Lush Haul and Lush Oxford Street

Hello! You may know I'm a bit of a Lushie, is that the official term for a Lush Addict or have I made that up? It needs to be cleared up, like right now. Last week I went to London. There was no way I was going to miss a chance to go into the new Oxford Street Lush, it was my Mecca. As I walked in my jaw dropped to the floor, you know when people are exaggerating right now I am not exaggerating I PROMISE YOU.

When you walk in you are greeted by a truly expansive space, 3 floors of lush.

My favourite tour product wise was the top, because that is focussed on Baths and if you know me, I love a good lush bath.

 This store has I believe over 200 yes 200 exclusive products, wowza. Including these bath oil balls, I want to call them.

The bottom floor houses both the Lush Spa and the Perfumes. It has an amazing Gorilla Perfume Gallery. Explained below.

It has little booths and areas which go with each of their scents. My favourite booth was the 70's disco one and I was very happily dancing away.

Onto the LUSH HAUL

Pink Flamingo - Reusable Bubble Bar

Birds of a feather bathe together! Slip into something more fruity with this cocktail-inspired reusable bubble bath, filled with fragrant rosewood and ylang ylang. Let the bubbly flow.

Floating Island - Bath Oil (Mine didn't last in transit back to Norwich :( )

If you like pina colades and getting caught in the rain, drop this in the bath and let tides of lemon and sandalwood wash over your senses. Relax as you float away to your own sweet dessert island.

This one I bought in Norwich a little while back.

Melting Marshmallow Moment - Bath Melt

Sweet treat for silky skin.

I hope this wasn't too long!

Thanks for popping by

xxx

Top 3 Summer Lipsticks

Hello! June is next week and that is summer. Personally for me I have some lip colours which I'll wear all year round such as MAC Soar and Russian Red and others which I tend to wear in particular seasons. So my picks for summer.

Number 1. Topshop Ohh La La

This has been re-released as part of their 5 years of Topshop Make Up collection but I bought mine way back when it was first out and I bring it out each summer. For me personally this is best patted into the lips, as a more muted look, other wise you'd really have to build the colour up and in summer this would just melt.

Number 2. MAC Candy Yum Yum

Despite MAC lipsticks costing £15 I am a MAC lipstick gal, nothing in Boots/Superdrug excites me the way a MAC lipstick does. I did a review on Candy Yum Yum, here. This is such a bright and eye catching colour, wear with a simple outfit and let your lips do the talking.

Number 3. Topshop Rio Rio

There is nothing more classic than a red lip, but for summer I find no matter how much (or little) tan you have, a red with an orange undertone really helps to bring that out, even if it is a dusting of bronzer. I love this colour especially as you can see it really contrasts with the blue of my eye, bring that colour out.

Looking at my top 3, I appear to like lipsticks with a bit of repetition in the name, but only for summer, intriguing.

Thanks for popping by!

xxx

Musical Theatre Tag | YouTube

Hello! It seems that Saturday has become the day to share my YouTube videos, this week's is the Musical Theatre Tag. I answer some questions whilst talking to a camera, you know the drill.


In my next video I will even have a pretty display picture, because my brain works sometimes.

Other Musical/Stagey Posts
Top 5 Showtunes
Into The Woods | Movie
West Side Story

Thanks for popping by!

xxx

Crochet Top Outfit

Hello! This is my first style post in a while, I just really hate that awkward in between season situation but last week we had some borderline summery weather and I could finally wear my crochet top which I featured way back in my March Haul.

The details

one must dance whenever one can

Sunglasses: Tiger, Top and Trousers: Ebay, Bandeau: Primark, White Mono Leather Converse

This outfit is perfect for when you want a totally laid back look, but still with some interest because of the patterned trousers and the ombre aspect of the top.

Thanks for popping by!

xxx

May Fitness Update

Hello! Its roughly a month since I last posted my first fitness type post 'Fitness begins now', so I thought I was a due an update... not sure if this is actually interesting to anyone.

I kept up with my routine which was Gym 3 times a week and yoga on the off days. I'd say a month later I have kept to that. So a pat on the back for myself. However in the next 4 weeks I really want to be able to include some kind of class, just so I don't get bogged down in doing the same thing all the time. Over the last 4 weeks I have used the bus significantly less to get to work and have been using the ole bike or just simply walking.

I have two videos that I have specifically enjoyed following on YouTube. The first being the 'I really like you squat challenge' from Blogilates, as the ole legs is somewhere I am focussing on ATM. This is short, and is good worked in with other videos to have your own personalised session. Secondly is the 'Sweaty Betty barreASANA' workout. I'm going to write my thoughts after completion, brb, right I'm back! This obviously a longer workout and I'd say it covers all areas of the body. I'm not going to say I find this easy, in fact, I find it near impossible, especially the first part of the video I have to take breaks. 

Linking on nicely, I have some fitness purchases from Tiger. Since I have been liking the ole Yoga I decided it was time to get a Yoga Mat £15 and a Yoga Block £2. Yoga equipment can get pretty pricey, so this is a good deal I'd say. Doing yoga on my carpet is okay, but I have the fear of carpet burns and I couldn't say no to the pretty colours!

One final note, each month I am going to try 1 new healthy recipe, hopefully soon you will be seeing a post on Sweet Potato Brownies, which I am equally nervous and excited about!

Thanks for popping by!

xxx

Things That Annoy Me | Youtube

Hello! My Mum has always said I'm easily annoyed so I started writing things down, and you know what, she's not wrong! I thought these would make an entertaining video, so I turned my camera on and pressed record. This is the result.

I really could be on Grumpy Old Men, I am sure of it.

Thanks for popping by!

xxx

The Need for a Boyfriend | My Thoughts

Hello! Today I thought I would do a more thoughtful post. This is about the apparent 'need for a Boyfriend'.

I am going to start of by saying I am 20 years old and I have had 1 boy friend, ONE. I'm not going to lie I'm not in a rush for another one, not saying I want to be single forever, that would be lonely. It's not my area of expertise lets be honest.

One thing I found growing up, most (not all) other girls spend their teenaged years looking for a boyfriend, and being jealous of those who do have a boyfriend. For me this is something which has been taught in the media whether it was magazines, I used to read Go Girl (remember that?) aimed at girls between 7 and 13 the question/agony aunt type section was filled with bits like 'How do I know if my crush fancies me?', at that age that should be the last thing you should thinking about. Also in books aimed at girls, books I found terribly boring and put me off reading for years as I thought that as all I could read, and obviously on TV and Films.

Because I wasn't actively looking for a boyfriend in my teenaged years, I have been asked if I was a lesbian or a-sexual, by people who were meant to be my friends. There isn't anything wrong with being either way, when you're 14 years old you don't know who you are at that stage, and would like to fit in. I took offense to these comments, I wondered if there was something wrong with me.

Now years later, I feel sad for those people who put themselves down so much as they are single. A boyfriend or girlfriend is nice to have. But be your own self first, you don't need a significant other to complete you, but to compliment you.

These are just my thoughts.

Thanks for popping by!

xxx

Chocolate Meringue Brownie | Recipe

Hello! How can you start a week better than with a Chocolate Meringue Brownie recipe?? I will give you 10 seconds thinking time .... Couldn't think of a better way? I knew it!

(JUST GOING TO APOLOGISE FOR THE PICTURE, it got devoured before I remembered to take a nice snap)

I really would advise using at least a 22cm round tin, but if possible have a slightly longer diameter. Grease and line the tin with 5-7cm extra height on your parchment paper.

Ingredients:
Brownie
250g Butter
350g Dark Chocolate
300g Muscovado Sugar
5 Eggs Separated

Meringue
4 Egg Whites
225g Golden Caster Sugar
2tsp Vanilla Extract
1tsp Cornflour
50g Cocoa Flour

Recipe
Preheat the oven to 180/160 Fan/Gas 4

Melt Butter and Chocolate in a saucepan over a low heat, then mix in the sugar until dissolved.

Remove pan from heat then mix in the egg yolks.

In a separate bowl whisk up the egg whites until they form soft peaks.

Take 2 tablespoons of the whites and mix them in.

Gently fold in the rest of the egg whites.

Put the mixture into the tin and cook for 40 mins.

MEANWHILE
In a bowl whisk the egg whites until they form stiff peaks, gradually adding in the sugar, followed by the vanilla extract.

In a separate bowl sift together the cornflour and cocoa. DO NOT SKIP THIS, I know its tempting.

Fold into the meringue until it is thick and glossy.

Remove the brownie from the oven, and spread over your meringue. Cook for a further 25 minutes.

Leave to cool, it will sink in the middle a little bit.

MY EXPERIENCE
My tin was too small, so mine ended up looking like a crater. Tin size is important!! HOWEVER chocolate meringue OMFG is amazing I can't believe I've never tried it yum yum yum yum (I could say yum forever)

Thanks for popping by!

xxx

Kylie Jenner Lip Tutorial

Hello! I uploaded another dumb youtube video, this time its a Make Up Tutorial, but lets just say its not your average one! I hope you enjoy it.

Thanks for popping by!

xx

May Wishlist | Festival Edition

Hello! It's May and that means, Big Weekend wooooooooo! Yes that woo required that many 'o's. This will not surprise anyone who knows me but I've never been to a festival, nor do I really attend gigs and what not < see I say and what not. Case closed. I do however need something to wear on the 24th of May, so cue ASOS browsing.

1. Elephant Shorts
2. Rain Mac
3. Mixed Print Jogger
4. Crochet Back Top

1. I'm not going to lie, I despise my legs, so I avoid wearing Denim shorts as I feel they really constrict me, and make me feel VERY self conscious. If I am to wear shorts they must be either very soft or loose, which these look like they might be. Plus they have elephants on them, so thats cool.

2. I am under no elusion that this is Coachella, so baring that in mind I did browse some Rain Macs, but most of them are very expensive, until I found this beauty on Missguided at a more pleasing price of £40. Still not sure I will invest, can a blonde wear yellow?

3. Fun printed joggers are going to be my thing this spring/summer and how freaking fun are these? I keep looking at these, just typing this.

4. I am aware I have plenty of white/cream tops, but ignore that. This would be so nice to wear when I do a plaited up do of some kind, that is my thought with this one.

Thanks for popping by?

xxx

April Favourites

Hello! I cannot believe I am writing another favourites post, I just cannot believe it. April has had its very quiet moments and its busier moments, like every month. Please read on....

The Great Gatsby

This is a classic book which has been made into a film, so I had fairly high expectations. I feel this maybe an unpopular point of view, but I found this a genuine struggle to read... which lead me to the conclusion, either I have no reading ability or this book just is boring, slow, lacking in tension and in parts overly detailed. The Great Gatsby is set in the 1920's, during the Prohibition era... an exciting time. SO I guessed the book would also be exciting and I did not find this the case.

Top Hat

I cannot explain my excitement when I saw this in the Theatre Royal Norwich brochure, this is one of my favourite musicals, definitely in my top Three. When you watch Top Hat you find yourself in the audience grinning from ear to ear. It has beautiful Fred Astaire dance routines, mistaken identity and the gorgeous music of Irvin Berlin including You're Easy To Dance With, Puttin' on the Ritz, and Let's Face the Music and Dance. I LOVED IT. Top Hat is a life favourite.

Lowering my cultural levels...

Keeping Up With The Kardashians

Think what you like about them, but KUWTK is the ultimate programme in the trashy/guilty tv rankings, well in my brain anyway. Not much to say, apart from I just can't avoid watching them...

Mr Postles Apothecary

Way back at the very beginning of April, I heard about a new cocktail bar in Norwich. It was meant to be theatrical with some interesting cocktails as well as your more standard ones. I'm not going to lie I went a bit cocktail cray to the cray (which was highly unusual for this granny). I began with the Meringue Martini (amazing), then a Cosmopolitan (its some thing you have to do), then the Bubble Gum Daiquiri (my favourite of the night) and then I finished with the Espresso Martini (pretty damn good). The cocktails were around the £7 mark, which isn't too expensive. I highly recommend.

Apples

Finally this is really random, but I have been loving Golden Delicious Apples, they are just so tasty and yummy. That's all.

Thanks for popping by!

xxx

I Made a Youtube Video

Hello! I have found a space on the internet to just be weird, this blog generally shows the more typically girly girl which I think is quite apparent. But last week I had an idea which was quite dumb and with my spare time I decided to fulfil it and film it. SO lets hop into the video...

*Sidenote, if I do anymore videos should I share them on zee blog?*

Soooo... that exists....

Thanks for popping by!

xxx