Oh man...I hate exam time.

Half way through my assessments and feeling it - big time! Just like good ol' Garfield here, I'll rise but I refuse to shine. (Not really, I try my hardest but damn it's tricky trying to stay motivated!)  

Korres Lipstick.

Today's weather has been wet, cold and in general, plain miserable. On days like these, it's really important I have products that help keep my dry skin moisturised. This also includes having good make-up that won't make me look like I've slathered on a whole heap of cream underneath my foundation (resulting in that horrid 'oily' mess look). 

One of my absolute favourite pieces of make-up that I can always rely on, no matter how drying the temperature is, would be my amazing Korres Mango Butter Lipstick. 

Sourced: http://www.cutecosmetics.co.uk/korres-mango-butter-lipstick-spf-10-1372-p.asp

I own Shade 12 - Frost Pink, which gives off a lovely natural pale pink shimmer. When I first bought it, I was absolutely amazed at how well it hydrated my lips, especially when working 12 hour flights (for those who travel a lot, you know how planes can make you feel like a shrivelled raisin). The next time I visited the store, I asked the lady more about this particular product and she highlighted the addition of mango butter which is a key ingredient in this lipstick - and the reason why after even one application, my lips instantly felt smoother and softer.  

To add the cherry on top, for those not familiar with the brand - Korres is a company that pride themselves on using natural ingredients and formulae to produce certified organic skin-care, body-care and makeup. 

The idea of no parabens, sulfates, petrochemicals and phthalates (what the heck are they?) lurking in at least one of my lipsticks was enough to keep me as a loyal customer. There is a whole range of beautiful colours to choose from, so why not start by checking a few out at: http://www.sephora.com/mango-butter-lipstick-spf-10-P199108

Ps, how well does the lipstick match my Mink Pink blouse? (I should mention that it had rubbed off a little in the photo as I had just eaten). Oh and have I mentioned I waved my blonde (also dry) locks goodbye and welcomed the sight of brunette strands once again? Change is certainly refreshing! xx

Bienvenue à Paris!

Beet Cake Anyone?

I couldn't help but share this cute video to anyone who hasn't seen it. Totally inspired to do my own version one day!

20.

Couldn't agree more ;)

Food for thought.

As mentioned in one of my earlier posts which you may or may not remember, today is Food Revolution Day! Advocate of this wonderful cause - Jamie Oliver - will be up on Google live from 8pm EST and 5pm PST. To once again check out more about this event, head to http://www.foodrevolutionday.com/! 


I didn't exactly have an event planned for today other than study, however I still managed to plan all my meals with the thought of 'clean eating' in mind. So alas, my daily intake; 


Early morning (before exercise): Cup of coffee. 
Breakfast: Porridge sprinkled with pumpkin seeds, flax seed, mixture of berries, fresh pomegranate and cinnamon on top! So delicious! 

Lunch: Opti-Slim Milkshake + 1 banana + 1 orange. 

Snack: Pot Set Yoghurt with a smaller amount of flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, 4 dried apricots and a tiny handful of raisins. 

Dinner: Multigrain bread wrap + mushrooms, lettuce, cucumber, sprinkle of grated cheese and mince/baked beans mixture = Burrito fiesta! 

Just proves that healthy food can be oh so yum! 

However, if you're like me and find you start craving something sweet in the evening, instead of reaching for that piece of cake (or in my case, freshly baked pulla), why not try some of these alternatives?

• A few slices of oven baked sweet potato - just lose the butter and replace with herbs! (Still tastes amazing without anything). 
• Pistachios - the superman of all nuts!
• Hard boiled egg - only 78 calories and a fantastic source of protein. 
• Watching a movie? Switch the popcorn for roasted cauliflower florets. 
• Hummus - will cure those pesky soda cravings. 
• Greek yoghurt - helps lower cholesterol and is perfect after an evening run. 
• Soy beans - for some extra fibre. 
• Avocado - one of my favourite foods, a great antioxidant and source of 'good' fat for the body. Also, an ideal cracker dip! 
• Lastly you can't go past a handful of frozen grapes. Say so long sweet tooth! 

xxx

The Sounds of Morning.

From a spoon hitting the side of a tea cup, to the pop of toast and the sizzle of fried eggs - whatever your morning sounds consist of, I hope you wake up fresh and enjoy the rest of your day! Only one more to go til the weekend - bring it! 

Success!

Oh how I LOVE the feeling of finishing something you've put a lot of time and effort into. Check out my entry to the Siemen's Your Earth, Your Dream, Your Action contest @ http://zooppa.com/ads/siemens-your-earth-your-dream-your-action/videos/seeds-of-change. 

Ps. Not too long before I post up my first 'mood' board (or whatever you'd like to call it). First stop: France! À bientôt! 

xx

First Vlog!

#1. 

Help a Friend.

Hey guys! I just wanted to make a quick post this morning about supporting a friend of mine in his quest to complete the Live Below the Line Challenge. So far he's doing an amazing job and it's truly inspiring to see that you can really achieve and surpass anything you set your mind to! 

You can donate anonymously and as little as you want - I'm sure he'd appreciate any amount! Take a quick peak at one of his daily videos to see what he's having to face! 

To donate/read a little more about him, click on the link below:

https://www.livebelowtheline.com/me/lewisbaker

God morgen.

Hyvää huomenta! Aloha kakahiaka! Buenos dias! 

I'm in rather good spirits this morning in case you haven't noticed! :D The entire night 

was a snuggle fest with my blankets as the weather was quite frosty (yaaaay!) It's wonderful 

being able to sleep in a little longer, I even manage to enjoy my coffee before my daily 

morning exercise!

Haha! I'll probably regret this later (my hand also looks really freaky) - but isn't this a familiar scene to many? ;D 

I myself wondered about the benefits of coffee drinking before exercise. So after 

a little digging, I found an article I read a little while ago from this wonderful 

blog : http://urbanremedycleanse.blogspot.com.au. As a simply copy and paste from

one of their previous entries:

Caffeine perks
• Improves alertness and concentration
• Improves mood at a consumption level of 200mg (roughly 2 regular cups)
• Helps combat muscular pain by stimulating the release of B-endorphins and other pain-reducing hormones
• Improves endurance: consumed one hour prior to exercise, caffeine increases performance and can assist in weight loss and/or maintenance
• Helps prevent diabetesthrough the minerals and antioxidants it contains
• Helps prevent Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s by keeping dopamine molecules active
• Helps manage asthma if consumed moderately, and may be used to prevent an attack
• Enhances the effect of medication (eg. painkillers) through blood vessel constriction

Caffeine drawbacks
• Blood sugar swings: coffee causes a temporary surge in blood sugar and a spike in insulin production, followed by a crash in blood sugar levels
• Adrenal fatigue: coffee gets your cortisol going and stimulates your adrenals, leaving them flat afterwards. You get that ‘wired but tired’ feeling and crave coffee no2! Vicious cycle.
• Emotional disturbances: coffee can aggravate stress, anxiety, irritability and depression
• Sleep disruption: particularly if you’re an after-lunch coffee drinker
• Gastrointestinal problems: coffee can cause heartburn/reflux and increase the risk of ulcers
• Nutritional deficiencies: it prevents the absorption of certain nutrients, particularly minerals
• Ageing: caffeine dehydrates and promotes the decline of anti-ageing hormones

I have never drunk 'real' coffee until recently (I'm talking moccamaster style - brilliant stuff!) and I tend to stick to 1 cup every morning. Going full bull would result in a bit of a coffee overkill, however there's nothing wrong with ordering that skinny cappuccino if I'm out with a friend! 

Before finishing this entry, I'd like to point out a great cause that's happening worldwide at the moment. 

"Food Revolution Day on 19 May is a chance for people who love food to come together to share information, talents and resources; to pass on their knowledge and highlight the world’s food issues. All around the globe, people will work together to make a difference. Food Revolution Day is about connecting with your community through events at schools, restaurants, local businesses, dinner parties and farmers' markets. We want to inspire change in people’s food habits and to promote the mission for better food and education for everyone.

Worldwide, obesity has more than doubled since 1980. For the first time in history, being overweight is killing more people than being underweight, and at least 2.8 million adults around the world die each year as a result of being overweight or obese. This has to change, and it’s down to us. We need to get back to basics and start thinking about where our food comes from. We need to become a conscious community and understand the food choices we make on a daily basis. We can do this by improving food education."

For more information, check out their website at: http://www.foodrevolutionday.com/index.html. 

It's a brilliant cause that I wholeheartedly support. I don't think I'll have time to host my own party as all my exams will most likely be nearing, however I encourage everyone out there to donate, host your own dinner party or simply spread the news of this wonderful campaign. It's about time people started taking action in order to combat the negative effect obesity has in many countries around the world! 

Now I leave you all with the gorgeous Topi as inspiration to jump out of bed and go walk around the block. The day I manage to walk him peacefully without any barking, growling, pulling at the leash and suffocating himself by running ahead - that day will truly be a miracle. 

Ps. Keep an eye out for some worldwide inspiration boards I'm conjuring up! Think fashion, food, the lot! xx

Selling thy Camera.

This entry may be more than just a little plain and somewhat pointless. The last week has been rather ordinary (not that that's a bad thing) - just means there isn't much to talk about. The only exciting part was being invited by a new friend to help with some filming for a short pop-up segment that he's in charge of. Was great to have a play at using the Canon 7D's and to meet some lovely artists for the afternoon. I honestly felt a bit stiff with the camera as I haven't had a lot of experience filming with them per say, but practise makes perfect! It did kick me into action and now I have my Nikon D60 on sale with two great lenses available as well. So if anyone out there knows of someone who is keen to start up photography and would like a basic camera to start off with, chuck us a comment! (I'm really not expecting any replies via this blog - but you never know!) 


Let's hope the upcoming week will be a bit more exciting and I can start ticking off these assessment pieces! 

The past few day/s in a nutshell: Oh so exciting! 

Sell my precious, sell!