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Just a girl in her 30's who likes to cook, and loves her sausage dog, who is a bit of a Princess.

Thursday 24 January 2013

Snack Attack

Obviously we all know it's January, and I'm gonna hold my hands up and admit that I well and truly made the most of the Christmas spirit in December, and therefore I'm going for the usual 'January weight loss plan'.

However, I am NOT on a diet. I've done enough faddy diets to realise by now that they don't work long term, they make you feel deprived and therefore binge, and the only pounds you end up losing are the ones in your pocket!

So as a general rule I'm being good 80% of the time and naughty 20%.
One of the things I am a sucker for though, especially at work, is snacks. So I've come up with a solution that is actually blooming lovely. Popcorn. Not the fried in butter and slathered with hot caramel type (althought that sounds fricking lush!), but the air-popped kind.

I borrowed (with no intention to return) the popcorn maker that my Mum has had in her cupboard for years and bought some seasonings online. All I do is add some kernels to the machine, let it do its magic, then shake on my flavour of choice. The seasonings are super low calorie, so guilt free snacking is on!

Now I just need my bruised ribs to feel better so I can add in my exercise routines I have planned (Jillian Michaels will be helping here!)





Tuesday 22 January 2013

Super easy one pot potato bake

This is one of those "chuck it in a dish, chuck it in the oven, chuck it on a plate and chuck it in your gob" kind of dishes. My favourite.
Not only is it easy, but it's cheap, and low in fat if you only use a tiny bit of cheese on top. WIN.
Oh, and it tastes pretty lush too.

So:

You need-
4 medium potatoes
4 bacon medallions ( or 4 rashers trimmed of all fat)
1/2 small jar pitted black olives
1 red pepper
1 carton passata
Garlic powder, oregano, salt and pepper
Grated cheese (amount depends on how fat you want it to be!)
A little water

Do this-
Preheat oven to 200'C
Slice potatoes into 1/2 cm approx slices
Slice olives in half
Chop pepper
Chop bacon
Add all this into a oven proof dish
Add the olives
Mix the seasonings into the passata and add some water (about a cup) and pour over the potato mix. Grate a little cheese over the top. (Or don't, whatevs.)
Bake in the oven for about 50 mins. The spuds will soak up all the tomatoey goodness and be browned on top. Serve with salad to make oneself feel even healthier.
Also great reheated so take some to work for lunch the next day!





Monday 7 January 2013

Beauty loves....

Ok, so far I've not been the best at this blogging malarkey, and I'll be honest and say it's probably not gonna last, but with a move in jobs I now have a LOT more time to myself in the evenings so you never know...

Anyway, thought I'd do a little thing on some of my fave beauty products as over the last year I've discovered some right little gems. Being a subscriber to Glossybox, I've come across some stuff I'd never have normally tried before, some have been a load of old tosh, others have been amazing and I now use them all the time.

So anyways, here's some of my recommendations....

1. Palmer's cocoa butter gradual tan moisturizer (They spell it with the z, not me!)
This is super if you're pastey skinned like me and just want a natural looking, gentle glow. It's also easy to layer up for a deeper look without making you look like a total Oompa Loompa. Cheap too!
2. Alison Claire So Remarkable Mango body butter.
This smells divine. I love it. Super moisturising without making you feel like a big old grease ball straight after you put it on.
3. Soap & Glory "it's about prime" eyeshadow primer.
This makes stuff stick. It stops creases and makes even the cheapest eyeshadow look good and last for ages.
4. L'Oreal Superliner.
This is by far the best liquid eyeliner I have ever used, and I've used many. It's a pen so dead easy to draw the line with, and if you make a mistake it's actually easy to clean up unlike a lot of others. I've had this one for quite a while now and the nib is still as good as when I first got it and its not showing any signs of running out. (I've jinxed myself there now!)
5. L'Oreal Studio Secrets universal lip glow.
This looks so weird as it's neon pink and see-through. It works to the temperature of your lips to give a rosy glow that looks different on each person. Great for daytime.
6. Simple eye makeup remover.
It works. Simple. I've got quite sensitive eyes, but this doesn't irritate and actually removes mascara, a job a lot of other 'eye makeup removers' seem to find quite hard.


7. Batiste dry shampoo.
I love this stuff and absolutely swear by it. I get quite greasy roots so this is brilliant for the days you don't want to wash your hair. I dye my hair so too frequent washing makes it fade too quickly, but this enables me to get away with not washing my hair every day. TOP TIP Spray it in your hair before you go to bed, brush out in morning, done.
Also fab as a styling product, great for spraying a bit in the roots before back combing for massive hair that will stay in place!
8. Bed Head Headrush.
I love love love this stuff. I always spritz it over my styled hair on a night out to add a touch of shine. And it smells lush.
9. Milk_shake conditioning whipped cream.
I'm new to this product, receiving it in my December Glossybox, but oh my god I can't imagine my hair without it now. It's one of 'those' products. It smells good enough to eat and does exactly what it says on the tin. I know of at least 2 other people who have just started using it and love it too.

10. Benefit High Beam.
Dot this on cheek bones, brow bones, Cupid's bow and anywhere you want highlighting. Magic stuff, used it for years.
11. Dr.Jart+ BB cream.
I've tried a few BB creams. The one by Boots 17 is good, but this one is brilliant. Does everything it says on the tube.
12. Liz Earle hot cloth cleanser and instant boost skin tonic.
I was bought this as a set for Christmas and have fallen in love with it. You put the cleanser on and then buff it off with the hot muslin cloth. Then sweep a cotton pad soaked in the toner over your skin. It feels brilliant and makes my skin feel lovely.
13. Monu Collagen Cream.
Best moisturiser I've ever used. Brilliant stuff.
14. Skinetica anti-blemish liquid.
This is great for breakouts. Dries spots out quickly and doesn't sting the skin like a lot of other spot treatments do.
15. Urban Decay Dew Me.
This is a makeup setting spray. It's probably my favourite beauty product I own. I've been known in the past to use a spritz of hairspray to set my makeup, but this stuff is superb. If you happen to fall asleep in a drunken stupor and don't take your makeup off you will wake up the next day with a full face of makeup that would be perfect for going out in. Apparently. I've never done that obvs.


Anyway, that's my beauty faves/recommendations. Hopefully I'll discover lots more over the next year and when I do come across something fab I'll do an update.
Hopefully the photos have actually loaded up in the correct order but if not I'm sure you'll work it out!
Charley Xxxx