It's gym time!

It's the new academic year, which means new memberships to all kinds of delights, the most financially testing however is the gym membership- awooo
Insert obviously horrible membership photograph here:

It's as though these machines have no choice but to make you look hideous.
Take a vote, which picture was worse... This year or last years?

After forking out my arm and leg for membership fees, I needed to buy some new gym clothes that would be appropriate, aswell as trainers. Then I remembered Forever 21 to the rescue! The gym clothes there were so cheap I nearly did cartwheels in the shop, a pair of cropped yoga trousers for £4.50?! Yes please
I also got a sports bra which had a less amazing price of £10 or so, but then I decided that's one area of gym kit you shouldn't skimp on, aswell as shoes.

And I'm good to gooooooooooooooooooooooo!

New video: Looking better when you feel ill

I wish I had a better camera to truly pick up the difference between the before and after, but hopefully you can tell that I'm less blemish-y and the redness around my nose has been zapped away!

My video is as follows:
But if you're super short on time I'll give you a brief outline and additional tips below!

- I avoided moisturisers while feeling all yucky and flu-like because I already felt super sweaty and gross, and didn't want to slather anything over my skin.
-If I really have to face the world while feeling gross I apply concealer to the redness on my nose, my blemishes, eyelids and under eye circles.
-I prefer to dust a super lightweight foundation all over my skin over the top of the concealer to make my skin tone appear much more even
-I dust the smallest amount of blusher on my cheeks to stop me looking 'ghost like'
-I apply vaseline to my lips (pots are more hygenic than tubes)
Adterwards don't forget to cleanse all the brushes that you used, and I washed the lid to the foundation that I used aswell (as I swirled the brush in the lid)

Other top tips:
-Using a seperate toothbrush for 'being ill' and keeping it in your bedroom if you share a bathroom with other people so that toothbrushes don't have to 'mingle'
-Get lots of sleep, as much as you can!
-When you can, remove all your makeup and apply vaseline to your nostrils if they are sore and red from blowing your nose too much
-Drinking peppermint tea is a great way to open up your airways and it's warm and soothing!

Sending lots of 'get well' wishes your way!

What's THE JUICE?

To help make getting up out of bed, I like to have a breakfast I can look foward to, to make the transition from asleep to awake a little easier.
I'd consider myself to still not be a 'morning person' but people  often ask
"How do you have so much energy in the mornings!?..I thought you said you weren't a morning person!"
I never really thought about the answer, until I realised it probably has a little something to do with my breakfast. I call it my 'Super Sweet Detox' because it is all three of those things!

So here's how it goes...

Take yourself a melon (Galia or Honeydew)
A handful of Blueberries
3 Applies

Chop it all up! The size of the pieces depends on how good your blender is- mine is an old rickety thing so I have to cut pretty much everything up into bite sized pieces

Throw everything in the juicer as you chop it up, it doesn't matter what order you juice it as it all gets mixed together anyway! Of course, Blueberries can go in as they are

You should have enough there for about two days- store it in the fridge in the meantime!

Voila! The end result (alright, alright I know it looks a little incy wincy bit like someone vomited, but thats the texture of the apples- If you buy apple juice and it looks like that, then it's the 'real deal' and fresh from the apple) If you want the colour to be a little more vibrant, throw in some more blueberries!

Why you should try this...
It is filling despite it being a liquid form- if you really can't handle having nothing to chew on in the morning then have a banana too!
It simply tastes good
You can sip it on your journey to work (less rushing around in the morning)
It is thoroughly good for you (unlike most cereals which have a lot of junk in them even when marketed as 'healthy')
It gives you more energy and the energy is released slo-o-o-w-l-y so that you can power on for longer
Blueberries are a superfood- they hold magical powers (well kind of) here's what research tells us:
-Blueberries can improve memory
-Blueberries can postpone the onset of cognitive problems frequently associated with aging
-Blueberries can reuce damage to muscles following overly taxing exercise
-Blueberries can protect the nervous system from stress
-Blueberries can protect the retina from sunlight damage and oxygen damage

Top tips...
If the thought of getting up in the morning to prepare this fills you with horror, prepare it the night before and store it in a jug in the fridge
Take the seeds out of the melon to half clean up time (those pesky seeds get everywhere)
When an apple is blended, it all tastes the same so you may aswell go for the cheapest

Happy juicing!

'Cup of tea guvna?'

Whilst I'm not intending to fulfill the British stereotype as being a tea lover (I myself am not fond of them unless they're the herbal kind, and sometimes even not then)
I do like to drink peppermint tea a lot, a lot, a lot sometimes I have four mugs of it a day!

I used think that it was just something delicious to drink but then I discovered lots of awesome health benefits so I upped my intake of the beverage.

Health benefits include:
Improvement of all kinds of belly trouble, whether indigestion, upset stomach, stomach aches, travel sickness, nervous stomach, butterflies in your belly, abdominal pain headaches and even improve concentration!

I had a mug before I took my driving test when my belly was indeed very nervous and I went through a phase of being prone to stomach aches and depended on peppermint tea to relax the muscles then too.
My favourite brand is Pukka three mint tea:

It's delicious and I love the spearmint taste of it, plus it leaves you with spear-minty breath which has got to be a good thing!

Here's the mug I'm working my way through now, is it totally gross that I find it really refreshing to drink it cold too? Haha, I'm not sure, let me know.

I leave the tea bag in the mug of boiling water for as long as possible to get a really super strong flavour, but if you like your a little weaker then take it out quicker of course!

So if you need a new hot drink in your life or trying to wean yourself off regular tea or coffee and need a beverage replacement, then try peppermint tea.
Or just try it if you like the taste of toothpaste!