Clause chic and pumpkin spice latte with a little hint of rustic grunge thrown in. Mmm Tumblr.

rearrange your makeup collection

Make it neat, make it stylish, spice it up to the max or just remove a few lonely dried-up mascara tubes and way-too-sticky lipglosses that you'd never touch in a million years, yet somehow managed to have stashed away with the rest of your collection. I just find that moving things around really helps me feel more organised, productive and ready to take on the world. For real though.

burn, baby, burn

And no, I do not mean this in a literal sense, I mean it in a 'it's finally candle season!' sense. Yes, grab a candle (or two or three), light it up and get ready for the vanilla and cinnamon to wrap you up in a big bear hug. Best. Hug. Ever. 

posters

As strange and 90's as it sounds, posters are a really great way of adding a subtle kick to your room. Just make sure they're classy rather than trashy and you are good to go!

polaroids

You cannot get more retro than this, m'dear. Not only do they look super cute hung up around your room, they're also a great excuse to pull the strangest faces and fall into heaps of giggles with your friends. Try it, you won't regret it!

How to Survive Highschool

 

WHAT TIME IS IT? SUMME- scratch that, it's back-to-school time. Hell yes. School lunches, oversized jumpers that smell like mould, headaches and low energy levels. And although coffee has magical powers that keep you awake during those crummy maths classes, it's just not enough to help you survive. But hey, there has to be some way of going through the next few years of life without collapsing into a pile of books never to be found again, no? 

Well, with a lot of personal experiences, coffee and multiple ingenious moments in the shower, I have managed to gather together the five wonderful bundles of advice I speak about below. You are about to be shown the life changing secrets of a highschool master. Enjoy!

energy

Whether you're up against a life altering exam or just facing into yet another day at the office, you're not going to last the day if you're not packed full of positive thoughts, confidence and energy. To keep my energy levels sky high, I like to start my day with an antioxidant-packed green tea or a scrumptiously healthy breakfast smoothie (like this one here) and if I'm ever in need of a nutritional boost between classes I like to nibble on a TREK bar (preferable peanut flavoured!). These awesome bars are not only gluten, wheat and dairy free, making them 100% vegan, but they also have (wait for it) a grand total of 10g of protein per bar. WHAT?! Perfection.

friends

OK, I know this one's a given, but you can never have too many friends, right? The more the merrier. Smiles all 'round. Whoop-de-whoop. Sadly, however, making friends can be harder for some than it is for others, and that can be really tough if you're heading into a completely new year (let alone a new school). One piece of advice that I have for you, though, is to branch out. Burst from your comfort zone. This may be doing something as simple as saying hi to someone in Physics class or even talking to that girl with the freckles and plump nose who sits beside you in Spanish, but once you do it you will feel 100 times better. 

Don't stick with the same person/ group all of the time. Although they might be the sweetest people you've ever met, they can change. So make friends with lots of different people, spread out, be confident. Smile. And I promise you, everything will be fine.

be organised

This does not mean you have to run around as chairman of each and every club of your school, do everyone else' homework and wake up early every Thursday to bake teacakes for tomorrow's fundraiser (unless, of course, you want to). Being organised and on top of your game is one of the key factors to staying positive and stress free and, overall, happy. You can do this by keeping a sharp eye on time (to hand in projects, go to class, finish assignments) and making lists (this pushes you to be more productive in general, and once you've ticked off all that you've planned to do the satisfaction and relief feel amazing!). I also have a blogpost about being more productive, so why not check that out?

 

take photos

Purely for good times, memories and the joys of being young!

take time off

Relax. School is not all about study, books and snotty-nosed teachers. Make time in your day to chill out and forget about any stress that comes with the highschool package. Read a book, listen to your favourite toonz, take a break, and come back with a fresh mind, ready to fight again.

Homemade Cinnamon + Walnut Swirls | food

When a spicy chill cuts through the air, and the aroma of warm vanilla wafts from the open kitchen door, enveloping you in a big bear hug, you know that sweater weather has arrived at last and it is finally socially acceptable to snuggle down with a creamy mug of hot cocoa to yet another replay of Friends (not that I haven't spent my whole summer doing just that).

And what could be better than settling down to watch Friends with a mahoosive mug of chocolate in one hand, a blanket in the other?

Answer: settling down to watch Friends with a mahoosive mug of chocolate in one hand, a dish of home baked cinnamon swirls in the other, gazing at the cakes as their warmth teases the butter into tiny golden rivers. Basically heaven, amirite (or amirite)?

Please excuse the ridiculous length of this blogpost, I'm kind of a perfectionist! Enjoy! 

Ingredients:

for the pillowy dough

• 3 1/2 cups of spelt flour
• 1/5 cup of coconut sugar (let's keep things healthy, ok?)
• 3/4 block of unsalted butter (because salt and cinnamon just don't work)
• 1/4oz fresh yeast (this makes things interesting)
• 2/3 cup of milk (I used full-fat because ha YOLO, but you can use whatever type you like)
• 4 eggs 

for the sticky, gooey, melt-in-your-mouth filling

• 1 cup of roughly-chopped walnuts
• 1/2 cup of coconut sugar (I'm in love with the coco)
• As much cinnamon as you desire (aka A LOT)
• 1/2 a cup of agave nectar (optional)

for the golden topping

• 1 egg
• A little bit of milk (go freestyle here)
• A couple of drops of vanilla extract
• A few tablespoons of coconut sugar
• A few tablespoons of cinnamon and allspice

 

How to make this magical badboy:

•  Put the flour, sugar and diced butter into a bowl and roll up your sleeves 'cause you're making breadcrumbs
• Sprinkle a shimmer of sugar (such alliteration, oh my) over the yeast to activate it and whisk it into the milk, followed by the eggs. Dollop that into the dry ingredients
• Mix well (who needs a gym when you can mix by hand? #gains)
• Knead the dough well for 10-15 minutes, making sure NOT to add any extra flour. The mixture may resemble something from Shrek's swamp at first but stick at it and soon it will improve, I promise
• Gently plop the dough into a lightly-buttered bowl, cover it with a tea-towel and leave it sit for 1 hour in a warm, dry place (quite a challenge, as it is autumn)
• Make the filling by crushing all of the dry ingredients and combining them with the agave nectar (if you have decided to use that)

• Once the dough is as soft as a baby's stomach (too weird?), cut it in half and roll each piece out well until they form rectangles
• Dust the filling over each sheet and roll in with a rolling pin 
• Then tightly roll each slab by hand until they look like cool logs
• Cut each log into wacky-looking snails and lay them onto a greased baking tray
• To make the topping, mix all ingredients together. Using a brush, coat the snails with it. Dust with extra cinnamon and crushed nuts of your choice
• Preheat your oven to a high heat (I set it to gas mark 5) and let your little snails rest for 30 mins before popping them into the oven for yet another 30 mins
• Eat hot (because who lets baked goodies cool, anyway?)

 

 

5 Tips for a Productive Day

Hey everyone,

Long time, no see, aye? Hang on, though, get excited - a sweet surprise (which I am currently working on) awaits! Today I want to sit down and talk to you about something a little less lighthearted than my favorite travel must-haves or how to have the perfect rosy pout or how to dress like a princess (answer: wear whatever you like, whenever you like, wherever you like). Today I want to talk to you about something different. Something mind blowing. Something that could change your life. Today I want to talk to you about productivity.

Productivity is an essential factor in feeling fulfilled, accomplished and, well, overall confident. It may be as simple as trying to drink more water, disconnecting from the big wide Internet world, stretching for ten minutes a day or even giving more love to that scruffy dog of yours who scrambles onto your ready made bed with muddy paws and devours everything in sight, but being productive is yet another achievement to be proud of, another fulfilling moment to cherish, another boost of confidence propelling you forward. 

Here are 5 of my personal favourite ways to change your dreams into plans and your can'ts into cans!

wake up early
Flopping out of bed at 11:00 with groggy eyes and typical Einstein hair is not what I like to call the sexiest feeling in the world. This may take a few consistent mornings of coffee and discipline but once you have it under control, rising and shining at early hours of the morning is totally worth it (do I sound like a l'Oreal ad yet?). Not only do you look and feel better, the day is stretched out too, leaving you with lots more time to be productive!

make a plan
Having a to-do list of all my daily tasks planned out ahead of time sets me in the perfect mindset to put my head in the game and just do it (switching from l'Oreal to Nike now. Wow, I really should be an advertiser!). Whether it's a list of small reminders for the day or a super hardcore study plan, writing down what you have to do really sets it in stone, making you feel much more motivated to do it.

exercise
Go for a walk after breakfast, do a rapid session of pilates, hit the gym for an hour, go become active! Even if you are working hard, being sedentary all day long is a brain killer. A gulp or two of sweet fresh air a day is all you need to not only be more active and productive but feel awesome in general.

 

try something new
It doesn't have to be crazy but do something splendid. Disconnect. Bake a cake. Read a book. A magazine. Breathe. Whatever it is that you do, your future self will thank you greatly for the self-respect and confidence gained from it. Take productivity in baby steps. Step away from your comfort zone. Do something unusual. It doesn't have to be big. But just do it.

be disciplined
OK, this is where the mountain climb begins. But trust me when I say that the view from the top is so magnificent that you won't ever want to clamber back down. I feel that discipline is one of the most important virtues in life. Once you have it, you have the power to tackle anything. Start simply. Put your phone in the other room when you go to sleep. If you plan to do something make sure to go ahead with it. Set deadlines for projects. Don't laze around all day - have the discipline to stand up and do what you have to do. Once the evening settles in and you realise that you've had the discipline to, say, eat healthily all day, you will feel so much happier with yourself than if you'd sat around guzzling junk.

Paris mon Amour

Coucou tout le monde!

As you may or may not know, I am currently in France, enjoying the sweet summer heat and devouring hunks of croissants at the breakfast table while birdsong dances through open French doors (terrible pun so not intended). So, being only one hour from Paris, I recently grabbed the opportunity to take a trip to the big city, where I ended up as a typical Instagrammer in its natural habitat (not as bad as it sounds, mind you - I did manage to snap quite a few Insta-worthy shots). Every street, every corner, every square meter was alive and pounding, and I was unconditionally in love. 

As the heat of the afternoon began to dim softly and cigarette smoke trickled through blunt orange streetlight and restaurants filled up with hungry tourists and dinner-eaters, I, along with my little family decided that it was time to creep back home to a cool shower and a bite to eat. On the way, however, my lovely mom stopped to return something to a shop, and, without my realising, also picked up a little vial of perfume (as well as a teeny tiny pocket of sweets) as a gift for me. On arriving home I didn't even notice the tiny bag tucked into a larger containing my day's purchases. I was so exhausted that I simply sunk into cool cotton sheets after a relaxing rinse and closed my eyes until the next morning. However, when I did eventually uncover it I was overcome by joy and a simple citrus essence. The scent was such a lovely delight (who doesn't love surprises?) and I can't wait to wear it! 

Makeup Photoshoot à la Pro

Hey everyone!

Here's something that I would absolutely love to share with you and really hope you enjoy!

If you've taken a peek at my recent makeup review and June favourites blogposts you may have noticed that I mentioned the blooming Irish makeup brand Maison d'Anu quite a few times. And why, you wonder (this is the exciting part, start buzzing)? Well, I had the thrill of assisting my dear papa, photographer extraordinaire (website here!), at their photoshoot, complete with models, maekup, stylists, the lot. And it was incredible. Being my first photoshoot, I found this to be a wonderful experience, and not only did I thoroughly enjoy it, it also opened up my mind to a world of style and creativity all around me. 

The setting itself was magical - a crumbling house reeking of decay and mystery, soft red brick and ivy clinging to its walls, the whisper of ghosts lingering in each corner. Torn linen curtains twitched, not solely due to the icy wind trickling through open sash-windows, and lights flickered faintly every so often. I may not be the biggest fan of the damp, but that doesn't stop me from saying that I enjoyed every second I spent there, be that thanks to the enchanted ambience and history of the place or the energy of the people working alongside me or even the trailing princess dresses and stashes of powder and creamy lipsticks scattered around the floor. Everything about my very first photoshoot (à la professionnel) was wonderful and I am really happy to have participated in such an amazing project!

Healthy Fruit Parfait | food

Hey everyone!

So I was recently scrolling through Soap and Glory's Instagram page and came across a heavenly-looking photo of an iced cupcake, sugar and cream trickling down the crisp paper case, thick clumps of frosting laced with sweet pink powder and dusted with a thin coating of sprinkles layered perfectly on top. Drool legit (I feel like such a hipster using that word) dribbled down my chin as I read the caption cake for breakfast! and began to imagine the endless dreamy concoctions I could bake and devour in the early hours of the morning, watching the sun spread its wings over the horizon; gentle gold and runny egg yolk nibbling on the pale, pale sky .

But it was then that I remembered what season it was. And it was then that I died a little inside. Cake smothered in towers of frosting and the expression beach bod do not go hand in hand. However, I soon resurrected when I remembered that I could create something just as (if not MORE) delicious and mouth-watering myself with healthy, in-season ingredients I could find lying somewhere underneath a huge pile of I-don't-know-what in my fridge. And that made me très, très heureux!
  
Ingredients:

• Healthy, in-season fruits you can probably find lying somewhere underneath a huge pile of I-don't-know-what in your fridge (I used strawberries, bananas, kiwis & raspberries for all you Nosy Parkers out there)
• Organic Greek yoghurt (I used full-fat because YOLO but you can use whatever type you like)
• A cheery summery disposition

How to make this magical bad boy:

• Using your super Fruit Ninja skills, dice all of your fruits into bite-sized chunks 
• Spoon one type of the fruit nuggets into the bottom of a cute little sundae glass because good presentation can change your mood
• Layer a small blob of yoghurt over the fruit
• Repeat with all ingredients until ta-dah! your fruit parfait is, well, parfait!

Enjoy under a sweet summer sun and the sound of waves nibbling the shore.

June Faves | monthly favourites

Hey everyone!

Summer has arrived (raise those hands in the air, lemme get a 'hell yeah!'), but not with the usual 'bingity-bangity-boom' I'd been expecting (which kind of really extremely definitely stinks because I was so looking forward to it). That, however, does not mean that I didn't get a chance to enjoy the very beautiful month of June in all its glory and good weather. In fact, I found June of 2015 to be a refreshingly pleasant month, and that is not solely due to all of the delicious rays of sunshine I managed to lick up on its passing! 

There have been quite a few sneaky makeup/beauty/fashionista products that have held my back over the course of about three weeks, and with which I have fallen deeply in love (and no, that is not because I don't have a man in my life, you cheeky moron!). I've been looking forward to sharing these with you for a long time, as they are perfect for the summer months (I mean, they practically have SUMMER SURVIVAL ESSENTIALS! stamped all over them), plus they are super chic and really do turn heads. Enjoy!

• 'One' perfume by Calvin Klein
• 'Purifying Cream Cleanser' by La Prairie, Switzerland
  
• Coral lipgloss in 'Pink-ing of You' by Maison d'Anu
• 'Frizz Ease: Secret Agent' touch-up cream for frizzy hair by John Freida
• 'We Were Liars' book (winner of the YA Goodreads Choice Awards 2014) by Emily Lockhart
• Round tortoise-shell sunglasses by River Island

(Product reviews underneath photos)

                       

                   

                      

1. 'One' perfume by Calvin Klein

OK, can I just rant for a second here? This youthful perfume is a definite 'must-have' for the beach season - soulful, refreshing and sprinkled with a tangy zest, it flirts with your senses and has you hooked from the prime sniff. Love at first whiff? I think so.

2. 'Purifying Cream Cleanser' by La Prairie, Switzerland

I like three things in life. Feminism, pasta and hygiene. This creamy, nourishing product slots into the third third of that list, respectively, and I adore it. After ONE tiny usage, my skin has come to look more radiant and healthy and not like I've been huddled inside all day playing Candy Crush on my phone. And for that I would like to thank La Prairie and this wonderful miracle that has made me a happy human. Amen.
 
3. Coral lipgloss in 'Pink-ing of You' by Maison d'Anu

You may or may not remember my recent review of blossoming Irish makeup brand, Maison d'Anu (click here to investigate!), but if so, are probably wondering why I'm still lingering onto its products. Well, there's a pretty legit reason for that: they are awesomesauce (yes, I said it. Awesomesauce. Judge me now). This coral, vanilla-flavored lipgloss is the perfect summer beauty buy - peachy pink, sleek (not sticky and oozy), and with silent dashes of gold running through it, 'Pink-ing of You' is fit for a princess.

4. 'Frizz Ease: Secret Agent' touch-up cream for frizzy hair by John Freida

I don't know if you're like me, but if you are, you need hair-help. And fast. This is the part where you get really lucky and suddenly realise that John Freida is a wonderful man who invents magical products, such as 'Frizz Ease'. This cream is so light on the hair, easy to apply and smells like Kevin (read that aloud and you'll see what I mean!). For a season full of sea, salt and sand, this product is a deadly weapon.

5. 'We Were Liars' book (winner of the YA Goodreads Choice Awards 2014) by Emily Lockhart

OK, so being completely honest, this book may not be the easiest 'beach read' as it is hard not to become bogged down in the plot, but it is so intricately woven, and spun with such finesse that you will have a very (VERY) difficult time putting it down for dinner (or any other activity that does not involve books for that matter). The storyline is pretty twisted and unusual, and you think that you know what's happening until the very end when, oh wait, PLOT TWIST, and everything you thought you knew crumbles and dies around you. Yeah, plot accuracy.

6. Round, tortoise-shell sunglasses from River Island

Because fashion (and protection against those UV rays, kids). What else?