Travel tips: Packing made easy

Heading on holiday? Packing can be stressful, particularly if like me you have a tendency to overpack. Not to mention the struggle of getting it to all fit back in your suitcase for the return trip! Here are a few life hacks that I use to make packing that little bit easier.

Plan your wardrobe

Smart closetThis is the easiest way to avoid over or under packing. Instead of picking random items out of your wardrobe try to pack outfits instead. This will save you from feeling like you have nothing to wear when you get to where your going! To plan my outfits I like to use the Smart Closet app. Although it takes a while to upload your wardrobe it is so worth it to be able to browse your clothes directly from your phone. You can even create a packing list for your holiday so that when it comes to transferring clothes to suitcase you don’t miss anything!

Keep it organised

Packing cubesWant to maximise your space and keep everything organised, packing cubes are your friend! These are an essential if you are going to make multiple stops as it saves you having to unpack and repack as you can just leave everything in the cubes. You can get them in loads of different sizes and colours, personally I wanted something that looked a bit more stylish so shopped around and found these from Nordace. Not only do they look super cute but they are also compression cubes so they shrink down making them even more space efficient.

Accessorise with ease

f35dbb12-7b93-48e3-bfe5-20c658decb94One of my biggest bugbears when travelling is tangled jewellery. I used to spend hours de-tangling my necklaces but my Stackers jewellery box has been a major game changer! You can get a variety of sizes but I find the medium one is perfect for me. Not only does it keep everything organised for the journey, its also a great way to keep everything organised while you’re on your trip and minimise the chances of a misplaced necklace or a lost earring.

What do you use to make your life easier when it comes to holiday packing?


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Top tips: Working from home

Here are a few of the ways I am making the most of working from home and trying to keep on top of my wellbeing.

Top tips for gym newbies

It’s 2018! New year and time for New Years resolutions, here are my top tips for sticking to your “get healthy and go to the gym” resolution.


April favourites

It has been ages since I did a round up of things I’ve been enjoying for the month just gone (probably about 2 years actually…) so I thought now seemed as good a time as any! Here are a few things that I have been enjoying this month.

1. You’re dead to me

you're dead to me

I have my house mate to thank for this one. Usually I listen to a lot of news podcasts and since one particular story is dominating the news at the moment (you know that little thing beginning with c) I have been looking for some alternatives. You’re dead to me is a BBC sounds podcast hosted by Greg Jenner, a British author and public historian, about various historical figures and periods. He is joined by an expert on the topic of the week and a comedian, which makes for an entertaining and informative podcast. You can learn something new without it feeling like learning! If you’re looking for some other podcast picks you can read about my favourites here: Top Podcast Picks

2. All things green

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Green is fast becoming my favourite colour. Pastel green is clearly a popular colour this spring which is probably part of the reason I find myself drawn to it but the other reason I love green is because it’s the colour of my plant children. I am definitely a crazy plant lady – I just can’t get enough, bedroom jungle here I come! There are loads of benefits to having house plants; they purify your air, looking after them is beneficial for your mental health and they add a nice pop of colour as well as creating a relaxing atmosphere. You can read more about my houseplant obsession here: Hello Houseplants

3. Animal Crossing

Animal Crossing

There is something surprisingly relaxing about spending your day fishing, catching bugs and collecting fruit in order to pay back your debt to a business savvy racoon. I had animal crossing years ago back when it was on Nintendo DS, and when I saw the new version I thought I would give it ago. Admittedly, this was not a cheap decision… but it was worth it! There is so much more to do in this version (besides paying off your house loan to Tom Nook) and I can see myself playing this for a long time to come. Given the current situation *cough, quarantine and social distancing, cough* I’m not doing much so this is an enjoyable way to fill the time. It also has the added benefit of being able to play with friends. So the more people I can convince to invest in this the better!

4. Yoga with Adriene

yoga with Adriene

One of my New Years resolutions was to do more yoga and I must confess until now I really haven’t been making an effort with this one. In an effort to force myself to do this I have started Yoga with Adriene’s 30 day home series. I was 4 days in and really enjoying having a proper structure to follow and hold myself accountable to – then I slipped a disk in my back so haven’t been able to do it more recently…

5. L’Oreal No Haircut Cream

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This one is a rediscovery rather than anything new. I forgot how much of a difference L’Oreal Elvive Dream Lengths No Haircut Cream makes to detangling wet hair. Especially now that I have blonde hair I’m making an extra effort to take care of the ends to try and avoid them getting dry. I used to use this back when my hair was longer and I was trying to grow it to minimise split ends but I forgot about it until I found it while doing a bit of a sort out. I won’t be forgetting about this again, that’s for sure.

What have you been loving recently?

 


February Favourites

From activewear to skincare my favourites for February!

August favourites: fitness and fashion

Monthly must haves! Unsurprisingly there is a lot of clothing in this months haul…I’m a shopping addict what can I say!


Skin Care Saviours

I am definitely guilty of being lazy when it comes to taking skin care seriously. However, in order to be a proper #adult I decided to start taking better care of it. But there is so much out there to choose from, there’s toners and lotions and potions galore, so to make life easier for you here are my go to products.

For everyday cleansing

Camomile cleansing butter

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The Body Shop – Camomile Cleansing Butter – £11

I picked this one up because I was intrigued by the concept of a cleansing butter and after one use I was hooked.

It’s super easy to use, and it leaves my skin feeling really soft. Although, it isn’t the best at removing eye make up.

I really like cleansers that can be applied to a dry face as it speeds up the process. I am much less likely to properly clean my face if I have to wait for the tap to run warm before I even start the cleaning process.

Camomile make up remover

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The Body Shop – Camomile Eye Make-up Remover – £7.50

When I picked up the cleansing butter I decided to try the eye make up remover as well and it did not disappoint.

I wasn’t sure if I would like this one but they sell a mini version of it as part of a gift set with the cleansing butter. Mini’s are a great way to try new products without spending loads of money. The number of times I have bought a product that has been super hyped up only to use it 3 times and forget about it.

When I finish my mini bottle I will definitely be going back for a big one!

Micellar water

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Simple – Micellar Cleansing Water – £3.49

If I can’t be bothered to do a proper clean with the butter then I’ll use micellar water, I also have a mini version to take with me when I go on trips.

Micellar water is great for giving your skin a good cleanse when you haven’t got water to hand. I will tend to use this after using a make up wipe to try and get as clean as possible. Also because I often feel like wipes don’t take all the makeup off, using micellar water gets the last bits off.

For the super deep clean

Himalayan charcoal clay wash

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The Body Shop – Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Clay Wash – £10

When I’m in the shower I’ll do a proper deep clean using this face wash.

I particularly like this one as it contains tea-tree which helps with break outs. It also doesn’t leave my skin feeling dry at all, which some deep cleansers do. It unclogs pores which I think is really important to properly get rid of all the pollution and grime your face picks up during the day.

And, as if that isn’t enough, it smells amazing!

 

Seaweed exfoliator

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The Body Shop – Seaweed Exfoliator – £11

Once I’ve cleansed its time to exfoliate. There’s just something about an exfoliator that leaves skin feeling super smooth that I just love.

I have sensitive skin so I need an exfoliator that isn’t too harsh and this one is perfect.

For the break outs

All things Tea-Tree

I use the Skin Clearing Clay Mask once a week, twice if I’m having a particularly bad skin week (Mother Nature I’m looking at you). Every night I use the Night Lotion on areas that are particularly prone to breaking out. I find if I use it all over it just makes the problem worse. Then to finish off I use the Targeted Spot Gel. Does what it says on the tin really, it reduces spots overnight. I’ll use this twice a day on spots until they disappear, which is normally one or two days.

So there you have it, the lazy girls guide to skin care. What are your go to skin care saviours?


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Ways to up your nail game

If my nails don’t have polish on I do not feel complete! Here are my 6 top tips for making your nails look their best.

Drugstore Makeup Haul

A little review of the make up I’ve collected over the last month. I say little….I may have quite a bit to share!


Ways to up your nail game

Anyone else like having their nails done but also not a fan of paying someone to do it for you? If my nails don’t have polish on I do not feel complete! Here are some of my top tips for getting the salon look from the comfort of your own bedroom…

1. Buy some falsies.

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Sick of forever smudging your nails or having to sit there unable to move for 3 hours to make sure they are really properly dry? This one is for you.

There are so many ready painted stick on nails you can get these days – just pop into Boots or Primark – or if you want to get a bit more creative, buy a big pack of plain ones and paint them yourself.

You can buy them in the shape you want and then cut or file them down to size. I use a nail art stand from Amazon and once I’ve got the nails to the right shape and size, paint them and let them dry before sticking them on. Voila, no smudging!

2. Gel polish

Screenshot 2020-02-19 at 20.15.57Want to keep your natural nails? No problem! This one is a bit more of an investment but worth it in the long run. You can get a full starter kit from Mylee for under £60 which includes the lamp, plus 4 gel polishes, gel polish remover and a top and base coat. Or if you want to be a bit more economical there are lamps on amazon for under £30.

Gel’s are great for avoiding the smudge problem but also will last up to 4 weeks if you take care of them properly.

 

3. Fun top coats

Screenshot 2020-02-19 at 20.16.16Want something a bit more out there than a plain colour but not the most creative? Never fear, the fun top coat is here! Using a fun top coat is an easy way to add more to your manicure. Use on all your nails or just one as an accent.

My personal favourites are the funfetti (No. 920 – pictured) and stars in your eyes (No. 477) from candy coat. To get the best out of these products I would recommend using a little paint brush to position the bigger pieces and spread them out to get your desired affect.

4. Glitter

Screenshot 2020-02-19 at 20.15.30Accent nails are another easy way to spice up your manicure. You can go simple and just do one whole glitter nail, or you can go all out and have all your nails glittery. I almost always end up adding some glitter to my nails, these are one of my favourite sets I have done. By doing a glitter ombre it means it isn’t too much for every day but it still has a good amount of sparkle!

To do an ombre you can either use a sponge or a specific paintbrush. There are loads of YouTube tutorials on this.

5. Go dotty

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Nail art can be quite daunting so start simple and add some dots for a cute look. You can get a set of dotting tools from Amazon for under £2. As you get braver you can experiment with different dot sizes, overlapping them, using multiple colours. The possibilities are endless, and so easy to do!

Lacking inspiration? Instagram is my go to. There are loads of nail accounts which you can look to for new ideas and patterns.

 

6. Cuticle oil and moisturiser

Want to get that post salon shine and glow? Pick up some cuticle oil and use post manicure or just on natural nails to keep your skin looking fresh. Oh, and don’t forget to moisturise – you don’t want to spend all that time making your nails look good to have dry hands!

Let me know if you try any of these!

I post all my nail pics over on instagram, find them here: @lottiedoesnails

 

FlexxFit: A Review

I first found FlexxFit about 2 years ago now. I was drawn in by the bright colours and affordable prices and it is one of the best discoveries I have made!

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The first pair I got was the Cranberry ‘Go Higher’ (or something like that) which they no longer do, they’ve moved onto better things. I still reach for these a lot even though I’ve had them a while. The colour hasn’t faded at all and they still fit really well, however the colour does transfer a little bit when you wear a light coloured top that covers it. The transferred colour comes out in the wash though so I’m not too mad about it. They still sell this colour just in the new design and fabric.

When they brought out their new ‘Luxe’ leggings I ordered a pair with the matching crossover bra. Due to it being new product there was a whole kerfuffle which meant I had to wait ages (I think it was about 3 months in the end) for these to arrive but the customer service was impeccable. They kept me informed every step of the way and provided me with a discount code valid for the next 2 years as an apology.

The material of the luxe leggings are thick and soft, and the fit is really flattering. The waist hits at a really good point and they have a good level of compression on the stomach area.

I have these in steel grey, spiced pumpkin which is a burnt orange colour and seafoam which is a blue/green colour.

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I also have a pair of their heart contour leggings. I really like the detailing on these and the pockets are life changing! However, they don’t come up as high as the luxe leggings and so I don’t find them quite as flattering. These are in the colour ‘mystic merlot’ which is a dusty pink colour. They also do these in the luxe legging style.

I have all of these in a size small and am a UK 10/12, the leggings are all £29.99 which is great value for money and they very often have sales making them even cheaper.

Like everyone else I love a matching gym set so naturally I have the matching bras for 3 of the leggings…

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I have the steel grey crossover bra, mystic merlot luxe v tape bra and the spiced pumpkin scoop neck bra. These come up quite small so I have these in medium or large, and even then it can be a bit risky when doing HIIT!

The bras are £24.99, but if you pick your timing right they have them on offer for as low as £9.99!

These are so worth the money and if I could I would have these in every single colour, I just don’t have the drawer space (or the bank balance lets be honest).

 

 


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TALA Activewear Review

My collection of TALA activewear is ever expanding and I still have a few things on my wish list but until then here is a review of the bits I have managed to get my hands on so far…

Shreddy Resistance Bands Review

My thoughts on Grace Fit UK’s resistance bands. Are they worth the money? Did they make a difference to my workout? Would I recommend them?


Top Podcast Picks

I am a big fan of a podcast. Perfect for the walk to work, and you can learn about so many different things! There are so many great podcasts out there but I thought I would share my top five podcast picks:

  1. the high lowThe weekly pop culture and current affairs podcast ‘The High Low’ covers a range of stories as well as recommendations hosted by Dolly Alderton and Pandora Sykes. This one is great for finding books and programmes you might not have come across other wise – plus listening to Dolly and Pandora I often find myself laughing out loud (a bit awkward when you are on a train!)Listen to The High Low

    The week unwrapped

  2. Every Friday Olly Mann is joined by three members of The Week’s digital team to talk about the stories that didn’t get the attention they deserve for ‘The Week Unwrapped’. News can often be very depressing but they keep the discussion light and interesting.Listen to The Week Unwrapped 
  3. DT does a podcast with‘David Tennant does a podcast with…’ is what it says on the tin, David Tennant (or DT as his friends call him – listen to the podcast and you will see what I mean) is joined by a range of guests including Olivia Coleman, Jon Hamm and Gordon Brown. 

    Listen to David Tennant does a podcast with…

    Today in Focus

  4. Another news podcast that I enjoy is ‘Today in Focus’ from The Guardian. This one is a daily podcast which means they can cover each topic in lots of detail and you have something to listen to everyday.Listen to Today in Focus
  5. SerialSerial’ and ‘S-Town’, both produced by This American Life, are real stories toldweek by week. S-Town is only one season but it is a great story taking you on all sorts of twists and turns. Serial has 3 series each covering a different story.Listen to Serial
    Listen to S-Town

My favourite podcasts I realise are mostly news and current affairs focused but as a girl who never picks up a newspaper I find listening to a podcast a great way to keep in the loop about what’s happening in the world.

I am always on the look out for new podcasts so leave me your recommendations below!


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April favourites

It’s been ages since I did a monthly faves so here is a round up of my loves and favourites from April.


Why everyone should read Naomi Alderman’s book ‘The Power’

Naomi Alderman’s 2016 novel “The Power” explores what a world where women are the dominant gender might look like. The book begins when women develop the ability to release electrical jolts from their fingers and then follows how they use their new found power to take over the world. The book follows four main characters (Margot, Roxy, Allie and Tunde) as they adjust to their new reality.

This book is such an interesting concept that is so much more than just ‘What if women ruled the world?’ It is an exploration of the power dynamics between men and women and an exploration of how our ‘civil’ society could descend so quickly into anarchy.

I can’t express enough how amazing this book is so here are 5 reasons why you must read ‘The Power”

  1. Feminism – this is an obvious one, after all this book is marketed as ‘one of those essential feminist works’
  2. It’s so thought provoking – imagine the GSCE English essays you could write on the themes in this book! Much more interesting than ‘of mice and men’ and Curly’s wife with her red nails, red dress, red everything and what that might represent. Seriously though it really gave my brain a workout.
  3. If you are a women this book is so relatable – not in the whole being able to shoot lightning from your fingers thing obviously, but the way Alderman presents men and their behaviour towards women in this book. It particularly shines a light on how far we still have to go to get to a place of gender equality.
  4. If you are a man I think this book should be required reading – I think that the role reversal presented by this book where men are the homemakers and women are the breadwinners presents men with an easier way to put themselves in a women’s shoes (as it were) and how it would be if men rather than women had to live in constant fear for their physical safety.
  5. GIRL POWER! Seriously this book left me feeling so empowered.

This book is quite a heavy read, exploring religion, rape culture and more. At times women are presented in a very unflattering way but I think that’s what makes this book so brilliant! It makes the book feel much more believable and is a fascinating look at human behaviour. I can see why this won the 2017 Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction.

If this review hasn’t sold you on this book then I highly recommend you go and read some of the reviews here. There are some really great ones, as well as some great Q&A’s.


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The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle review

A novel is so full of twists and turns you’ll feel like you’re on a rollercoaster! The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton is a murder mystery like no other.

What I read in 2020

One of my resolutions for 2020 was to read more, I set myself a goal of 10 books over the year and I have succeeded! So here is a round up of everything I read.