London is such a beautiful city! One of my favourite things to do during winter is to walk around and look at all the winter lights around the city. As London is so massive, with lots to do and see, I thought I do a little post on some of the must-see lights of London. All the pictures were taken mostly at night as that’s the best way to see them.
* * *
The other day I went out by myself for a mini adventure around London. I started at Somerset house to see the big Christmas Tree next to the skating rink they put up.
From there I walked up to Covent Garden to catch a look at the giant Baubles and Mistletoe. After taking a billion pictures of the baubles and around the square, I walked through Leicester Square and over to Piccadilly Circus, London’s mini Times Square.
Heading up Regent Street, I walked up towards Oxford Circus stopping to look at the Hamley’s window display. I remember as I kid being fascinated with the window displays; they were always amazing to look at!
I took quite a few pictures of the angels hung above the roads. They’re so cute and innocent hung up there. It makes the road beneath feel special.
I took quite a few pictures of the angels hung above the roads. They’re so cute and innocent hung up there. It makes the road beneath feel special.
I followed Oxford Street down to John Lewis to pick something up for my Mum, looking at the hanging lights and Christmas displays around the store.
I then walked down to Selfridge’s which I ended up getting lost in. They have some cute lights on the side of their building which I think encompasses the romance of Christmas.
After that, I headed back up Oxford Street to walk down New Bond Street, which is my favourite street ever! It’s a road full of designers from Valentino, Dior, Chanel, Cartier, Ralph Lauren, Gucci etc. I love walking down the road when it’s dark and during winter. All the stores glisten and sparkle; it’s magical. I had a lot of fun walking down this street.
I then headed towards Green Park station to head home. London is a great place to walk around and explore as all the attractions are spread out across the city.
Love, Aoife x
P.S- Any places I've missed? Comment recommendations below, I'd love to visit xxx
Love, Aoife x
P.S- Any places I've missed? Comment recommendations below, I'd love to visit xxx
London is such a beautiful city! One of my favourite things to do during winter is to walk around and look at all the winter lights around the city. As London is so massive, with lots to do and see, I thought I do a little post on some of the must-see lights of London. All the pictures were taken mostly at night as that’s the best way to see them.
* * *
The other day I went out by myself for a mini adventure around London. I started at Somerset house to see the big Christmas Tree next to the skating rink they put up.
From there I walked up to Covent Garden to catch a look at the giant Baubles and Mistletoe. After taking a billion pictures of the baubles and around the square, I walked through Leicester Square and over to Piccadilly Circus, London’s mini Times Square.
Heading up Regent Street, I walked up towards Oxford Circus stopping to look at the Hamley’s window display. I remember as I kid being fascinated with the window displays; they were always amazing to look at!
I took quite a few pictures of the angels hung above the roads. They’re so cute and innocent hung up there. It makes the road beneath feel special.
I took quite a few pictures of the angels hung above the roads. They’re so cute and innocent hung up there. It makes the road beneath feel special.
I followed Oxford Street down to John Lewis to pick something up for my Mum, looking at the hanging lights and Christmas displays around the store.
I then walked down to Selfridge’s which I ended up getting lost in. They have some cute lights on the side of their building which I think encompasses the romance of Christmas.
After that, I headed back up Oxford Street to walk down New Bond Street, which is my favourite street ever! It’s a road full of designers from Valentino, Dior, Chanel, Cartier, Ralph Lauren, Gucci etc. I love walking down the road when it’s dark and during winter. All the stores glisten and sparkle; it’s magical. I had a lot of fun walking down this street.
I then headed towards Green Park station to head home. London is a great place to walk around and explore as all the attractions are spread out across the city.
Love, Aoife x
P.S- Any places I've missed? Comment recommendations below, I'd love to visit xxx
Love, Aoife x
P.S- Any places I've missed? Comment recommendations below, I'd love to visit xxx
I love a good nude polish on my fingernails. It's simple, elegant and a colour that compliments every single outfit. And every single skin tone.
When it comes to the festive period, people generally shift towards darker colours. Choosing dark reds, purples, greens to keep in line with the festive colour palette. However, that doesn’t mean we have to leave the nudes outside.
The great thing about nude colours is that there are so many. The colours that come under the 'nudes' palette is browns, beiges, pastel pinks, whites, and light greys.
I’ve chosen my top 5 nail polishes that are perfect for the festive period:
1. Essie, Matter of Fiction- This pink has a slight sparkle to it, making it the perfect festive pink.
2. Barry M, Cashmere- Usually with such light pinks, they get darker after the second coat. However, this one keeps it's lightness, maintaining the barely there look.
3. Nails Inc, Cornwall Gardens- Grey used to be the colour that was avoided. Now it's not and instead, is a perfect colour to wear. Grey nail polishes nowadays contain warmer tones, meaning it is much more complimentary.
4. Barry M, Almond- It's slightly darker than the Nails Inc one but looks just as great in the cold outdoors.
4. Barry M, Almond- It's slightly darker than the Nails Inc one but looks just as great in the cold outdoors.
5. Models Own, HyperGel Naked Glow- This shade is more of a beige colour and it's a gorgeous nude. Perfect for this time of year.
Love, Aoife x
5 Christmas Nudes That Are Perfect for the Festive Season (Nail Polish) | Blogmas Day 9
20 December 2017
I love a good nude polish on my fingernails. It's simple, elegant and a colour that compliments every single outfit. And every single skin tone.
When it comes to the festive period, people generally shift towards darker colours. Choosing dark reds, purples, greens to keep in line with the festive colour palette. However, that doesn’t mean we have to leave the nudes outside.
The great thing about nude colours is that there are so many. The colours that come under the 'nudes' palette is browns, beiges, pastel pinks, whites, and light greys.
I’ve chosen my top 5 nail polishes that are perfect for the festive period:
1. Essie, Matter of Fiction- This pink has a slight sparkle to it, making it the perfect festive pink.
2. Barry M, Cashmere- Usually with such light pinks, they get darker after the second coat. However, this one keeps it's lightness, maintaining the barely there look.
3. Nails Inc, Cornwall Gardens- Grey used to be the colour that was avoided. Now it's not and instead, is a perfect colour to wear. Grey nail polishes nowadays contain warmer tones, meaning it is much more complimentary.
4. Barry M, Almond- It's slightly darker than the Nails Inc one but looks just as great in the cold outdoors.
4. Barry M, Almond- It's slightly darker than the Nails Inc one but looks just as great in the cold outdoors.
5. Models Own, HyperGel Naked Glow- This shade is more of a beige colour and it's a gorgeous nude. Perfect for this time of year.
Love, Aoife x
Cinnamon is the perfect winter spice. A little bit of cinnamon in the air brings back a thousand warm and cosy memories.
Cinnamon Palmiers are my favourite things to make! They’re easy, simple and extremely tasty. I originally got the recipe somewhere off the internet but I can no longer find the original site. But, luckily, I’ve managed to create my own recipe.
Disclaimer- When you become a confident baker, recipe’s start becoming almost like guidelines, they’re there but you don’t have to follow them. With that said, whilst I consider myself a confident baker, I never said I was a great one.
Cinnamon Palmiers:
55g Sugar + spare to use
2-3 teaspoons of cinnamon
2 1/2 tablespoons butter
Ready rolled Puff pastry
To make things simpler, I use a ready rolled puff pastry. This just saves the time of having to roll out a block but it’s up to you. Remember to take the pastry out of the fridge before making the sauce.
Gently heat up the butter in a pan until melted. Keep it on a semi-low heat and slowly add in the sugar whilst stirring to keep a runny consistency. Once that has dissolved, add the cinnamon to the sauce. You’ll end up with a thick runny brown coloured sauce.
Roll out the pastry, making sure it’s flat before spreading the sauce over. Reach all the corners so everything is covered. Once the pastry has been covered, sprinkle a little sugar over the top. Remember to save the rest of the sauce for later.
The next bit is both the fun and tricky part. On the longer sides of the pastry, start rolling the edges towards the centre. Make sure the rolls are tight as this will make the round circles of the palmier.
Place back in the fridge, wrapped in clingfilm for another 20 mins for the pastry to cool again.
After 20 mins, take the pastry out and unwrap the clingfilm. Get a knife and cut 1.5/2cm thick slices. Place them, with the spirals facing up, on a baking paper lined tray. Once all the pastry has been cut, use the leftover sauce (it may need reheating) and spread over the pieces, sprinkle a little more sugar over them for an extra crunch.
Place in the oven (200 degrees) for 15-20 minutes until they are golden brown.
Bon Appetit!
Love, Aoife
Cinnamon is the perfect winter spice. A little bit of cinnamon in the air brings back a thousand warm and cosy memories.
Cinnamon Palmiers are my favourite things to make! They’re easy, simple and extremely tasty. I originally got the recipe somewhere off the internet but I can no longer find the original site. But, luckily, I’ve managed to create my own recipe.
Disclaimer- When you become a confident baker, recipe’s start becoming almost like guidelines, they’re there but you don’t have to follow them. With that said, whilst I consider myself a confident baker, I never said I was a great one.
Cinnamon Palmiers:
55g Sugar + spare to use
2-3 teaspoons of cinnamon
2 1/2 tablespoons butter
Ready rolled Puff pastry
To make things simpler, I use a ready rolled puff pastry. This just saves the time of having to roll out a block but it’s up to you. Remember to take the pastry out of the fridge before making the sauce.
Gently heat up the butter in a pan until melted. Keep it on a semi-low heat and slowly add in the sugar whilst stirring to keep a runny consistency. Once that has dissolved, add the cinnamon to the sauce. You’ll end up with a thick runny brown coloured sauce.
Roll out the pastry, making sure it’s flat before spreading the sauce over. Reach all the corners so everything is covered. Once the pastry has been covered, sprinkle a little sugar over the top. Remember to save the rest of the sauce for later.
The next bit is both the fun and tricky part. On the longer sides of the pastry, start rolling the edges towards the centre. Make sure the rolls are tight as this will make the round circles of the palmier.
Place back in the fridge, wrapped in clingfilm for another 20 mins for the pastry to cool again.
After 20 mins, take the pastry out and unwrap the clingfilm. Get a knife and cut 1.5/2cm thick slices. Place them, with the spirals facing up, on a baking paper lined tray. Once all the pastry has been cut, use the leftover sauce (it may need reheating) and spread over the pieces, sprinkle a little more sugar over them for an extra crunch.
Place in the oven (200 degrees) for 15-20 minutes until they are golden brown.
Bon Appetit!
Love, Aoife
One of my favourite memories about Christmas is that every year on the first weekend of December, we’d take out all the Christmas decorations from the attic and spend the rest of the evening putting up the tree, decorating the house with tinsel and mini Santa’s. It was a tradition that started the official countdown; once the tree was up, the countdown to Christmas Day began!
In my second Blogmas post, I wrote about how I was getting into the Christmas spirit whilst living in uni halls and did a little haul of all the decorations I had bought. But that wasn’t enough for me and I somehow managed to encourage all my flatmates to build a tree together.
We only had two weeks left before we all went home and as we’re too poor to buy a proper tree, I thought it would be cool to make one out of all the plastic bottles. Since we’re all drinking bottled water (the tap water here is gross), it was the perfect thing to use. Our tree is probably the most student thing you’ve ever seen!
It’s now sitting in the corner of our kitchen, with lights draped over it and it’s the cutest thing you’ve seen!
In life, we’re not always given everything and I’ve always been taught to make do with what we’ve got. I know this tree isn’t the same and doesn’t compare to life’s problems but it’s an example of using what you’ve got and turned it into something positive.
Anyway, I made a video of us constructing our magical and eco-friendly tree. Check it out below or watch it here.
Like articles on sustainability and eco-friendly resources? Read my review of reusable cotton pads here, or how I got on with using a natural deodorant here. Or, if you're interested in becoming part of the sustainable conversation, read some tips here.
One of my favourite memories about Christmas is that every year on the first weekend of December, we’d take out all the Christmas decorations from the attic and spend the rest of the evening putting up the tree, decorating the house with tinsel and mini Santa’s. It was a tradition that started the official countdown; once the tree was up, the countdown to Christmas Day began!
In my second Blogmas post, I wrote about how I was getting into the Christmas spirit whilst living in uni halls and did a little haul of all the decorations I had bought. But that wasn’t enough for me and I somehow managed to encourage all my flatmates to build a tree together.
We only had two weeks left before we all went home and as we’re too poor to buy a proper tree, I thought it would be cool to make one out of all the plastic bottles. Since we’re all drinking bottled water (the tap water here is gross), it was the perfect thing to use. Our tree is probably the most student thing you’ve ever seen!
It’s now sitting in the corner of our kitchen, with lights draped over it and it’s the cutest thing you’ve seen!
In life, we’re not always given everything and I’ve always been taught to make do with what we’ve got. I know this tree isn’t the same and doesn’t compare to life’s problems but it’s an example of using what you’ve got and turned it into something positive.
Anyway, I made a video of us constructing our magical and eco-friendly tree. Check it out below or watch it here.
Like articles on sustainability and eco-friendly resources? Read my review of reusable cotton pads here, or how I got on with using a natural deodorant here. Or, if you're interested in becoming part of the sustainable conversation, read some tips here.
Nighttime is one of my favourite times of the day. It’s the only time we get to truly be ourselves. We wash off the mask we’ve worn all day and have a chance to unwind. It’s in those moments before I slip in between my sheets, where I can pamper myself and reflect on the day I’ve just had. It’s the only time I can be myself; I’m finally not busy. No ones pushing me towards anything and I’m not in a hurry. It’s a beautiful time.
One of the ways I like to unwind is by washing the day off my face, giving it a little pampering after the harsh conditions it faces throughout a normal day.
 |
| I have to say, I didn't realise how many products I use until you put them all together. They're usually in different places around the room. |
My first step is removing any make-up and bits of dirt with Garner Micellar Cleansing Water. It’s literally the greatest thing for removing make-up and doesn’t leave your face feeling dry like Face wipes do.
After that, I’ve been using La Roche-Posay Effacular Purifying Gel wash for oily sensitive skin. The lovely people from PR sent it over and it’s honestly my favourite thing. Compared to the previous face wash I’d been using before, I definitely felt as though all the excess sebum had been removed and my face felt cleaner and refreshed. This face wash definitely goes deeper in removing excess oils than other high street brands, so you actually feel fresh-faced. For £12 it’s definitely worth it. I’ll have a post coming out on that soon!
Once I’ve washed that off, I use Witch Gentle Exfoliating Face Wash to remove the dead skin cells and build up in my pores. I love that this is gentle and boosts the skin's hydration. Exfoliating daily helps to encourage blood flow to the face and it’s what gets you that natural glow.
My favourite step in my skincare routine is moisturizing. I’m obsessed with it! After I’ve pat-dried my face, I go in first with Simple Kind to eyes soothing eye balm, lightly patting it over my eyes with my ring finger. I then use Tea Tree Essential Oil which is great for targeting spots. It’s the most effective treatment I’ve found that does actually target and reduce the size within a few hours. I use my pinky finger and apply a little dab of oil on any spots.
Once my skin has a chance to absorb that, I use a little Bio-Oil. I’ve only started using this recently and it was actually my Mum who recommended it to me. She said it would be good for the light scaring I have on my face and clearing away the blemishes. So far so good. I was a little worried that to would leave my face looking really oily but as it spreads easily you only need a little bit.
After the Bio-Oil, I go in with my moisturiser. Olay Complete lightweight day fluid. It’s perfect for oily skin and it contains extra vitamins and SPF. I love applying moisturiser on a soft, smooth and freshly washed face. It feels heavenly.
I’ve also made a little video sharing the steps down below. So check it out!
What do you guys do to rewind in the evening?
Love, Aoife x
Nighttime is one of my favourite times of the day. It’s the only time we get to truly be ourselves. We wash off the mask we’ve worn all day and have a chance to unwind. It’s in those moments before I slip in between my sheets, where I can pamper myself and reflect on the day I’ve just had. It’s the only time I can be myself; I’m finally not busy. No ones pushing me towards anything and I’m not in a hurry. It’s a beautiful time.
One of the ways I like to unwind is by washing the day off my face, giving it a little pampering after the harsh conditions it faces throughout a normal day.
|
| I have to say, I didn't realise how many products I use until you put them all together. They're usually in different places around the room. |
My first step is removing any make-up and bits of dirt with Garner Micellar Cleansing Water. It’s literally the greatest thing for removing make-up and doesn’t leave your face feeling dry like Face wipes do.
After that, I’ve been using La Roche-Posay Effacular Purifying Gel wash for oily sensitive skin. The lovely people from PR sent it over and it’s honestly my favourite thing. Compared to the previous face wash I’d been using before, I definitely felt as though all the excess sebum had been removed and my face felt cleaner and refreshed. This face wash definitely goes deeper in removing excess oils than other high street brands, so you actually feel fresh-faced. For £12 it’s definitely worth it. I’ll have a post coming out on that soon!
Once I’ve washed that off, I use Witch Gentle Exfoliating Face Wash to remove the dead skin cells and build up in my pores. I love that this is gentle and boosts the skin's hydration. Exfoliating daily helps to encourage blood flow to the face and it’s what gets you that natural glow.
My favourite step in my skincare routine is moisturizing. I’m obsessed with it! After I’ve pat-dried my face, I go in first with Simple Kind to eyes soothing eye balm, lightly patting it over my eyes with my ring finger. I then use Tea Tree Essential Oil which is great for targeting spots. It’s the most effective treatment I’ve found that does actually target and reduce the size within a few hours. I use my pinky finger and apply a little dab of oil on any spots.
Once my skin has a chance to absorb that, I use a little Bio-Oil. I’ve only started using this recently and it was actually my Mum who recommended it to me. She said it would be good for the light scaring I have on my face and clearing away the blemishes. So far so good. I was a little worried that to would leave my face looking really oily but as it spreads easily you only need a little bit.
After the Bio-Oil, I go in with my moisturiser. Olay Complete lightweight day fluid. It’s perfect for oily skin and it contains extra vitamins and SPF. I love applying moisturiser on a soft, smooth and freshly washed face. It feels heavenly.
I’ve also made a little video sharing the steps down below. So check it out!
What do you guys do to rewind in the evening?
Love, Aoife x
It's almost Christmas! For this Blogmas post, I wanted to do something a little different. It's the most magical time of the year and I thought I'd share this post since it's about a magical place I visited in the summer. Enjoy! x
It felt like I'd stepped into a fairy tale. I'd never seen anything like it. It was so beautiful; magical. Sintra is like a real-life version of the animated Disney Princess films. You just have to walk around the village and look at the view of the mountain front of you, to feel how awe-inspiring this place is. Sintra, for sure, is one of the most magical places I've ever visited.
My Friend and I walked around the National Palace of Sintra and I remember looking out of one of the windows onto the village in front, on the side of this mountain. I had to stop for a moment and just stare at the scene in front of me. It was like I was living in a fairy tale. As if any moment Belle or Cinderella or Aurora were going to pop out from a side road and walk down the road swinging their basket of fresh bread. The view from the window was breathtakingly beautiful and I wish I could live in a fairytale land. I could picture the life behind the window, people walking around the village, horse and carts on the road.
And the magic didn't stop there. About 15 minutes from the main village, we came to the gates of Quinta da Regaleiara. It had been suggested by one of my friends that it would be more worthwhile to visit this palace and gardens than the Pena Palace and I'm so happy we ended up going here. It was exactly like Beauty and the Beast. Every part of the gardens and the architecture on the house reminded me of the Beasts Castle.
There was no escaping it with the large foresty gardens and distinctive architecture, that this place contained something so beautiful, it was almost magical. I could picture beast living inside the palace, swinging from the roof as he landed on a foresty path with statues. Every corner of the gardens was a new place to explore; they had underground passageways, wells, ponds and waterfalls. Don't even get me started on the decor inside the castle. There were little tea cups that reminded me of Chip and the dresser in the bedroom looked exactly like the one in the film, Madame de La Grand Bouche.
Love, Aoife x
It's almost Christmas! For this Blogmas post, I wanted to do something a little different. It's the most magical time of the year and I thought I'd share this post since it's about a magical place I visited in the summer. Enjoy! x
It felt like I'd stepped into a fairy tale. I'd never seen anything like it. It was so beautiful; magical. Sintra is like a real-life version of the animated Disney Princess films. You just have to walk around the village and look at the view of the mountain front of you, to feel how awe-inspiring this place is. Sintra, for sure, is one of the most magical places I've ever visited.
My Friend and I walked around the National Palace of Sintra and I remember looking out of one of the windows onto the village in front, on the side of this mountain. I had to stop for a moment and just stare at the scene in front of me. It was like I was living in a fairy tale. As if any moment Belle or Cinderella or Aurora were going to pop out from a side road and walk down the road swinging their basket of fresh bread. The view from the window was breathtakingly beautiful and I wish I could live in a fairytale land. I could picture the life behind the window, people walking around the village, horse and carts on the road.
And the magic didn't stop there. About 15 minutes from the main village, we came to the gates of Quinta da Regaleiara. It had been suggested by one of my friends that it would be more worthwhile to visit this palace and gardens than the Pena Palace and I'm so happy we ended up going here. It was exactly like Beauty and the Beast. Every part of the gardens and the architecture on the house reminded me of the Beasts Castle.
There was no escaping it with the large foresty gardens and distinctive architecture, that this place contained something so beautiful, it was almost magical. I could picture beast living inside the palace, swinging from the roof as he landed on a foresty path with statues. Every corner of the gardens was a new place to explore; they had underground passageways, wells, ponds and waterfalls. Don't even get me started on the decor inside the castle. There were little tea cups that reminded me of Chip and the dresser in the bedroom looked exactly like the one in the film, Madame de La Grand Bouche.
Love, Aoife x
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