Fitness Fridays| Workout at home

I know many of you can't get to the gym, or don't enjoy it, or don't have the money to go. Don't let that stop you from working out, you can squeeze in workouts anywhere. If I can workout in a tiny dorm room at uni then you can workout anywhere. Here are some little tips to help you;

• Every little helps- Even if it is just 10 minutes, 10 minutes of sit-ups or squats is better than nothing. Get into the habit of doing them before you go to bed, or when you get up in the morning. I always try to do 100 squats while I brush my teeth... its better than just standing there. 
• Mix it up- If you're easily bored, build up your own selection of DVDs, you can buy exercise DVDs relatively cheaply on Amazon and Ebay.
• Weights- You don't need to won dumbbells. I used to use tins of beans or soup, or fill water bottles with sand or stones. Use these for your weights, they are effective and a cheaper option.
• Hey Six Pack!- The plank can be done anywhere, you don't need equipment, it only takes a minute, and its one of the most effective movements for toning. It targets your core muscles, lower back, hips and bum. 
• Hula Hips- Hula-hooping is great for your abs, Beyonce apparently swears by it. A hula Hoop is a cheap buy and you don't need much room. 
• No Equipment- Create your own mini boot-camp. Do circuits of skipping, high knees, squats, star jumps, lunges. Set a timers on your mobile and do 1 minute of each exercise then go straight onto another. See how many reps you can do, you will soon tire out. 
• Up your game- You don't need fancy gym equipment to get arms like Jennifer Aniston. Make your workout harder by doing one arm press ups or decline press ups. Do as many as you can even if its 5. If you do it regularly you will soon see a difference. 

Looking hot while having the dissertation blues| OOTD

Firstly I say looking hot, as I feel like I resemble the sun whilst wearing this dress, due to the shades or red and orange, I am in no way calling myself hot, that's for you to judge not me :)

Anyways, as the title suggests I am currently living my life in the library, and I know many others simply throw on a hooded top and jeans, but as I currently have dissertation blues I decided to cheer myself up by dressing up. I still went for comfort, wearing a cotton dress, tights and flats, just throwing my blazer over the top to battle to chilly winds up here in Newcastle.  I am incredibly happy that it is the first day of spring today, and we have been having some lovely sunshine up here, so have been able to sport my sun-glasses, and I have been parading around with my new bag.

Dress- Dorothy Perkins, Shoes- Primark, Belt- H&M, Blazer-Primark, Bag-Stylist Pick.

Today started really well for me, I had my sunny outfit on, got to walk to the library in the sun, and managed to make a start on my university work, however I suddenly cam down with really painful cramps. So much so I had to go home a quickly as I could, as I become all hot and clammy, felt faint and sick. So I am currently snuggled up in bed trying to fight the pains. So instead of the productive day I had planned I have instead played around on a photo editing program, and am catching up with all you lovely peoples blogs. I just hope I feel a bit better tomorrow, only 13 days till my dissertation deadline, I don’t have time to be feeling ill.

I hope everyone else’s day is lovely, and you manage to enjoy some of the sunshine.

Dove Nourishing Oil Care Express Treatment Conditioner Review

If I’m honest I’m not the best with my hair; I regularly go long periods of time without cutting it, I often fall asleep with wet hair, I even brush my wet hair with a brush… I know I’m awful. I am though, kind of lucky, my hair is of normal type, so isn’t dry and fizzy and nor is it greasy. However I am always on the look our for new products to make my hair nice and shiny and smooth, like all us girls.

I recently received this sample from Dove. I applied for the sample through their Facebook page I think (it was a long time ago now). I was pleasantly surprised with the size of the sample, as it was a miniature bottle, and not an awful sachet.

Anyways this is a newish product from their Dove Nourishing Oil Care product range. It is an Express Treatment Conditioner which claims to have three times the power of a standard conditioner, and it is designed to revive dry and frizzy hair in just one minute. It also claims the treatment will seal the cuticles to lock in nutrients and smoothes frizz.

The Good

• It did leave my hair soft and smooth, as promised.
• Smells lovely, the usual Dove soapy smell.
• Product was a lovely thick consistency.
• Easy to apply, it spread through my hair easily.
• A little goes a long way, I used a about a quarter of the bottle given, which was sufficient.

The Bad

• In my opinion it did not leave my hair anymore soft and smooth, than when I use my normal conditioner.

Overall- 3/5

I like this product as a conditioner as it did leave my hair soft and smooth, as it should. However it left my hair no more soft and smooth than when I use a normal conditioner, which is what disappointed me. When using an intensive conditioner I like to see a significant difference in the quality of my hair, I like to feel that it has restored lost nutrients etc, this did not happen with this product. I would not buy this product again.

I have to mention, that due to my hair being a normal type, i.e not frizzy and dry, I am perhaps not the ideal customer to be reviewing this product, it may give completely different results for  someone who does have dry hair.

Have any of your tried this product, I would love to hear if it gave different results for others?

My new love| Stylist Pick bag

 Just a quick little post to share with you the new love in my life, my Andrea bag from Stylist Pick.

I have been a member of Stylist Pick for many many months now, but had never made a purchase. I don’t think there was a month when I looked at my showroom and found something that screamed “buy me now!” However this month I finally made my first purchase.

I have been looking for a new handbag for a while now, and as I use my handbag daily till it breaks or I just don’t like it anymore, I needed one that I was in love with. I regularly swap and change my clutch bags and other bags for special occasions or nights out, but for going to work and university I stick to the one bag. Therefore I was over the moon when I found this bag, it is perfect for me, casual for everyday use, but smart enough for my dressed up personal style.  Even better, as it was my first purchase I received 25% off my order, so it only cost me £30… bargain!

As for Stylist Pick themselves, I was very impressed with the service. The product arrived this morning, and I ordered it on Wednesday afternoon, therefore delivery was very swift, which makes me very happy! Also the bag was wrapped up lovely. It was placed inside a material bag to protect it, and placed in a shopping bag, and the invoice was folded into a pretty little card. For the price of £40 (normal price) I think Stylist Pick go above and beyond expectations.

Fitness Fridays| Myth busting

I don't know about you, but when it comes to health, fitness and diets etc, there is such a wide array of information, sometimes good, sometimes bad, and sometimes conflicting. I find it all very confusing, however help was at hand. I read an article in a fitness magazine a few months ago that was very interesting. It basically told the truth on many misconceived fitness and health tips. I have picked my favourite to share with you today. 

Myth 1- Women bulk up if they lift weights.

I have mentioned this a few times, as this is one of the largest misconceptions. You will not bulk up if you lift weights (only if you do it for several hours a day.)There are many benefits to weight training; it sculpts and tones you, and it increases your metabolism. 

Myth 2- You can spot reduce just one area.

Yes you can sculpt and tone one area, but you cannot target fat loss from one area. From your birth your body is predetermined where it will store fat and which fat stores it will draw from first.

Myth 3- Eating Carbs after 5pm will make you put on weight.  

There is no evidence that you metabolise food in a different way at different times of the day. You should eat when it suits you, and concentrate on eating a healthy meal, not at what time you are eating. Many believe this myth comes form peoples tendency to snack on sugary foods in the evening, which would cause you to gain weight.

Myth 4- Eating fat makes you fat.

We need fat, the right kind of fat in small amounts, to make up a balanced diet. Good fats are needed for repair, recovery and regrowth, and can help your brain function. Consume avocados, nuts and oily fish.

Myth 5- Cardio is the best/ only way to burn fat.

Cardio is a great fat burner, while you're doing it. However the number of calories burnt after working out is higher from resistance training, so you will continue to burn calories hours later.

All you should really remember is to achieve a fit and health body, you need to burn more calories than you consume through plenty of exercise and a healthy balanced diet.
I hope these tips have helped some others.

Montagne Jeunesse Peel-Off Masque Review

Today is suppose to be another productive dissertation writing day, however I'm not really feeling inspired or motivated, so for the few hours I have before work I have decided to catch up on my blogs, watch a few movies and beautify myself. So if you had read one of my previous posts, I had picked up a bumper pack of Montagne Jeunesse face masks and had previously reviewed a fruit smoothie deep cleaning mask. Today I am reviewing a peel-off mask.

The product is a anti-stress cucumber peel-off masque. The product claims to gently peel away dead skin. "You will find a fresher face when you peel away our purifying mask: the ideal gentle peel specially formulated for problem and t-zone skin. It removes impurities and dead cells whilst cleaning and reviving the skin." 

The Good

• Dries quite quickly
• Peels off easily
• Did leave my skin soft and smooth afterwards

The Bad

• Very sticky to apply
• In my opinion it smells like washing up liquid
• The smell did not have the anti-stress qualities advertised.
• As it is very thick, there does not seem to be as much product as the other clay masks, so there is only one application per sachet. 

Overall- 3/5

My personal opinion is that these peel off masks are not as effective as clay or mud masks. I do not feel or see that they clean and purify as effectively. I'm, not saying this is a bad product, it is just not my favourite and I will not be purchasing peel-off masks in the future.

What is you opinion on peel-off masks? Do you find them effective? 

OOTD and FOTD| Girls night out

Please excuse my washing in the background.

Last night was my good friend Anna's birthday night out. I was lucky enough to finish early at work so I had all afternoon to get ready. I also spent a good proportion of my wage on dresses... whoops (Haul post coming up.)

We headed to Madame Koo's night club and were fortunate enough to have a table booked, so I decided to dress formal but glamourous. I purchased a pencil dress from H&M for a bargain price of £25 and paired it with a colourful pair of heels. I can see this dress becoming a firm favourite of mine; you just can't beat a little black dress. I hope you like the look.

For my makeup I used my favourite everyday products for my face, and dressed up my eyes using the Urban Decay Naked Palette to create a smoky look. I teamed this with a frosty nude lipstick so as not to overdo it. 

 I hope you all had a lovely Saturday night. I'm spending tonight recovering, with a take away, a blanket and cuddles from my man. 

Fitness Friday| How To Reduce Cellulite

Image from Google

I'm going to be honest here, so I don't know about you, but I know I suffer from the dreaded cellulite, but thankfully I'm not alone as apparently Ninety per cent of women suffer from it, including celebrities like Jennifer Lopez and Blake Lively! It is caused by a combination of factors including toxin build up, water retention and poor circulation.

Below are some tips I have picked up over the year to help reduce the appearance of cellulite!

Step One- Change your diet

Healthy eating is very important when it comes to cellulite, as eating processed, junk food only encourages our bodies to retain water and slows down our circulation. Reducing your consumption of saturated fat, caffeine, wheat, salty foods, alcohol and refined carbs will make a big difference. 

Step Two- Move your body

Exercise it the most effective way to ridding cellulite. For the best results you should try and mix up your work outs, include; aerobic exercises such as jogging and cycling or swimming; toning exercises such as weight training and lots of squats; lymph-boosting exercises like yoga and Pilates. 

Step Three- Stimulate your system

Stimulating your lymphatic system increases the oxygen travelling through the body, and gets rid of toxins. The most effective method is through body brushing. You do this by selecting a brush which is not too soft or not too hard, and brush before your bath or shower. Start at the feet and working up your legs and across the hips, bottom and stomach in upward strokes. Move from the hands, up the arms to the shoulders, always brushing towards your heart. 

7 Top Tips

1. Eat plenty of fresh foods and reduce your processed food consumption.
2. Eat protein daily.
3. Cut out fatty, sugary foods which are stored as fat, mainly on your lower body. 
4. Drink loads of still water!
5. Exercise! Exercise and Exercise! 
6. Relax once a day- take a few minutes to concentrate on your breathing.
7. Body brush to improve the skin texture and use a good moisturiser. 

Do you have any of your own tips?

Fitness Friday| March Running/ Walking Challenge

Image taken from Tumblr

I hope you have been taking on some of the tips from the past few Fitness Fridays, and trying to incorporate a few of these into your everyday lives. Remember that little changes equal big changes. Personally I have decided that I am going to try and body brush 3 times a week, as well as moisturise, I don't want lumpy thighs for my holiday in June, so think this will really make a difference.

So this month we have a walking or running challenge, based on your fitness level. I used to be an avid runner, and really saw the benefits from it very quickly, so am trying to get back into it. I know to begin with it can be difficult, I'm a girl who couldn't even run 100 metres, but you soon build up your fitness levels.

This challenge is taken from Justaskiinyminute.tumblr.com. Her challenges really inspire me, so I want to inspire you and hope you will join me this month. Here is your action plan;

I will explain this chart to you, as it can be a little confusing. You basically need to take the number for that day and make your own challenge with it, based on your fitness level. This also ensures you are mixing up your routine, making boredom less likely. For example today the number is 4, therefore I aim to incorporate 40 second sprints into my run (I normally run at a very slow pace). Tomorrow the number is again 4, so I could decide to instead go for a 4 mile walk/run.

Do whatever you fancy, and whatever your body will permit you to do. If you wish, you could start from scratch, as I am a week behind posting this, so start with 20 second sprints, or a 2 mile run. 

For those of you who don't fancy running, there is the fun Jumping Jack Challenge, found here; Jumping Jack Challenge. I have posted about the benefits of jumping jacks previously, found here; Fitness Fridays-Jumping-jack Challenge

Its a new month, so set yourself some new fitness and health goals, and try to succeed them by the end of the month. If you set small attainable goals you will soon see the benefits. 

What are you going to do today, to ensure you are fitter, healthier and stronger than yesterday? Let me know!

Green with Envy

1- Green Coat- £120. 2- Debenhams Jacket- £110. 3- Dorothy Perkins- £20. 4- Oasis dress- £45. 5- Miss Selfridge Jeans- £28. 6- Miss Selfridge Satchel bag- £30. 7- Dorothy Perkins Clutch bag- £10. 8-Topshop Shoes- £50

Despite my Nana trying her best to deter me from the colour green (in her eyes its a bad luck omen),I love the colour. This article in Glamour magazine really caught my eye. I have quite a few green items in my own wardrobe, so was pleased to see it being an on trend colour this season.

I have used this article below to inspire my own mini collection of high street buys that follow this trend. In the article I love the green blazer, I think it may be an investment in my own wardrobe, it would look great teamed with jeans and heels.

What do think of the the colour green, in particular emerald shades? Hit or Miss for your own personal style? 

Topshop Cyclone| NOTD

Just a quick little post to share my lovely girly lilac nails with you.

I have worn this nail varnish a few times an it always gave a nice silver sheer. I decided this time to layer it on top of a white nail varnish shade so I could see more of the colour. I'm very happy with the results, it came out a lovely pale lilac shade. 

I do this technique with a lot of my paler shade nail varnishes, as it means I do not have to apply so many layers as the colour really shows when layered on top of a white base. 

Pamper Night| Montagne Jeunesse Smoothie Face mask review

Using an entire sachet- lots of product!

Last night, I took my usual late night trip to Asda to get my tea, and was very excited to see they currently have a load of beauty and toiletry items on special offer.  I didn't get too much, but did buy a special bumper pack of face-masks, which I haven't seen been sold like this anywhere else. 

It was a bumper pack of Montagne Jeunesse sachets, there were two boxes on offer. A box filled with 5 sachets of chocolate treatments, for face, hair and body, and the pack I chose, a 5 pack of face-masks.The boxes are normally sold at £5 ish, however they were on offer for I think £3.

So last night I decided have a mini pamper and chose the Crushed Raspberry Fruit Smoothie, Deep Pore Cleaning face-mask. The product is described as; 

"Our delicious nutritious smoothie mix of raspberries, peach, mango, apricot and pomegranate isn't a drink but it is bound to leave you in a smiley mood- with fresher, cleansed  and softer skin' 

The Good

• Left my skin incredibly smooth.
• Loads of product, so enough for two treatments.
• Animal friendly. Quote- "We're vegetarian and animals are our friends-that's why we don't bash bunnies or add bits of animal!"
• A cheap product
• The product had a rich and creamy texture.

The Bad

• Nothing really, I suppose the fact that there is too much product can be wasteful.

Over all- 5/5- Its a super product and I have to agree with everything the product claims to be. It smelt absolutely gorgeous, good enough to eat (but don't.) I have used these products over the years, but  I'm still looking forward to using the other four products. 

Fitness Fridays| Blast Fat Fast

For those of you who work out, work out and work out some more, but are yet to see the results, this may be because you have hit a plateau with your fitness. This is basically where you reach a point in your exercise routine where your body has become used to the routine, and additional progress cannot be made. This typically happens every 6 to 8 weeks.

The following tips should help you defeat the plateau and find yourself fighting the fat again.

• Factor in Rest- There does exist such a thing as too much of a good thing. If you give yourself a rest week every fourth week, you will actually gain fitness by allowing your body to recover and grow stronger. If you feel very tired or something is niggling, do not be afraid to take an extra few days, or even try a lower impact form of exercise for a week.
• Short and Sweet- If you are aiming for fat loss, then shorter, high-intensity workouts are the most effective. Incorporate interval training into your routine. This consists of a short burst of high-intensity work followed by longer, low-intensity recovery periods. Ideally you want to aim for 45 seconds of high intensity, followed by 90 seconds of low intensity, repeated every 8-12 times. You can do this running, cycling on the stepper... just do it!
• Lift it up- strength workouts are essential for your workout routine. Weight training raises your metabolism, gives you a totally new body shape, sheds fat, and improves your body composition. Incorporating strength training for 20 minutes, 3 times a week will train your body to burn fat while making you lean. 
• Just keep moving- Every little helps! Any extra movement you do throughout the day will burn more calories, all those little thing between your gym sessions can make a difference. Take the stairs, get off the bus a stop early, jumping jacks in ad breaks, just keep moving!
• Nibble away- In order to keep your metabolism up you need to keep eating (obvious the right stuff, not rubbish.) Start the day with a decent breakfast then keep nibbling every two to three hours. Keep snacks near/on you such as nuts, seeds, hard boiled eggs, fruit and veg. 
• Shake it up- As mentioned earlier, your body get used to the exercises you put it through, therefore try and keep things fresh, keep it surprised. Change the frequency, length, and intensity of your workouts, Try a new exercise; yoga, Pilates, dance, swimming, spinning, use weights and kettle balls, just be adventurous. 

I hope this help a few of you get out of a rut, and back to making a difference to yourself. Do you have any other tips?