My Evening Routine & Why YOU Should Have One

Hands up who's evenings usually consist of back to back Netflix, scrolling through social media or working until the early hours before falling sleep, waking up more exhausted than you did the night before? We've all been there. It was pretty much the norm for me. But since starting my self development journey, I've learnt that an evening routine is paramount for a decent nights rest, leading to a productive day to follow. 

Winding down with a good evening routine helps relieve stress, helps you to switch off and relax and really helps towards a good nights sleep.

I work from home. So as you can imagine, my evenings are pretty busy. As soon as I get the little one into bed, the laptop is out and I'm all go. So finding an evening routine that works for me has really helped me in so many ways; get a better nights sleep and keep my mindset focussed. Adding some self care into your night time routine will improve your health and wellbeing dramatically; both physically and mentally. 

Of course, what works for me might not work for you, but I'm going to share my usual evening routine with you to give you some ideas to, if you haven't already, plan your own routine to suit you.

My routine varies depending on the day. I work almost every evening. On Saturday nights, if I'm home, I allow myself to catch up on my favourite TV programmes or watch a film. I don't watch much TV, in fact I don't watch it at all through the week, so as Saturday is my night 'off', if I have no plans, I allow myself time to relax and treat myself to some trashy telly! ;)

But my typical evening goes a bit like this...

Wind down the house
I've usually got Taylor into bed for about 8pm. I then go back downstairs, have a quick tidy up, lock all the doors, close all the blinds, make sure all the plugs are switched off and usher Bradley up to his room for the night. 

Take It All Off & Stretch
I apply my magic cream (watch this space for another upcoming blog post; think smoother, firmer bum, boobs and thighs!!! ;)), get into my PJs, take off my makeup and then do my exercises/stretches; I do 10 squats, 10 lunges, 10 sit ups, 10 push ups & a 20 sec plank before jumping into bed with my MacBook.

Work Work Work
I have a health & beauty network marketing business, plus my blog, and I'm a Social Media Manager & PA to a confidence coach, so I'm always busy and juggling lots of different work.  I work pretty much through to 11:30pm most nights. (or earlier if I fancy treating myself to a relaxing bath instead of my morning shower!)  I try to make 11:30pm my cut off. Up until pretty recently I was working till gone midnight some nights and just wasn't allowing myself time to wind down and definitely wasn't getting enough sleep. So even if I haven't finished the work I needed to, I make a promise to myself to close the laptop at 11:30pm every night.

Skincare
My skincare routine is so important. I'll have to share my whole routine in more depth with you in the future but I'll keep it brief for the purpose of this post! ;) I've already taken my makeup off with micellar water when getting into bed as let's be honest ladies, there's no better feeling than taking your bra and your makeup off at the end of the day! ;) Twice a week I'll do my face mask which is packed with volcanic soil and makes my skin feel amazing and once a week I use a Derma Roller. But otherwise I head to the bathroom to wash my face with my face wash and konjac sponge and brush my teeth. I then tone, add my eye & lip cream and my tightening smoothing base serum before finishing with moisturiser, lip balm and hand cream. I'm so passionate about the skincare products I sell; hence why I promote them. They don't contain any parabens or harmful ingredients and they're cosmeceutical grade; meaning they are packed full of active ingredients. If you don't already have a good skincare routine, you need to start one. Believe me, your future self will thank you for it! ;)

Social Media
As a network marketer running my business through Facebook, there are certain things that I need to be doing, to grow my audience, work the algorithms and connect with new people. So there are a few things I do each night before bed. Plus I check any notifications and make sure I tie up any loose ends and reply to any messages I need to. When I wake up, I know there will be a ton of notifications to work through, so I like to make sure I clear all I can before bed so I'm not playing catch up the next day. 

Gratitude & Journal
This is an important step. Taking just a few minutes to journal your day, even just to brain dump your thoughts down on paper, or write down the positive bits of the day (it's far too easy to remember the things that went wrong that day or that you didn't get done! Give yourself a pat on the back for the things you did! ;) ) And writing down the things you are grateful for. It is impossible to be grateful and down at the same time. I find this really helps bring my thoughts around to what is important, no matter what happened during the day. Remembering your WHY, the reasons you do what you do, keeps you focussed, and HAPPY. 

Affirmations
Our sub conscious mind plays a huge role in our every day lives. If we see, think and say things often enough, they will eventually affect our thoughts and behaviours. I have a list of 'self love' affirmations I like to say each day, or I have an app on my phone which I listen to.

Meditation / Relaxing Audio
Now depending on how much time I have left, as I like to be asleep by midnight at the latest. I will get into bed ready to fall asleep and doze off whilst listening to some relaxing meditation or law of attraction audios. I'm currently trying a few different apps and youtube videos, to find something that suits me. But I find these relax me, whilst working on my self development. So I fall asleep feeling content, relaxed, peaceful and it enhances my mood as I fall asleep, which makes for a good nights sleep and I wake up feeling refreshed, happy and ready to smash my day! :)


Do you have an evening routine,  or feel you would benefit from one?

10 Self Love & Self Care Gift Ideas

I've recently been involved in some much needed self development training, I'll fill you in a little more on that soon ;) 
It has opened my eyes to a whole new world of self love and self care and just how important it is to take time out to really concentrate on yourself; spend time on you, get to know yourself and look after yourself. Self Love training has completely changed my life, my mindset & my confidence. People around me have noticed a huge difference and I've been hit with comments such as, 'Wow, what are you on? I'll have some of whatever you're taking!!' It's SELF LOVE baby! ;)
It's so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life and never take time out for yourself, or maybe you're feeling a bit overwhelmed or are going through a tough time right now? Although I'd love to serve you up a dose of self love and make all your problems fade away, it's so important to regularly take time out to pay attention to yourself and your self-care. 

So, I've been on the hunt for the most awesome Self Love and Self Care gifts, to treat yourself to (because you TOTALLY deserve it!) or to gift someone who you think could do with a bit of extra self care in their lives... you can thank me later ;)


US based, Uncommon Gifts is a privately owned online retailer specialising in unique and handmade pieces whose mission is to support and provide a platform for artists and designers. And I have found the most amazing gifts to spoil yourself or a loved one with...

1. A Journal Journalling is a fantastic way to get your thoughts down on paper and help you see things clearer. It's also a great way to remind you of your gratitude and your why, to bring your focus back to why you do what you do. Treat the man in your life to one here or find other great gifts for men.
2. Massage A massage is one of the most caring and healing things you can do for the body. And you don't always have to fork out for expensive massages, a bit of self massage each day does the world of good!! 
3. At Home Spa Treatments There is nothing better than pampering yourself. And often the best gifts are those which say 'relax, treat yourself to some YOU time'. These eye stones are made from Finnish bedrock and when chilled in the fridge, they bring tired eyes relief in a rock-solid spa treatment. 
4. Bath Treats A relaxing bubble bath is the perfect way to unwind. These bath salts feature seven aromatic blends to bring a sense of calm after a busy day. 
5. Wishing Ball As my confidence coach has taught me, 'It is impossible to be GRATEFUL and DOWN at the same time'. Gratitude has been a game changer for me. Spending time each day going over the things I am truly grateful for, makes me realise how very lucky I am and starts my day right! This quirky little gift is a unique way to treasure your thoughts of gratitude or your goals and wishes. You can find more quirky little gifts here. 

6. Candles I don't know about you, but when I want to relax there HAS to be candles! Set the ambience, fill the room with relaxing fragrances and wind down after a busy day. This one sets the scene of a cosy Winter's night in... *sigh* ;)
7. Self Love Book One of the most difficult parts of my self development journey was learning to love myself. Doing my daily affirmations and taking time to think about the things I liked about myself really helped. I love the idea of this book allowing you to fill in the gaps with simple prompts for a collection of all the reasons you love yourself. It would also be a really sweet and personal gift to spell out exactly why you love someone. Maybe a cute anniversary gift for the man in your life? Check it out, and other great gifts for men on the Uncommon Gifts website.
8. Letters to Yourself  Self reflection is important to enable you to grow. I love the idea of these correspondence inspired letters, a beautiful way to capture a moment in time and stay in touch with yourself. 
9. Affirmations / Positive Quotes Starting and finishing my day with my daily affirmations and powerful, positive quotes keeps me focussed. This paperweight makes for an encouraging gift or inspiring prompt for your own workspace.
10. CHOCOLATE! One of my most favourite forms of self love is to treat myself! ;) And personally, a little bit of chocolate does the trick just nicely. It's a real mood-lifter as it encourages your brain to release feel-good endorphins. How about this champagne bottle shaped milk chocolate treat filled with champagne truffles? Well I'm sold, bring me the chocolate!! ;)

What about you?  What ideas do you have for gifts  to encourage self love?

In collaboration with Uncommon Goods

Occasional Wear from Quiz Clothing

I'll be honest, it's not often I have need for such occasional wear. But when the time comes that you're invited to a special evening event; an awards night, a formal evening of some sort, what do you reach for? 

I
'd be in a blind panic, searching through my dressing room for something appropriate, and quite possibly a few hours trawling my favourite websites trying to find something to suit.  So it's always good to have something in your wardrobe for when the occasion arises. With lace sequins and a fishtail hem, this beautiful, show stopping Navy & Cream Lace Panel Fishtail Maxi Dress from Quiz Clothing is just perfect for such occasions. It's the perfect colour to look and feel classy and elegant during your special evening.  The cami straps show off tanned shoulders and décolletage making it super sexy, and will work well teamed with a black wrap around to keep those shoulders warm. 

The dress hugged my figure beautifully.

I'm unsure if I'm a fan of the cami straps. I can't wear a bra with it which makes me feel a little uncomfortable; losing weight has it's disadvantages, they're always the first to go! ;)

But I love the dress. It's comfortable, easy to wear and makes me feel glamorous.

I'd dress it up with a black leather jacket and some cute jewellery and barely there heels. 

I love the waistband on the dress, giving the appearance of a pulled in waist #winning! 

The fish tail hem is something I've never worn before, it's a really flattering fit and I'll admit, I felt a bit like a mermaid! :)

And the lace and sequinned panels are super pretty. Often lace and sequins can feel scratchy, irritating and generally a bit of a pain to wear, but this feels really soft and comfortable. 

Other than the fastening; which I think could do with a better quality zip fastener, the dress looks and feels a lot more expensive than it is; currently on sale down from £64.99 to just £39.99!

Quiz Clothing have a stunning range of occasion dresses for Autumn. Whether it's a midi or a maxi you're looking for, there's something for all occasions; try a fishtail shape to show off your figure or choose some extra sparkle for added glamour. I'm in love with the Bardot dipped hem dresses, go check them out, you can thank me later!! ;)


What do you think to my dress? Do you have a special dress you reach for on special occasions?

*in collaboration with Quiz Clothing

Gifts to Let Them Know You Are Thinking of Them

Have you ever witnessed people who are important to you going through tough times; you wish you could help but you don't know how? Sometimes it's nice to just let them know you are thinking of them.

It doesn't have to be anything big, the smallest of gestures simply to let them know you are there, you are thinking of them and most importantly that 'they've got this!' can really help someone going through a hard time, needs a boost or to simply to know you have their back.

Six months ago when I went through a difficult time, my friends sent me a framed quote stating 'You are braver than you believe, stronger than you feel and smarter than you think' with a little note inside with some special words from them. I cried when I first opened it. One, because knowing my friends were thinking about me meant SO much to me. I felt like my whole world as I knew it had come crashing down, and knowing I still had my amazing friends there, thinking about me, holding me up, meant the absolute world. And two, because I really hoped the words were true! 

The frame still sits on my bedside table, and I smile every time I see it. The words are now true. And I'm reminded that I'm a very lucky girl to have friends like those!

A friend of mine has recently been really unhappy in her job. It's been really getting her down and despite me telling her that she's bloody amazing and should go for her dream job, she's really lacking in confidence and holding herself back.

So I have a little gift for her.

This engraved compact mirror contains the words 'Your Only Limit is YOU'.
It's a quote that means a lot to me and something that has really helped me.

I want her to read these words, know that I completely believe in her and that she CAN make this happen and I want her to look in the mirror and see the amazing person that she is. 

The mirror is a beautiful round silver handbag mirror with the engraved message on the top and opens easily with the push clasp to reveal two mirrors; one being a magnifying mirror.
It has a real expensive feel to it and makes a really lovely, thoughtful gift for someone to carry around with them.

The compact mirror can be engraved with up to 72 characters and comes in a cute black gift box, making it ideal for any occasion. These are perfect personalised presents to give as thoughtful keepsakes and are really affordable starting at just £18.99! 

GiftsOnline4U is an online gift shop based in Lincolnshire, specialising in personalised and engraved gifts such as watches, glassware, alcohol gifts and jewellery, for any event or occasion from weddings to birthdays. They also offer free standard UK delivery on all gifts across the site with the option of upgrading to next working day delivery for just £5 if you’re looking to get your gift in a hurry. Personalised gifts can mean so much more. To know that somebody has chosen a specific quote, or wrote a special message just for me, can make all the difference!

If you're looking for a thoughtful gift for a loved one, simply to let them know you are thinking of them, visit the website here.

What is the most thoughtful present you have received?

*in collaboration with GiftsOnline4U

The Best Cup of Hot Chocolate for Autumn

I
'll be honest, I'm not quite ready to say goodbye to Summer just yet. Well, what Summer we did get of course! I love a bit of sunshine in my life! But that said, I do love Autumn time!! Leaf crunching, big chunky knit jumpers, boots and... a big cup of steaming hot chocolate, with marshmallows! YUM!
This is the best time of year to indulge in that delicious beverage as a little break from the usually healthy diet! There's just something about holding a warm cup of hot chocolate that makes life that much better... and sweeter! Plus, who doesn't love the opportunity to satisfy a sweet tooth? Ive found some amazing hot chocolate recipes for those cosy nights in, plus ways you can incorporate them into your daily life if you can't get enough chocolate-y goodness!! :) A yummy surprise for the little ones, a bountiful anniversary gift or a delicious after dinner treat! 

Who loves Hershey's?

Founded in 1894, Hershey's has been a chocolate staple in Pennsylvania now for well over 100 years. And when you taste their classic milk chocolate assortments, you know why!

Instead of snacking on a couple of Hershey's Kisses, why not brew a delicious cup of hot choc!! Perfect for those chilly Autumn mornings!

How to Make a Heartwarming Cup of Hershey's Hot Chocolate

Here's one of my favourite recipes to make family nights that little bit more special. 

You'll need Hershey Kisses, 2 cups of milk, whipped cream, marshmallows and a touch of cinnamon. 

It's pretty simple to make, just pour the cups of milk into a saucepan and put over the stove. Once you begin to see bubbles, stir in the Hershey's Kisses until they dissolve. After that, turn off the heat and pour into mugs. Add the whipped cream and sprinkle a dash of cinnamon. 

You can thank me later! ;)

Room to Improvise

What I love about this recipe is that you can change it up however you please. Feel free to use skimmed, semi skimmed or full fat milk. Or almond, soya or rice milk are great substitutes!

And use as many Kisses as you like. Personally I'd use 20, 50 tops. For those of you who like your hot chocolate a bit more 'bitter', use dark chocolate rather than milk chocolate. Also, skip the cinnamon, use chocolate shavings... or both! ;)

Surprise the Kids

You could also put your little ones favourite sweets on top! Sprinkle M&M minis over the whipped cream and marshmallows, crumble some cookies mint chocolates or any other sweets from Sweet Services. 

Can't Get Enough?

Start a new family tradition by sipping on hot chocolate before trick-or-treating this Halloween! Or make a few cups to enjoy while watching a family movie. Its a nice way to make those family moments much more special!

Have any of your own hot chocolate recipes to share?

I'd love to hear them below!!

*in collaboration with Sweet Services

Freshening up your home decor

Does anyone else often get a bit bored with the decor of their home?
I often sit and mentally re-decorate my house in my head.  Or spend hours scrolling through Pinterest planning my dream home. I'm not on my own here, right?
But we don't all have the time and money to completely re-decorate, so I like to make little changes in a room to spruce it up a bit and make things feel a bit fresher. And I've started doing just that to a few rooms in my house.
I find adding a new colour to a room completely changes the look and feel of a room. 
This doesn't always have to be in the form of new wallpaper or paint. Just small changes can make the biggest difference. New cushions, a throw, a new rug, new curtains, blinds or accessories do the trick just fine! I love mooching through the home section of department stores and choosing cute candles, little glass bottles, and random 'knick knacks' to brighten up my home.
When my ex partner left the family home 6 months ago, I really wanted to make some changes to the home decor. To make it my own.

I started with the lounge which is cream and grey. 
I've started adding some cute dusky pink accessories such as candles and accessories from Primark.  And I have my eye on some matching cushions and a soft pink throw too. The pink compliments the room beautifully and creates a more feminine feel. And being the only female in the house, I need a bit more girly-ness in my world!! :)

It was important to make my bedroom more ME!  I have a small dressing room on the side and both are decorated in black and white, so accessorising with rose gold and copper pieces completely changes the room. Again, decorative bits and cushions from Primark and I like to use websites such as Coconut Lane and independent boutiques such as local gift store Narborough Hall for wall art and pieces like this mug I use for makeup brushes.
My teenage boy has an attic room.
Attic rooms can often be awkward shaped and quite difficult to decorate or change around, so I find just making little changes freshen the room up nicely. 

His window needs updating, so I've been looking at getting a new centre pivot roof window installed. VELUX have a few different options here. Then a quick spruce up with new accessories, bedding and a nice new blind and it'll be like a new room! 

What changes do you make to your home, to freshen things up?

*In collaboration with VELUX

Back to School with Highcross Leicester

This weekend saw Leicester's iconic shopping centre, the Highcross, launch their first ever 'Back to School' Kids 5 event, helping children and their parents find the perfect uniform, coats, bags, shoes and stationary to ensure they're all kitted out ready for the new term.

Experts were on hand to show off their top picks for the most stylish and practical items to update that school wardrobe.

You may have seen my Insta Stories where the lovely stylist Elise showed us around each podium taking us through her favourite pieces from a selection of stores in the Highcross.

Uniform. Trousers specifically can be a pain to get right, who's with me? 

When my eldest was young, I used to buy from supermarkets due to how quickly he grew. Not to mention the amount of times he'd come home with holes in them from diving around the playground! But as he got older I found Next were amazing for trousers and they'd often last all year! 

And of course there's the whole issue of whether to choose between front pleated, flat front, chino style, jean style or skinny fit, particularly when they get older and begin to want more 'trendier' styles. Department stores such as Next and Marks & Spencer are great for finding different options. 

Whilst at the event, a Mum with a teenage boy spotted some slim fit trousers and a muscle-fit shirt from Topman on the rails and spoke about how she'd been looking for the perfect style to suit her son! She was super happy and headed straight for Topman... I would never have thought of looking in Topman for uniform either but I imagine now my eldest is in his teens and becoming more aware of how he looks and feels in clothes, we'll be going this way very soon!!

I loved looking through the rails of coats and jackets. 

There was a whole range of options from Nursery age right up to teenagers. From little unicorn jackets to trendy bombers and adorable Cath Kidston jackets emblazoned with little vehicles to waterproof numbers from Trespass, there's something for every little fashionista! 

Shoes. Shoes. Shoes. 

Over the years, shoes has always been the biggest issue when it comes to school uniform for me. When my eldest was younger, he went through SO many pairs; scuffing them, putting holes in them, growing too fast...  

This hasn't really changed as he's got older, but then we have the 'I'm not wearing those, Mum, I want branded ones...' situation going on. 

I remember spending an absolute fortune on a pair of leather shoes for his first year of secondary school. They lasted 2 weeks before practically begged me to get him different ones as he was complaining people were making comments.  He's very lucky that his school allow trainers as long as they are completely black with no coloured markings. 

But being a size 8/9 adult size, you can imagine how much these cost me each time!

Fortunately, Highcross have a great range of shoe retailers from sports shops, department stores to the well known fashion footwear stores such as Office and Schuh. 

The shoe stand had a mix of fashionable leather shoes, fab memory foam shoes from Sketchers & cute leather pumps for the girls.

I fell in love with the super cute Cath Kidston shoes above, with the animal face tongues. So adorable. Perfect for Nursery aged children. My youngest starts Nursery school this week and has to wear black shoes, but I'm definitely heading to Cath Kidston soon to see what every day wear shoes they have for him!

Bags and accessories were my favourite bit as a kid. I loved funky stationary!! Shops like Smiggle and Paperchase would have been heaven for me back then! All the bright colours, sparkly and funky pieces available now; they're so lucky nowadays! 

Located on the first floor in the Highcross are personalised gift experts Image Surgeons who currently have a fantastic 20% off offer on selected back to school items including personalised lunch boxes!

Smiggle and Claire's Accessories have some cute and quirky lunch boxes and flasks in store. I love the Unicorn flask above, bang on trend right now!

Fortunately for me, my eldest is more than happy with a plain pencil case with a pen, pencil and ruler inside. :) But for those, like me, who love pretty stationary are spoilt for choice with what's on offer at stores around the Highcross. 

I'll be honest, I'm heading to Cath Kidston very soon to grab some cute new stationary for my businesses too!! 

You can never have too much pretty stationary, right?

If you're heading down to the Highcross soon, make sure you download the Highcross Plus app for exclusive offers, competitions & more. 

I mean, where else can you bag 10% off the little ones Trespass jacket for school, before heading for Mission Burrito for a well earned lunch; getting a massive 20% off of course, then kitting the kids out with the quirkiest bags and stationary in Claire's Accessories; getting £5 off a £25 spend and not forgetting the free additional scoop on your Thorntons Ice Cream before you head home! ;)

A huge thank you to Elise and everyone involved in the Kids 5 event this weekend, for being so lovely and helpful and posing for the best boomerangs! ;)

*In collaboration with Highcross & FrankPR

Violet Voss 'Holy Grail' Palette - My Thoughts

Back in February I asked for the Violet Voss Holy Grail eyeshadow palette for my birthday. I didn't get it. I didn't get anything. So of course I treated myself to it. I wasn't going to miss out, I needed this baby in my life!!

There had been a huge hype when it was first launched, I heard mixed reviews but it was still something I wanted to try myself. Full of warm toned, almost autumnal themed shades; all bronzes, browns and burgundies, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it!

I love the palette.

It's huge. The shadows themselves are a fantastic size. That's what originally drew me to this palette. You're definitely getting your moneys worth. All forty quid of it. 

Packaging

This palette is the perfect travel friendly palette. If a huge, chunky palette fits in your case of course! ;) But the 20 eyeshadows are housed inside a hard cardboard case, with a magnetic fastening. All cosy and protected! haha. It has that shiny cardboard that unfortunately leaves messy fingerprints everywhere though, which is a bit of a pain.

The mirror is great though, a great size and an actual proper mirror too, none of that shiny silver card you can get in some palettes. 

Eyeshadows

There are a mixture of shimmers and mattes and all seem to have different formulas. I'll be completely honest, there are some that are absolutely gorgeous; buttery smooth, easy to blend and amazingly pigmented yet some are chalky, difficult to blend and have a lot of fall out. I'll admit, it's pot luck with these shadows. But the majority are gorgeous, I mean, look at those colours!

I'm not the best with eyeshadow, eye looks aren't my strong point, I definitely need more practice, but these colours are beautiful and easy to work with.

The shimmers are my favourites. They're creamy, beautiful colours and lovely to use. They're not so long lasting without a primer though. Whereas the mattes are extremely pigmented and budge proof, they actually stain my makeup brushes :/

Am I glad I purchased this palette?
Yes.  I wish some shades were less chalky, but there are some gorgeous colours in here. I reach for it most days for just a wash of colour or a more dramatic look. I've taken it with me for weekends away and done some lovely looks on me and the bestie! 
If you fancy giving it a try, you can pick one up here.


What's your favourite palette right now?