Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Fit for Summer - The Scottish Adventure!

I reckon getting 'fit' for summer is on pretty much every girl's wishlist. Unless of course you've already achieved it in which case feel free to continue reading looking amazing in your bikini and sipping your sugary cocktails...

Anyway getting back to the point, getting fit for summer means different things to different people. Everybody wants to look bangin' in their swimsuit and summery clothes, with lean limbs and a natural tan. For me, I wanted to get healthy. I wanted to literally get fitter. I started a health-food diet and cut out all processed foods including sugar. I've always been a healthy eater but I really boosted my intake of fresh fruit and veg as well as nuts, seeds and pulses. Unfortunately this kind of diet is quite high in calories so being more active comes hand in hand. I wouldn't call myself lazy by any means, but I don't do regular intense exercise. I walk my dog every day and I do toning exercises and that's pretty much it. So when I was challenged to climb Ben Nevis this summer I said yes without really realising what I was getting myself in for!

My fiance, Nick, completed the Three Peaks challenge last year and has wanted me to join him on a Ben Nevis hike ever since. We finally managed to sort ourselves out and recruited our cousins to join us for our Scottish adventure. We drove up to Fort William on saturday and started our ascent early Sunday morning...



The first 400ft or so was incredibly gruelling, adjusting to a higher heart rate and giving your glutes a good workout. 




After a while it levels out a bit and you can see how far you've come up the valley. Trying to stay cheerful helps a lot!



Here you can see the path in the distance.



I found so many heart shaped rocks but this one was my favourite!


Doing my stretches...


None of us were expecting snow near the summit! It was like a different climate.



Nearly there...


"Harry, I've reached the top!"



Whoop whoop made it to the summit in about 4 hours, not bad for my first time!


Very happy to be heading down, although going down wrecks your feet and joints.


Almost there...


7 hours 35 mins later we arrived back to the starting point, exhausted and elated. I can't believe I did it!

So there you go, I didn't just get fit for summer - I achieved something that I thought was beyond my reach and had a total blast doing it.

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Summer Bucket List

Hello lovelies! I'll get straight to it and say there is simply one, rather special thing on my bucket list this summer... 

GET MARRIED!!

I'm getting married in August and going on honeymoon on 1st of September so this summer I am swamped with wedmin, appointments and intensive beauty regimes. I am dieting and working hard to get my bikini body for Thailand as well as knocking my mister's socks off in my sensational wedding dress! A lot of time and energy is required to plan the perfect wedding, and with help from my wonderful Mum we are well on track for the kind of fairytale wedding dreams are made of. She really has been a lifesaver, I don't know what I would have done without her. She's so generous and understanding, making sure everything is perfect. My bestie Hannah has also planned the most amazing Cocktail Making Class for the hen party, just bought my outfit today - excited!

I suppose the only other thing I would like to do is get a new job. I'm working on it, and have even been looking at going back to college (I only studied to A-Level). My mister is working hard too of course, he has to provide for my expensive taste after all!

We finally had our big BBQ get-together with a welcome World Cup theme, and I intend to overdose on strawberries and prosecco during Wimbledon but that's about it.

Lots of sunbathing and chilling with the dog in the garden are in order until our big day arrives, then it's off to Thailand to eat, sleep and soak up the culture. Oh, and play with the elephants! 

I'm pretty sure this is going to be the best summer of my life.

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

May Favourites

May was an incredibly busy month! Lots of wedmin to attend to as well as health and lifestyle changes. I had a huge number of favourites this month but I narrowed them down. 

First up is my new blender, without which I couldn't have embraced my new raw food, clean eating lifestyle.


Bathroom favourites this month include Good Things Five Minute Facial and Manuka Honey Radiance Face Mask (firm new fave!), Soap and Glory 'The Firminator', Garnier Summer Body, Rimmel Sunshimmer and Ultimate Blends The Colour Illuminator.


Make-up favourites this month include MAC matte lipstick in Please Me, Carmex pomegranate lipbalm, Benefit Gimme Brow, Benefit Hoola and YSL Babydoll mascara.




Fashion favourites this month include my new sunny yellow Primark sandals and the comfiest pair of boy-fit jeans ever courtesy of H&M.




Foodie favourites this month definitely go to baked sweet potato with king prawn cocktail, avocado and olive salad, and avocado and peanut butter on gluten-free toast with chilli flakes. 



Last but not least, my most favourite thing of all this month has to be my new Hazelnut Coffee Yankee Candle. It's so delicious to light in the morning during breakfast, a real treat like walking right into a coffee shop. As you can see it's well used!







Summer Trends

Summer is finally here! The sun has had his hat on for a good couple of weeks now up North and ,despite some heavy rain every now and then, summer fashion has taken a firm hold. I've not always been one to follow trends per se, preferring instead to stick to what I know and love. I tend to find that being a bit short, having tubular legs and offensively pale (read: translucent...) skin hinders my ability to pull off particular trends, especially summer ones when lean limbs and glowing skin are practically obligatory. However, as my blogging has progressed I have discovered all manner of new wonderful things to try and have, thus far, been very impressed with my findings.

For instance, glowing skin can easily be achieved through various creams and lotions aimed at tanning, enhancing, shimmering etc. So a good exfoliation followed by a firming cream and a tanning moisturiser three-four times a week has left me looking like I can go out in the sun without bursting into flames. This is my summer dream-team...

Soap and Glory 'The Firminator' - Garmier Summer Body - Rimmel Sunshimmer


Secondly, I've finally seen the light when it comes to nail polish and started using colours that suit my skin-tone or enhance my tan. I'm in love with all the neon brights that are gracing the shelves this summer, particularly Barry M's Gelly Hi Shine collection, which is so easy to use and gives incredible results. Here are a couple of my faves: Key Lime (green) and Papaya (bright peach).


Thirdly, it turns out that every trend is replicated in hundreds of ways across a huge variety of both premium and high-street stores, so finding an item of clothing to suit my body shape need no longer be so painful. I scoured Primark for hours attempting to find the perfect cut-off denim shorts. My thighs are, shall we say, less than perfect so I needed a flattering fit that wasn't too long or too short. I eventually found a pair of soft, ripped up, high-waisted shorts that fit like a dream and are a perfect light blue. I shall be teaming them with a cool Rio vest-top, Soap and Glory 'The Firminator' and Rimmel Sunshimmer Instant Tan for our World Cup BBQ on thursday.


Maxi dresses have been around for a while now and they don't look like they're going anywhere fast. I've always been a fan. They're so universally flattering, slimming and a cool, fun way to rock a trend. I personally love adding a cute tee and plenty of jewellery for a personalised look.




Summer diets should be classed as a trend. They come and go like everything else, loved for a time then left forgotten once the next new thing rolls around. Clean eating, or raw food diets seem to be massive right now which is exactly the foodie trend I have gone for this summer. My wedding dress disagreed with me the first time I tried her on so out went lattes and muffin and in went matcha green tea and smoothies. I was inspired by deliciosulyella.co.uk and have not looked back. I'm pretty sure it won't last forever though, I'm getting married after all so there's one day of clean eating out the window! Two weeks in Thailand might have something to say about said diet too...

The amazing Ella Woodward of deliciouslyella.co.uk

Matcha green tea latte

Super berry breakfast smoothie

Whatever you decide to do this summer, enjoy yourself!!




Saturday, June 07, 2014

Holiday Haul

I finally got my act together and got myself to Primark to bag some cheap 'n' cheerful holiday goodies! It's only 12 weeks til the wedding which means 12 weeks til the holiday of a lifetime to Thailand, so I need to get a move on deciding what to take so I can safely store them out of sight (far too tempting to wear pretty new clothes when it's sunny!) I normally do quite well in Primark finding things that a) I really like and b) actually fit me and this was no exception! I intend to wear my new denim-cut offs and the Rio vest for our World Cup BBQ next week. The tie-front shirt is so adorable I want to go back and get it in different colours, they'll be perfect for playing with the elephants in the Thai jungle!


I also went a little mad in Boots...


I actually wanted to get a set of the new Models Own colours for tan but it was completely sold out. Luckily Barry M Gelly Hi Shine was on offer so instead I bought all of the ones that I liked! Perfect for summery fingers and toes!


I've always loved Garnier products - I'm a huge fan of their Summerbody gradual self-tan lotion, the Ultimate Blends hair collection and I've always got a bottle of Ambre Solaire Aloe Vera After Sun Gel on hand as a post sunbathe moisturiser. I decided to try something a little different and went for the aftersun Sorbet in Melon, which smells absolutely divine! Hopefully it will be just as effective. I also splurged on a P20 clear spray (it was reduced...) as it's so practical and it really works. Not to mention that the quick drying clear formula leaves skin glowing and rather lean-looking. Bonus!

Happy holidays here I come!






Wednesday, June 04, 2014

New style, new name!

Please follow my new blog name on Bloglovin'! It's exactly the same blog just with an updated name due to my more recent lifestyle posts. Welcome to The Beautiful Bubble!

https://www.bloglovin.com/blog/12370257

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Please follow my new blog name on Bloglovin'! It's exactly the same blog, just an updated name due to my more recent lifestyle posts. Welcome to The Beautiful Bubble!

Count down to kick-off...

As most of you will probably know, either by choice or otherwise, a certain football event is about to begin. 

That's right, just one week to go until the World Cup! 

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not an avid footy fan or anything, but I do actually quite enjoy the World Cup. I get all supportive of the lesser teams and enjoy a good cheer and shout when England score. I went South Africa crazy last time round and am taking a fully Brazilian approach this time. We're kicking off ( get it...?) with a BBQ next Thursday to celebrate the opening ceremony and first game. We're going Brazilian with a churrascaria (BBQ), caipirinhas (rum cocktails), salgadinhas (tapas) , empanadas (mini pasties) and Brahma (beer). Obviously the house will be donned in obligatory green and yellow, the lads in their footy shirts and the girls in their denim cut-offs and vest tops. Hopefully with the help of some strategically placed scented candles and fruit coolers aplenty we'll achieve a totally tropical vibe! I'm thinking pineapple and coconut, watermelon and basil and zesty lemon-lime, yummy! 

This is definitely how the World Cup should be enjoyed. How will you be celebrating/avoiding the football for the next month?