Bath Time Routine

Now if any of you know me, you know I am a bath person, showers are not me. Now don't get me wrong, I do have them but they're for washing quickly where as a bath is for sore tired muscles, for warming up and just general chill out and relax time! 

I am one of these people that will spend a lot of money on bath products. I have tried cheapy ones from Penny's or Dealz, but they are not the same as a Lush bath bomb or Jo Malone bath oil.

So if I decide to have a bath, there is a lot of preparation involved, i have to pick the right combination of products, I have to decide what to watch or listen to, or if I want to read and then my lighting for the bath as well. Thats how much I love baths, but if the right prep goes into a bath, it can be amazing! It can feel like you're in one of the best spas in the country,....complete and utter pamper and relaxation session! 

First of all I pick my favourite bath products, this always will include any Lush Cosmetics bath bomb and bubble bar. If you haven't tried Lush before and you like baths,...you are seriously missing out! They make your bathing experience amazing, you can genuinely feel the essential oils in the water and your skin is so soft and moisturised by the end.  It also changes the colour of the water and smells incredible! 

Next is Aromatherapy Associates Bath & Shower Oil, essentially the Revive one is my go to product. You can pour a small cap full into your bath or what I learned was you can apply it onto your body or for me the really sore or stiff parts like my back or legs, rub it in slightly and then get into a really hot bath and this stuff honestly makes all the pain disappear and pour away! I have honestly never used something that has worked so quickly before, and it is honestly such an amazing feeling having all the pain in your muscles just be wiped away like that! And you really don't need a lot of this product, a little goes a long way. Another good bath oil is Neom Organics, it's not great for sore muscles but it does make your skin feel incredibly soft and it is very relaxing.  

Next is the ambiance, so I get as many candles or tea lights as I can and scatter them (safely) around the bathroom, so it's candle light mood, very relaxing, but not too dark that I can't find the bath to get into to. Then I would either have an audiobook or music to listen to or have some documentary on Netflix on, sometimes a movie depending on my mood. I do prefer an audiobook. I never really read in the bath anymore, I think it's because I never really feel relaxed with a full light on, I much prefer the candle light. Then once all that is done, I either have a glass of white wine or a cold glass of water beside me to sip on. 

Once that is all done and the bath is full and streaming hot, and i have my drink whatever it may be and my audiobook is set up, it's time to get in! I love steaming hot baths but it's a very slow process easing your self into a hot bath, but once your in, everything just washes away, all the stress in your body and your mind is slowly being washed away. 

It really is one of my favourite treats to myself is a bath with all the trimmings. All those trimmings are completely worth it as well. I hope you guys treat yourself and try having a really nice bathing experience. Especially if your stressed or suffer from sore muscles. 

Lush Cosmetics

Aromatherapy Associates - online

Aromatherapy Associates - in Dublin

Glamglow Mud Mask

Hi there,
Now there has been a lot of hype about the Glamglow masks of recent. I first heard or read about them about three years ago in some review or you tube review, and thought my god they sound amazing, I have to try that out! So I went online and purchased a small jar of the Glamglow mud mask, the exfoliating mask, the black one! That was suppose to be an all rounder of a face mask! It claimed to exfoliate, clear up any breakouts or prevent them from happening and also to plump the skin for a more youthful complexion.

So when I tried it I didn't expect much, as a lot of the hype around products don't live up to their reviews, but this beauty did! The mud mask is an exfoliating mask, so it can be pretty abrasive, so you guys out there with sensitive/reactive skin like myself be careful. I wouldn't be very heavy handed with this one when washing it off your face.

So the method goes that you apply it onto your skin ,wait for it to dry then wash it off, like every face mask out there, but with this one, there is exfoliating particles inside so when it is dry after ten minutes, you dampen your skin and gently massage the mask around and then wash it off. I use a facecloth as it's the easiest and quickest way to get it off.

I found with the mud mask that it did plump my skin and did help with open pores and oiliness and stops breakouts but because my skin is quite reactive, it stays red for a couple of hours, but once it settles down, it feels fantastic, not brighter but a lot smoother and the effect stays for about a week or so.

I have to say that in conclusion, I do like the mask but I don't think it's the best thing for my skin, I actually give it to my best friend to use as hers is a bit tougher and more dryer than mine, and she absolutely loves it, and her skin does look a lot better than mine after she uses it. I just find the results are only lasting a week and not long lasting and not making a big difference to skin overall.

There are other products in the glamglow range, and there are still more being produced, I haven't tried all of them, but if any of you know me, you know that I will definitley get my hands on them and be trying ALL of them out.

This mask is quite pricey at €49.90 for 50g, so to be completely honest, I don't think it warrants that price tag for my skin needs anyway. It can be purchased in Brown Thomas or Space NK and Feel Unique which has free delivery, and is becoming available in a lot of beauty salons across Ireland.

Space NK
Brown Thomas
Feel Unique

A Walk in the Sun

Hi there,
There is seriously nothing better than having a day off and then there is seriously nothing better than having a full week off, which is what I have. So I'm trying to make the best of it and not waste the entire time watching tv inside, and then you realise it's 7pm and the whole day is gone!

So today I was "persuaded" by my friends to go for a walk, didn't sound too bad, to Killiney Hill, assuming we'd drive there! Then after I had got myself ready, discovered we were walking to the Hill, walking up the Hill and then back from the Hill. I have to be honest and say that I wasn't feeling very positive about this or about the outcome.

But to be honest, it was really nice and I really enjoyed it. The sun was out, and shining, and the weather was gorgeous. Not too hot and not too cold, actually it was beautiful for April. Great weather for a walk up a "mountain" and back!

I have to say that I wasn't in the best of form, I was just having one of those days and my fitness is non-existant! But I actually did the entire walk, without dyeing or passing out! And it was really nice living in a city but living so close to such a beautiful area.

The times we stopped for a break was when we were at the very top of the hill, and you could see the entire city, and trying to spot certain buildings or areas that we knew.

It was great for just forgetting about tiny insignificant things that you might normally over think, it just makes you happy and positive to get out and admire the city and surroundings you live in. It relaxes your entire body and mind as well, it's great for those of us that stress and overthink things in our lives. There is something about when the sun is shining, you feel that need to get outside and be in it and do something! And it also puts people in a much better moods.
Hope you enjoyed this post, and enjoy the sunshine!

Sunday Morning

Hi there,

I love nothing better than waking up on a day off and having a complete chill out day. Getting some chill out time and then also getting some bits done, bits that we all know we love doing, not errands now, no one likes doing them and you always feel like you've slightly wasted your day off doing stuff that has to be done.

Anyway back to Sunday or any day off. It is great when you wake up early, now unfortunately I'm not one of those people, I really wish I was but Im going to be honest,....I'm not, I'll plan to but it never happens, if anything when my alarm goes off at 10 am, I get really annoyed with myself for even setting it that early.

So when I do rise from my slumber, it's about 12pm or later (don't judge), I'll have a shower, wash my hair and all the other bits and bobs, and then put on some nice but comfy clothes, we all have our favourite comfy clothes that we save to wear for our days off! I'll open my curtains and make my bed, you just can't beat a sunny Sunday morning. Sunshine always makes me feel happy, it's like being a child again, you just want to run outside and play in the sun!

When I've finished looking out the window, thinking I'd love to get out there, ( but never actually do, if you know me) I'll make my way downstairs, and say hello to the kitties, as I now live with two lovely but greedy cats! No food is safe from them!

On a day off I always like to treat myself with a really yummy but not so healthy breakfast/lunch. So this particular morning, I decide to make a fry, with a little persuading from one of my housemates, so we both pull out all the food we can find, sausages, rashers, eggs, bread and even potato waffles! Can't beat a bit of nostalgia, haven't had them in a years.

You really can't beat the smell and the sound of a fry being cooked, the sausages sizzling, the cracking of the eggs into the pan and trying to remember to toast the bread and boil the kettle for that cup of tea you always need with a fry!

So once the feast has finished cooking, the plates are assembled and the tea is made, and it's off to eat. Theres something in me that likes getting back into bed and watching tv shows I've saved up all week to watch for this moment! While of course the boys head off to yell at the tv for the big match ( I have no idea what match it is but it's obviously a very important one). And that is my perfect Sunday morning. I hope you enjoyed it and you all have a lovely Sunday morning, whatever you guys get up to!

Goodbye & Hello

Hello there,
I have been missing from the blogging world for the last month or so, but I do have good reason, which is why I'm putting up this post.

To be totally honest, I didn't really think 2014 was a great year for me, I kept thinking of all the stuff that hadn't happened or all the things I hadn't accomplished but then I thought, hang on I did loads!

I went to Spain with one of my best friends in April and we had a great time, and it was great. It was so nice just being on a chill out holiday with one of your close friends, no drama, no pressure, just doing what we wanted, which was basically just sunbathing, reading, eating, drinking, shopping and sleeping! And of course chatting and gossiping! :) I would love to be able to do that again.

I went to Paris to visit another friend and got to see one of the most beautiful cities in the world! Everyday we walked around, I honestly felt like I was walking around in a postcard or a movie. I saw some amazing sights and got to lap up the french atmosphere and environment! And of course the food and wine was incredible, expensive but well worth it. And the culture as well, my favourite part of the trip was the Musee d'Orsay, where I got to see one of my favourite artists works, Vincent Van Gogh and some of the Starry Night Collection.

I also got the opportunity to travel with work, now it was only Co. Cork but thats not the point, I love my work and I'm really proud of the fact that I was a trainer for a long time, and to go down to another salon and represent the company I worked for and train their staff still gave me a great feeling.

On another occasion, I went down to Cork again, to train a trainer in a beauty college. Training one of their trainers was a great feeling as well. It sounds small, but to train a trainer is really nice and to get on well and feel you helped them and made them feel a lot more confident and knowledgable about what they're doing is such a nice positive feeling. I think it's the one thing about the beauty industry that I truly enjoy is training.

I also left my job, I was with a very high standard specialist salon for the over the last five years, and I decided to leave, I had a few reasons, the main one was to learn more and progress. I was offered a position in a very different salon, it is huge with a lot of staff and three floors and also with a lot of potential and room to progress and move up and build on other skills apart from doing treatments.
It was a very hard decision to leave my old salon and some of my good friends but I knew it was the right choice and it was a chance I had to take and try. To be honest I love my new job, it was a bit tough and confusing at the start but I love it, I feel like I've grown and taken on a lot more in the last month than in the last year. So I know it was the right decision that I made, and I know for a fact it's going to be challenging but its exciting and new and it feels like a whole new beginning or chapter in my life.

I also realised this year that I have an amazing group of friends, all of which have never met each other, they are all separate from one another, that I met at different points in my life. But I am very close to all of them and am glad to call them my friends. It's funny because they are all so different from each other, looks, personality, careers, background.
But I feel very lucky to have them all.

So Here's to 2015!

Christmas Treats

Hi there,
Just thought I would do a little post on my Christmas Treats. This is a bit random, it's not just presents but things I really enjoyed at Christmas, such as films, food, candles, bath products, being cosy, meeting friends, all those sort of things.
So lets begin,

One of my favourite things about Christmas is being at home by the fire, with a hot drink (or a glass of wine) and a good movie, sitting in front of the fire, basically being all cosy inside while the weather is horribly windy and rainy outside!

Another is meeting up with good friends, catching up over a drink and food.  I don't know why but there is something really enjoyable about meeting up with people at Christmas time, there is always a better, bubblier warmer atmosphere. And I think as well, there is something really nice about working your butt off in work in the run up to Christmas and then finally you can rest and then have fun. It's like you've really earned the time off, and you enjoy every minute of it!

Another treat is obviously the presents. It's funny, I wouldn't be one of these thats obsessed with getting gifts, but its that moment you get the gift and the unknowing of it, ripping the paper off in great expectation of what lies beneath! And then the sweetest thing ever is when you get a really personal gift that shows someone really knows you and really cares about you, and has gone to the effort of getting you something you're going to really like.













And last but certainly not least is bath time. I love having a bath, especially a really hot one with all the trimmings. Candles, bath bombs, lots of bubbles and really good book or audiobook. Its such a nice feeling being a in a lovely hot bath with your bathroom set up like a spa and then hearing the wind battling outside! I love that! and it's ridiculously relaxing especially after a hard days physical work and you're body is aching, and then the minute you ease yourself into the bath, all those aches and pains are just washed away.

I hope you all had a great Christmas and I'm sure you all have your own favourites or treats you love around Christmas.

Scrambled Eggs & Smoked Salmon Croissants

Hi there again,
Just thought I'd do a post on one of my ultimate brunches!

This is one of my favourite breakfast, lunch, brunches to make on my day off, preferably on a Sunday when it's lovely and sunny and warm outside,.....very surprisingly for Dublin in November!

But the reason I love it is because it's easy and very tasty, if you like salmon and eggs, you'll absolutely love this! And it's not too crazy in calories either! It's actually really good for you!

This was actually a Gordon Ramsay recipe that I saw on one of his cooking shows, and thought it looked yummy so I took note and tried it out!

Ingredients:
2/3 Slices of Salmon
2 Eggs
2 Croissants (1 day old preferably)
Milk - 2 taplespoons
Butter - 1 knob
Salt - a pinch
Cooking Oil - 1 tablespoon

Equipment:
Frying Pan
Microwaveable Bowl
Knife
Fork
Tongs

Method:
(1.) So first things first cut up both croissants into 4 sections width ways
(2.) Throw away the ends of the croissants
(3.) Pour 1 tablespoon of cooking oil into a frying pan and then leave there until we need it later
(4.) For the scrambled egg, crack the 2 eggs into your microwaveable bowl, add about 2/3 tablespoons of milk, a knob of butter and a pinch of salt into the bowl. (you can add other ingredients if you want, such as onions, peppers, scallions, ham, etc)
(5.) Mix all of the ingredients in your bowl around and then put into the microwave for 1 minute on high.
(6.) Take out the bowl after 1 minute, mix around the contents and then put it back in the microwave for another 1 minute.
(7.) While your scrambled eggs are in the microwave, you can turn on your frying pan on the heat, a low heat is best.
(8.) Place the cut up croissants into the frying pan, the cut side down, as you are going to fry both sides of the croissants sections.
(9.) Once the first side of the croissants is nice and fried or golden, (not burnt), turn them all over with your tongs and fry the other side. ( these cook very quickly so make sure to keep an eye on them).
(10.) Once the croissants are fried on both side, you can take them out of the pan and place them on your plate.
(11.) You can now cut pieces of salmon for yourself and place these on your plate along with your fried croissants.
(12.) Your scrambled egg should be done now as well, now depending on how you like your scrambled, 2 minutes should be enough for fluffy egg, if you like it runnier, then leave it in for 30 seconds less than I said above. So if it's at the point you like it, then take it out of the bowl, and put it onto your plate with the croissants and salmon and your ready to eat!
(13.) I would also make a cup of tea as well to go with my breakfast/brunch (but that if you're a tea lover like me).

I hope you enjoy this, I really love this on a crisp summer or even autumn morning with a lovely warm cup of tea, and a good book, so I hope you guys like it too. Enjoy!