A healthy happy start

To coincide with #100happydays, I have also been looking into what I eat, hoping that if I feel good on the inside it will only boost my feelings on the outside! 

As a self-confessed chocoholic, eating a healthy clean and lean lifestyle will never be easy, that is unless you live near a Whole Foods Market (luckily for me there is one by my uni), where useful guilt free and natural ingredients are their speciality, my favourites are coconut oil (actually now available at most health stores and large supermarkets), raw coco powder and cacao nibs. There is also lots of yummy naturally gluten and diary free alternatives too. 

It was at Whole Foods where I was able to buy all the ingredients for this totally natural guilt free treat:

Cocoa nib cookies

130g almond-mil (or ground almonds)

2.5 tbs of melted coconut oil

2.5 tbs of rice syrup(or maple)

0.25 tsp of baking powder

0.25 tsp of sea salt (not too fine)

1 tsp high quality vanilla extract

30g cacao nibs

Sprinkling of raw coco powder (optional) 

After setting the oven to 170c, combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl. 

Take a little less than a tablespoon amount for each cookie and place on a lined baking tray.

Place in the oven for 20 minutes and then enjoy! 

Please note: you may not need the total amount of coconut oil, it's best to add it last and stop pouring if the mixture starts to turn greasy. 

#100happydays

With the start of the year as dull as ever, I have decided to take part in 100 happy days, by uploading an image everyday of something that has beought a smile to my face, I've found that it's helped me to appreciate the little things and conquer the January blues! 

I've been doing it for a couple of weeks now, for full sized images visit my Instagram @jadelydia 

Let's start this again. 2014, I'm ready.

NEW YEAR.

It's here and with it the annual flow of promises on how we can all better ourselves over the next 365 days.

It's no surprise that this post is written as I embrace the first of my resolutions list. Restart the Blog. I want to blame third year for the lack of posts and unsuccessful start up, but I know that if I really want to I can find the time to share my opinions, images and hauls!

Other resolutions include: act my age (I often worry that my grandmother and I lead far too similar lifestyles) and preen myself to a higher standard (I am not saying that I have let myself go, it's just that there is a fine line between natural beauty and looking like a yeti - eyebrows, I'm looking at you)

I also decided that my new year would start today, otherwise known as BLUE MONDAY. The most depressing day of the year. I was hoping that my fresh outlook and kickstart would make today more hopeful than blue.

2014 is going to hopefully be a landmark year in my life, as it brings the end of my studies at LCF and the year I am to be launched into the "real" world. Eeek!

Highlighter bronzer duo: splurge or save?

Benefit's 10 highlighting powder has forever been my favourite face product. So you can imagine how distraught I was to discover the brand had discontinued it from it's powder brick collection. 

I had been experimenting with other powders and liquids to generate the same effect, as the magic "swoop". 

That was until I came across W7's double act, with similar packaging and the same double shades palette. 

I was first a bit dubious about using a budget brand on my (extremely) sensitive face, however I was pleasantly surprised by the results. 

(Top image: W7, Bottom image: Benefit) 

I have always opted for benefit's product as I love the Dewey-highlighted effect achieve. I found that the same effect was given with W7, the only difference being that the darker pigment on the block left cheek bones appearing more defined( an added bonus, any girl would agree?) 

Which leaves the question to splurge or to save?   

The reason I actually came across the W7 brick was after recently being informed that Benefit's 10 had in fact been discontinued, leaving it to be the perfect substitute, however, the brand have revealed that it is now back on the market as an online exclusive, leaving us highlight addicts caught between two very similar products.

With W7's brick priced at £3.79 and Benefit's at £28, an easy decision can be made, although I do think I will always favour 10 for it's careless glow that is so easily achieved. 

How about you? Do you miss 10? Are there any products you miss and would like to see again?

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Product Review: Sally Hanson complete salon manicure

The new bright shades from Sally Hansen promise 7 benefits in 1 bottle. 

The range comes in a variety of colours, from natural nudes to bright summer shades such as the coral pink that I chose. 

When applying, the quality on the varnish is apparent. As the strong pigment is painted on, nails do feel instantly thicker and stronger. 

 

With such great first impressions, I then decided to track how this nail treatment would last with a busy lifestyle. As the bottle claims 10 days of wear.

Unfortunately chips were apparent after 1 day and by day 5 I had to re paint my nails completely, as the varnish had peeled off, leaving nails feeling weak and distressed.

I was disappointed with the results, however I do understand that I don't lead theory nail friend lifestyle, containing horse riding, dog walking, window dressing and interning. The varnish is better quality than most pharmacy brands, although can not be compared to salon LED light varnishes.

Have you used this brand before? How long did your nails last?

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Beauty Aesthetics

After finishing what was an amazing internship at WGSN, I found myself far away from the busy streets of grey London and across the world in Sri Lanka.

No shop windows there... However I was totally inspired by the natural beauty and life that could be found everywhere, especially in the Buddhist temples. 

On return I have been working at a PR agency who specialise in beauty and fashion lifestyle, through my course I've always had an interest in branding and have learnt a lot from the experience.

I have always enjoyed makeup and akin care products but also have a strong believe in being as close to natural as possible, which is why I was pleasantly surprised that the company uses a lot of beauty brands with this in mind. I love to play with new products and experiment how natural beauty can be enhanced with out adding extra bits to your face and body, instead using what you've got to gain confidence. 

Which is why I have decided to add a category to this site, Beauty Aesthetics. A little section to show my interest. I hope to review, test, compare a variety of products, along with supplying a couple of DIY tips too. 

Still getting to grips with this though, so patience, please :) 

X

Dinosaur Windows at Louis Vuitton

The new Chanel store on Bond Street is not the only thing that caught my eye on Bond Street this week... Louis Vuitton's dinosaur windows are great. Love the humour of a T-Rex carrying a statement bag coinciding with the different gold tones to really let the product stand out and keep the luxe look.