Cute Buys #1

Between my January and February pay check I've added some more cuteness to my ever growing collection of cute & maybe one huge piece of cute but more about that later.

First up, I am in love with wrap-a-round towels and the Primark ones are actually adorable. Mamma B, Grants mother, bought me one for christmas last year and I have used it non stop since. They are just so easy to wrap on when you get out the shower, super soft and fluffy. I also find they help me dry off much quicker than normal towels and they also dry out rather quickly once used. Also, they just look adorable on and no need to worry about losing your towel when its got straps!  I bought this one a couple of weeks ago since I had started swimming, so I could have one each week that didn't smell like chlorine. The cute little heart pockets just get me, I can't go back to normal towels again. They're about £7 in Primark and have various designs so theres some practical cuteness for everyone's taste.

Argh, bath goodies, it's honestly a problem of mine. Soap & Glory is probably my favourite brand for    the bath. I find they're pretty inexpensive to buy, I always take advantage of the 3 for 2 offer at boots and considering how much you get for your money, I think it's an affordable brand. They last me a good few months when I bring home a lil haul like this, usually 6-8 products and I won't have to buy anymore for a while. 

This phone case is the sweetest little accessory. I was using a plain gold case, but I seemed to be affecting my signal most of the time, so recently I've had a naked iphone, not great if you're me! I'd seen the teddy bear versions of this case, by Moschino, in Choice a few months ago and thought they were lovely, but I'm really not into spending £50 plus on a phone case, as if! So spying these fake versions on ebay for less than a tenner? loving life really. I chose the grey rabbit as it does just look too cute for words, fairly bulky though, which is weird going from a totally naked one. Makes it easy to find in my bag though!

Last up, a little Topshop spree. Well, I'm an avid tea drinker and so mugs are something that always catch my eye. A few months back I accidentally, ahem, destroyed my favourite mug, a Disney classics Pocahontas one which Grant had bought me for christmas one year. Oh, it was so pretty and i absolutely smashed it to smithereens. I was not impressed with myself, le sigh! However, He replaced it, bless him, with another Disney mug, the sweetest pink and white pinstripe with Marie from the Aristocats. Alas, however cute that mug is, it's huge; so when I spotted this My Little Pony one on Topshop's website, I had to buy it. Too cute. I also picked up some boy pants and socks, so comfy. Bows and moomin print? definitely qualifies for a feature in the cute buys post. 

Now, onto the 'huge piece of cute'

I might of went ahead and bought the Vivienne Westwood Chancery Heart bag...oops.

Meet my new baby. I know these have been around for quite some time now, and I have lusted after it ever since. However, for the longest time now they haven't been available to purchase, not sure if thats to do with how they decide on which season they go into or?? I really don't know, all I do know is that I was on Choice's website last week and finally, finally they're back!? Yes, it went into the basket immediately. I have no shame. My justification has two parts, 1: My current baby, Donna (DKNY bag) is starting to show signs of wear and tear, she needs a rest in the dust bag like now! 2: What if this one sells out again and doesn't come back for another year or however long i've been waiting!? Cant take the risk.

Whenever things like this happen, I have a few hours of instant regret. Then I'm over it. I know my savings aren't looking too hot right now but it was an investment...in happiness maybe but still. 

I may of also gotten my septum pierced, after years of debating/wanting, possibly to distract me from the above? Who knows, same story though, instant regret then a wave of sublime happiness. There's probably a word for people like me...

Do you have any purchases you worry about after payment has gone through? Do you have any piercings you debated over for years?

xxx

Fresh, Smooth & Green

Baby Spinach, Lemons & Limes, Blueberries

For about the past two weeks now I have been attempting to incorporate at least one green smoothie a day, usually during the morning hours, into my diet. I say attempting as I haven't yet locked my routine down, I'm a bit hit and miss at the moment as I generally take a while to settle into something. 

Despite this, I am really enjoying green smoothies and feeling the benefits of them, they're supposed to have quite a few, especially if you include super foods into the mix. I have a few recipes which I enjoy and find extremely easy to create, so for now they are my go-to combinations. I'm looking to increase them though and hopefully reap the benefits of incorporating other ingredients into the mix. 

The combination featured in this post is one I tried for the first time this week, but it's already a firm favourite. It's so zesty and fresh, however not actually green in colour! 

Here's the recipe

Fresh ingredients:

2-3 cups of Baby Spinach                          (I keep mine frozen in order to make my smoothie chilled)

1    cup Filtered Water                             (I do not eat/drink milk or yoghurt)

2    cups of Orange & Grapefruit chunks    (I use both fresh and canned in juice)

1    cup Blueberries                                  (Frozen)

The juice of 1 whole Lemon & 1 Lime

Extras:

1-2tsps Maca Powder

1-2tsps Chia, Flax, Goji Berry mix

1-2tsps Wheatgrass Powder

I take the frozen spinach, I wait until i've prepared everything else before I bring out any frozen produce as I don't want it to wilt, and add it along with a cup of water to my blender. I usually use the pulp action first for a few seconds, before switching to blend for about 30 seconds. 

I find it easier to achieve a smoother liquid by blending the water and green base first. I'll then add my fresh ingredients, in this case it's orange and grapefruit segments with frozen blueberries. I'll also add the powders and the juice from the lemon and lime at this stage, I don't wan't to be blending for too long as it will lose its freshness and affect the overall taste. 

I'll blend for about 60 secs max from this stage, at times I have had to blend longer because of the ingredients i was using and how they were thrown in, always a learning curve! 

I pour mine straight into a bottle and put it into the fridge, I tend to take mine to work with me to have for breakfast. At the moment I am simply using a large fresh juice bottle however I'm shopping around for a decent glass container for them. I'll get about 2 large servings out of mine, depending on the water content of the fruit used and how much filtered water i add, lasting me in the fridge for two days. 

Currently, i like to drink mine out of my Large Disney Tumbler, sorry Tink! but I think I may have found a suitable replacement, a glass mason jar with a built in straw! Very cute! 

Of course, even though the name suggests they will be green, it truly depends on what ingredients you include, in this case the blueberries won! However unappetising it looks, i can assure you it is so refreshing and tasty! 

Smoothie, Super Food Powders, Grapefruit & Orange Segments in Juice.

At the moment I am only using baby and adult spinach in them, they're easy to incorporate and I love spinach, but this is something i'm looking to expand upon. I don't want my body to become too used to the same greens, as they are the whole point of the smoothie, knowing I'm downing a good amount of my daily nutrients is great but it needs to be varied. Why deprive myself of other great greens and their benefits? It just takes some time finding out what ingredients work well together and what I like.  As I mentioned earlier, I don't drink milk or eat yoghurt as I cannot stand them, the thought of drinking milk actually turns my stomach but I will be trying to vary my liquid base as well.

I thought i might also include a couple of pointers about the 'Super Foods' I've included.

Maca Root/Powder

vitamins B, C, and E 

calcium, zinc, iron, magnesium and amino acids

Wheatgrass 

Antioxidant vitamins A, C, E

Vitamin B6  

Zinc, magnesium, iron

Goji Berries

Powerful Antioxidant

Vitamin A

Vitamin C

21 trace minerals including iron, calcium, zinc, selenium

Chia/Flax Seed

Omega 3 Fatty acids

Fibre

Antioxidants

They're basically to help aid in increasing my daily nutrient intake and provide powerful antioxidant benefits and improve my body both physically and mentally, for example improvements in my mood, energy levels, skin health and immune system.

I aim to include a few more 'Super foods' into my smoothies, however it is important to note that it's best to start off with small doses, to see how your body reacts to them and build tolerance, especially with roots such as maca, to avoid any side affects. 

As for the whole preparation aspect and fitting it into my lifestyle at the moment, it's not too bad, I just have to make the time to do it, usually it's straight after we have cleaned up dinner.  It only takes about 15 minutes, including cleaning up, depending on what prep i have to do on the ingredients. This isn't bad at all, it's just a case of making sure I don't let other things get in the way. 

Have you tried green smoothies before? 

Bambi's Scent

One of my all time favourite scents is in fact a linen spray, Disney stores 'Wonder'.

'Wonder' Linen Spray, Disney Store UK

I find this spray nothing short of delicious and i use it liberally on just about everything. Bed sheets, clothes, teddies and any sort of scarf. I honestly love it and for the £8 price tag,  I can justify the constant spritzing.

The official description of it portrays it as 'A delicate scent of lemon sugar, apple blossoms and marshmallow clouds' and bills it as the 'perfect environmental scent for a baby's room'. Well, obviously I am no baby, however if I was, I'd want my room to smell like this. 

'Wonder' smells like blend of fresh cotton sheets and the lightest hint of pear drops. It's subtle yet makes a massive difference to how comforting something is. Whether thats my bed sheets or my cardigan. I really do love it and more so love the fact that it isn't a high end product, it is just a linen spray from the Disney store. It lingers for a fair amount of time as well, my bed sheets will still smell of it a couple of days after a liberal spraying which to me, feels like it's helping to keep them fresher. They are washed every week so it's not used for that purpose but its a little bonus I guess. 

Apart from the scent I also love that it is themed with the character Bambi, it really is very sweet. I may be slightly biased on this front as Bambi is my favourite Disney character, yet as it is part of their Bambi & Thumper themed baby range, it was not going to be any other character! It looks adorable on my shelf, even the box is cute, adorned inside with delicate Bambi's.

Whenever i go to the Disney Store I always manage to pick up a bottle or two, as I really don't want to be without it. Failing that, its available to order online so I have no worries, unless they were to discontinue. I would be slightly devastated! 

Recently, I also purchased a pair of Bambi printed pyjamas, there's a theme here don't you know, from Asda of all places. 

Bambi print thermal's, George at Asda, 'Wonder' Linen spray, Disney Store UK

Now, I don't tend to buy much from Asda at all and as there isn't one close to where I live, it's a rare occasion that I even go in there. However, after our Sunday morning swim last week, Grant's mother and I decided to go grab some ingredients quickly before we headed home, being too lazy to bother driving over to Morrisons. We walked down every aisle as the check outs weren't yet open and in the clothing section i spied the cutest pj's. I am a sucker for Disney and decided that I 'HAD TO HAVE THEM'. I am so glad that my self control for cute things is virtually non existent.  I am wearing them right now and they are so soft. Practical to, considering they are, ahem, thermals. Obviously my reasoning behind needing them, these forever cold nights and all. 

Of course, I have already sprayed them with a healthy amount of 'Wonder'

They don't appear to be available to buy from the Asda website (slightly peeved about this as I want to buy another pair) however you may still be able to purchase them in store if you like the look of them. I think they were about £12 but hey, it's Asda, aren't going to be too expensive.

Do you have a favourite linen spray? Are you a Disney fan?

An Anniversary Gift

As it is our anniversary this week, my boyfriend, Grant, bought me a little gift. He knows how crazy I am about baths and bath products so he gifted me with a little package from Lush and i absolutely love it. I've yet to use any of the products as I would like to do a couple of reviews on them in the coming weeks, so for now I'll just show you what came in the post on Friday. 

Lush Bunty Pink Gift Box, Sex bomb Bath Bomb, Sunnyside Bubble Bar, Space Girl Bath Bomb

So here we have a Lush Pre-Packed Gift box and 3 little extras to go into my bath product stash, which is must admit is kept from overflowing into our bedroom by being stuffed into a wooden trunk.

Considering it's our 3 year anniversary some may think that this is a little bit, dare i say it, stingy, on the whole 'gift' front, but I think it's terribly sweet of him and is in fact the perfect gift. I love baths and he has taken in the fact that I've been wanting to try some Lush bath products for the longest time, having just been too lazy to order them for myself. Besides, we're not huge on the whole presents idea as it is, we give each other little things now and again and of course, Christmas and birthdays. However what has always meant more than any material object is how we treat each other. I would much rather not be taken for granted and treated like a mug than be lavished with any amount of gifts. So to me, this is lovely and so appreciated. 

 

Okay, so with moral stories out of the way, let's see what we have here!

As I explained, I have been wanting to try some Lush bath products for a good while now, I have had in the past their Snow Fairy shower gel, which i absolutely adored, glittery and smelt of sweets? definitely a favourite. However as it's one of their seasonal limited products, I have literally only picked it up twice. I'm far to lazy to 'stock up' as it were, in fact i believe the first bottle i owned of that sweet, sweet liquid was given to me as part of my christmas gift; from my boyfriend of course. 

Other than Snow Fairy, i also have a bottle of the Silky Underwear Dusting Powder sitting atop my shelf. I loved it so much after I picked it up i vowed to buy both of the other versions, Vanilla Puff and Lustre. You can tell how creepy I become over bath and body products, when I use words like 'vowed' to describe them! However that has yet to happen. So really, this little gift pack is a real treat and i cannot wait to have my very first Lush Bath.

First up is the Pink Bunty Box, packaged in the most adorable pink and yellow wrapping, very cute. I was actually quite hesitant to unwrap this, as it just looked so nice (stuffed) into my bath trunk, but alas for the purposes of this blog, and my curiosity, i ripped apart that sucker like it was the ugliest presentation going.  Inside, hidden amongst the abundance of foam were 4 bath time treats.

Creamy Candy Bubble Bar

The Comforter Bubble Bar

So, these two here are basically supposed to be bubble bath without the bottle, which is quite an interesting concept. I'm assuming you just toss them into the bath and wait for the bubbles to rise? I'll soon find out. I'm excited by the idea of the comforter, i always find baths are sleep inducing as it is, so bubble bath which is billed as a 'big comforting hug' sounds lovely.

Space Girl Bath Bomb

Think pink Bath Bomb

The next two items included are Bath Bombs, Space Girl and Think Pink. I'm extremely excited to use the Space Girl bomb, I can see it contains glitter and if you haven't been able to tell already, glitter is something i think should be included in everyone's day! I've used a couple of bath bombs before, i remember they left me distinctly unimpressed however, i believe i was in the 10-13 year old range and they were fairly cheap. Bath bombs appear to be one of Lush's staple products and sometimes include little surprises, basically putting on a little show in your bath. It's fair to say I have high hopes for these little beauties. 

On top of this little package, Grant also bought be three other bath goodies to add to my stash. One of them is another Space Girl bath bomb, knowing how glitter and planets do it for me.

Sunnyside Bubble Bar

Sex Bomb Bath Bomb

The Last two items included are the Sunnyside Bubble bar, an indulgent looking treat chock full of glitter and a Sex Bomb Bath Bomb. A golden bath and the promise of sensuality? Who wouldn't be excited to give these a go.

I have high expectations for these bath time goodies and could probably say with certainty that i will be making a Lush order of my own in the near future! I cannot wait to try these out. As i understand, they do have a use by date, so i will be test driving them soon.

Have you used any of these items? Are Lush products a staple in your bath time routine?