From Terry’s chocolate orange hot chocolate to gingerbread lattes, the list of Christmas drinks available from coffee shops this year seems endless.
But there’s a new drink in town that cannot be found anywhere on the high street. If you want it, you’ve got to make it at home yourself.
Don’t worry though, it’s ridiculously easy! Plus, you probably already have most of the ingredients lying around in your kitchen anyways.
Introducing the Aero Peppermint Mocha.
My favourite holiday drink is the Peppermint Mocha from Starbucks; or, I guess it used to be my favourite. The Aero Peppermint Mocha is hands down the most delicious thing I will consume this holiday season.
Here’s everything you need to make it:
Milk of choice
Whipped cream
Aero Peppermint chocolate bar
Hot chocolate powder
Coffee powder (or fresh espresso)
Here’s how you make it (*Serves 1*):
Pour your milk of choice (enough for 1 cup) into a pan and heat on the stove over medium heat.
Add in 8-10 individual squares of the Aero peppermint chocolate bar.
Stir the chocolate into the milk until it begins to melt.
If you have a milk frother, electric whisk, or regular whisk, I’d recommend using that to continue mixing.
Once combined, and you’re happy with the temperature of the mint chocolate milk, take it off the heat, cover, and place to the side (*Be careful not to overheat the milk!*).
Add 1 heaped teaspoon each of coffee powder and hot chocolate powder into a mug (or if you have fresh espresso, mix this with 1 tsp of hot chocolate powder).
Add in a little milk and stir into a paste (this is essential!).
Next, add around half a cup of boiling water into the mug and stir.
Pour your mint chocolate milk mixture into the mug and stir again.
Top with whipped cream and crushed pieces of Aero peppermint chocolate.
Enjoy!
*You can also enjoy a caffeine-free version of this by omitting the coffee and making this into a peppermint hot chocolate.
After I first made this, I let my boyfriend try a sip and his jaw hit the ground over how delicious it is. He said it was the best thing I’ve ever made! If that doesn’t convince you to try this out, I don’t know what will!
If you want to watch me make this drink, check out my Instagram Reel here or see my TikTok version below.
I used to buy top of the line hair products. Especially as someone who highlighted their hair with bleach for many years, I would buy products specifically suited to my hair colour, which would keep my highlights bright and blonde for as long as possible.
The last time I had my hair done was January 2019 – almost two years ago! Due to my super long roots contrasting with the leftover blonde at the bottom, people now think I’ve had a really badly done balayage hair style #Awkward.
As my hair grew out, I also outgrew my desire for high-end hair products. I started just buying “whatever” – and normally not even at drug stores like Boots, but just picking up some shampoo with my grocery shop at Tesco. My hair has definitely suffered because of this.
Now that my hair is getting very long, it’s much easier to notice when it’s getting straw-like and frizzy. I went to the hairdressers for a little trim a month or so ago, and the guy doing my hair told me to stop using my shampoo because it’s stripping my hair of all its goodness (or, at least all the goodness that was left of it). I know this is totally a sales pitch done by most, if not all, hairdressers to try to sell you the salon’s own products – but there was something very sincere about it this time. Plus, I had already been noticing the fading shine and bounce from my hair by this stage – it really was BAD.
So, how did I fix this situation without reverting back to my old ways?
I figured that if the chemicals in the shampoo I had been using were ruining my hair (by the way, I was using Tresemmé), then naturally, it was time to opt for something with less to no chemicals in it. Besides making your own homemade shampoo of banana and avocado and God only knows what else, the most reliable chemical-free hair products out there have got to be baby products.
So, on my little stroll last Sunday, I popped into Boots and headed straight for the baby aisle.
There is no shame in using baby products as an adult. Heck, if it’s good enough for a baby, then you bet it’s good enough for an adult too.
I grew up being a true Johnson & Johnson kid: the shampoo, the baby oil, the bubble bath – you name it, I probably had it! But since I was a wee little lass, Johnson & Johnson have acquired a more boujee range called Aveeno.
Aveeno is a well-loved brand for adults, but their baby range is so popular it’s probably overtaken the classic yellow Johnson & Johnson baby shampoo that we all had as children. Although Aveeno is more expensive than the classic Johnson & Johnson products, I knew I had to give it a go after everything I’d heard about it.
I’ve now been washing my hair with Aveeno Baby daily care (baby hair & body wash) for the last week.
On the back of the bottle, it advertises that it leaves hair soft, shiny and easy to comb. It’s also free from parabens, soap, alcohol and dyes.
Here is what I have to say about it: WHAT? HOW? OMG! WHAT IS THIS SHINE?!
I’m not even kidding you. From the first use I felt an instant change in my hair. I wanted to really put this shampoo to the test, so I even stopped using conditioner. Anyone who has long locks like me, will know that conditioner and long hair are best friends, so this was a pretty big deal to eliminate.
I should note that when I get out of the shower, I use a kids detangling spray as well as some leave-in conditioner. But I’ve used these for ages now, so the change in my hair definitely wasn’t due to them.
Photos taken with natural lighting – no flash.
What are the pros of this shampoo?
It smells amazing! If you could bottle the smell of freshness and cleanliness – it would be this product. The smell stays in your hair all day long, which is so lovely.
If you get it in your eyes, you won’t cry!
It instantly restored the gloss and shine back to my hair, and especially to the bleached blonde ends that were usually frizzy and dry.
My hair feels so light and silky compared to normal.
I workout most days, and when I do, I tie my hair up into a high bun. Normally, in the area where the bun was tied, there develops an oily, greasy patch after working out. But my hair has been significantly dryer and cleaner after exercising. I’m convinced this is because there’s less product in my hair now.
The pump makes it super easy to use.
What are the cons of this shampoo?
It is pricier than regular Johnson & Johnson baby shampoo. I bought it for £5.67 at Boots (it’s £5.99 online). However, since realising I no longer need to buy conditioner, I’m actually saving!
I’ve also found it on Amazon for much cheaper: a pack of three, or single buy.
It doesn’t really lather, and as I have such long hair, I do need to use quite a bit of the shampoo to really get it all covered in the product.
I haven’t had shine like this in years! I can also get away with washing my hair less frequently now, as it isn’t getting oily as fast as it was before. So, basically, it’s a total win and this will definitely remain part of my haircare routine for the future. If my hair feels and looks this good after a week, then I cannot wait to see what it looks like in a month!
If you’re someone who has naturally oily hair, or who exercises frequently, or who needs some moisture restored to their damaged hair, I cannot recommend this product enough.
Deliciously Ella, celebrity plant-based food writer and creator, recently launched her new multigrain flakes, adding to her stock of granola, porridge, bars and more.
When I first saw the multigrain flakes advertised on Instagram, I thought to myself that the cereal’s appearance, and more specifically, its ingredients, very closely resembled that of Kellogg’s Fruit ‘n Fibre.
So naturally, I had to get my hands on a box or two to see what all the hype is about and whether they’re really worth the splurge.
I went searching around all of the Sainbury’s grocery stores (where they’re meant to be sold) in my area and couldn’t find the cereal anywhere. I ended up ordering two boxes from Planet Organic online (two because they had a buy one get one half off on Deliciously Ella products).
The first thing that shocked me when the cereal arrived was how small the cereal box is. I’m not embarrassed to admit that when I eat a bowl of cereal, I fill it up to the very top. With that in mind, I figured I could probably only get three servings out of this box.
Nevertheless, going in with an open mind, it was time to compare the products based on price, ingredients, nutrition, and taste.
We’ll start with price.
Planet Organic sells the multigrain flakes for £3.99 per box. Note that this is more expensive than Sainsbury’s, where it retails at £3.50.
Fruit ‘n Fibre, which I did find at Sainsbury’s, cost me £2.30 (online it costs only £2.20!). So, obviously much cheaper.
Deliciously Ella’s multigrain flakes come in a 350g box. The Fruit ‘n Fibre box is 375g. Ok, so you’re getting more bang for your buck with Kellogg’s so far.
Cost and size aside – the product’s qualities are clearly the most important aspect for a food item.
Fruit ‘n Fibre contains: Wholewheat, dried fruit (raisins, coconut, banana (banana, coconut oil, sugar), apple), hazelnuts, sugar, salt, barley malt flavouring.
It also contains vitamins and minerals: Niacin, iron, vitamin B6, vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B1 (thiamin), folic acid, vitamin D, vitamin B12.
So, the main differences are that Fruit ‘n Fibre contains added vitamins and minerals, banana chips and apple pieces that aren’t found in Deliciously Ella’s multigrain flakes. But the multigrain flakes are oil free and do not have interfered with or added ingredients. It’s also important to note that Deliciously Ella’s cereal is gluten free and, as a little extra, the packaging is 100% recyclable.
How does the nutrition compare?
Deliciously Ella’s multigrain flakes are more calorific at 456kcal per 100g. Fruit ‘n Fibre has 380kcal per 100g.
Diving deeper into the nutrition, Deliciously Ella’s multigrain flakes have (per 100g): 11.9g fat, 76.3g carbohydrates, 19.5g sugar, 4.3g fibre, 8.8g protein, 0.26g salt.
The main thing that stands out here is the very low salt content and fairly decent protein content.
Fruit ‘n Fibre has (per 100g): 6g fat, 69g carbohydrate, 24g sugar, 9g fibre, 8g protein, 1g salt.
WHAT?! Ok, I am absolutely in shock that a regular, cheap cereal like Fruit ‘n Fibre actually has a better overall nutritional content than the more upmarket, “healthy” Deliciously Ella’s cereal.
Fruit ‘n Fibre has much lower fat and lower carbs. It also has significantly more fibre and the protein content is only 0.8g less than Deliciously Ella’s cereal. And while the salt content is 0.74g higher and sugar content 4.5g higher than the multigrain flakes, I think we can all agree that, overall, the nutrition seems to be better in Fruit ‘n Fibre.
Now it’s time for the ultimate test – taste.
Both cereals were served in identical bowls, with identical spoons, and topped with the same Alpro almond milk.
Here are the notes I took at the time of testing Deliciously Ella’s multigrain flakes. The flakes have a maize-y (corny) taste and are very bland (dare I say a slight cardboard-like taste). They’re flat flakes too, so there’s no real texture to them. Literally, there are SO MANY hazelnuts! Since testing, I’ve had four bowls of this cereal (so yes, finished and started a new box) and each bowl has had a minimum of 6-7 whole hazelnuts – it’s a lot. There aren’t many coconut chips, nor are there too many raisins.
Here are the notes for Fruit ‘n Fibre. The flakes are exactly like bran flakes. They have a rather potent bran flavour and are textured. There’s a good amount of coconut chips, apple pieces and raisins. There aren’t so many banana chips or hazelnuts, the latter of which are just halves or pieces instead of whole.
Comparing both to each other. Fruit ‘n Fibre has more coconut chips and more raisins. The raisins have more flavour than that in Deliciously Ella’s multigrain flakes, but that’s probably due to the higher sugar content. Fruit ‘n Fibre has FAR less hazelnuts and they’re less bitter than those in the multigrain flakes, though that’s probably due to the fact they aren’t kept in their whole form. If you don’t like nuts, you could definitely still enjoy a bowl of Fruit ‘n Fibre. I cannot say the same for the multigrain flakes…
The overall verdict?
Deliciously Disappointing. I expected a lot more from Deliciously Ella’s cereal. I’ve long-followed her and made her recipes from her cookbooks in the past. She’s very good with flavour, as you’d expect with a brand name like Deliciously Ella. But here, flavour is massively lacking.
So, I must admit that not only is Fruit ‘n Fibre cheaper, more nutritious, and more flavourful, but it’s also much more accessible – even the Lebanese grocery store near me sells it!
*Note I am not a qualified nutritionist, this is simply my own opinion.
With the way 2020 has gone so far, you wouldn’t think there would be any need to celebrate the spookiest holiday of the year. I think we’ve all been frightened and haunted enough by now, especially with those of us in England on the brink of lockdown…again.
But, as an American who absolutely unashamedly uses the excuse of being American for my OTT decorations and enthusiasm for holidays, there was no way that a pandemic (pffft!) was going to stop me celebrating All Hallows Eve. The spirits really would never forgive us for it – all three of them: Jack Daniels, Barcadi, and José Cuervo!
So, what did I do? Well, I spent far too much money on decorations, food and drinks, so that I could give my boyfriend and myself the most spooktacular celebration.
Sadly, due to government restrictions, we were not able to have our friends over to partake in the fun. This didn’t make me go easy on the party food, however, except that the original plan of using our big plastic cauldron as a punch bowl seemed a little excessive for just the two of us.
After hours of scouring the web searching for some themed food inspiration, I had finally put together our menu.
FOOD MENU
Tangerine “pumpkins” with a cucumber stem
“Mummified” hotdogs (puff pastry brushed with egg)
Chocolate covered strawberries
“Ghost” peppers
Olive spiders topping our dips
Spooky cheese and meat board
Oreo bats and zombies
“Mummified” baked camembert (puff pastry brushed with egg)
Pretzel stick witch brooms
DRINKS MENU
Satan’s Sangria (Red wine of choice, dark rum, blackcurrant cordial and Schweppes lemonade)
Pumpkin Orange Spritz (really just an Aperol Spritz)
Witch’s bubbling potion (Prosecco and blackcurrant cordial)
Goblins and Ghouls juice (really just a Pearl Harbor cocktail, but with a twist. Midori melon liqueur, vodka, prosecco and a dash of pineapple juice)
Optional for all of the above is to add maraschino cherries (my personal favourite) and gummy worms!
Ok, I know. This is a lot of stuff for two people. But I couldn’t help it. Go big or go home is the ringtone to my life.
As for how the day panned out…
I woke up too hungry to stick to my original plan of going out for pumpkin spice lattes and Halloween themed donuts, so instead I made pumpkin porridge for myself and fried eggs for my boyfriend.
My porridge was made with oats, cinnamon, and maple brown sugar protein powder from PEScience. I topped it off with a layer of pumpkin purée, natural peanut butter, and a sprinkle of my homemade granola. Then I attempted to draw a spiderweb using chocolate icing, but the porridge was so hot that it melted the design. So I ended up with a “spiderblob” instead. I did, however, manage to make out the word BOO.
For my boyfriend’s breakfast, I used two eggs and separated the egg whites from the yolks. I fried up the egg whites as an omelet and carefully placed the yolks on top in a way that would make them look like eyeballs. Once cooked, I placed sliced green and black olives on top to make it look like a zombie with eyes and a stitched mouth. I think it ended up looking a lot like Jack Skellington from Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas!
After breakfast, I prepared the chocolate covered strawberries and marshmallows and put them in the fridge to solidify. I truly could’ve licked the bowl clean (which we all know I totally did!).
Then, I got changed into my costume. I’ll admit, it was nothing special this year. There was zero point in buying a new costume when no one would really get to see it.
For the last three Halloweens running, I have been Little Red Riding Hood. The first year, I had the full costume and a cute little basket. I even drew a wolf on my face with eyeliner! The second year, I was basketless and didn’t bother with drawing a wolf – but at least I still had the full costume. This year….well, I don’t think I can really get away with calling it Little Red Riding Hood without having the hood. It seems on my adventures last year I lost my cape. So, basically, my costume was just the dress. Bit of a fail, but a little effort is better than none! Though I think next year it’ll definitely be time to buy myself a new costume.
2018
2019
2020
When all the food was made, we sat down on the couch and watched some scary movies and started a new series on Netflix called The Haunting of Hill House. If you liked The Haunting of Bly Manor, you’ll love this!
Overall, I think I nailed Halloween this year if I do say so myself! I just wish we could’ve shared the fun with our friends!
*Also, yes, the “mummified” baked camembert was 100% meant to explode like this ^^^ #NotReally
I’ve been doing this thing the last few weeks where I’ll write myself a goal before every new week, on top of having overall October goals. So far, it’s working out pretty well for me.
The key to setting goals is to ensure they are realistic. Obviously, we all want to be dreamers every once in a while. And that’s important. But, if you keep setting “dreamer” goals every week and keep failing to meet them – that’s not going to help your self esteem.
Last week, my goal was to go for a run. It seems like a fairly easy goal until you’re nearing the end of the week and realise you’ve put it off until now. So, Friday after my Lift gym class, I forced myself to go for a 15 minute run on the treadmill before I was allowed to head home. It was fantastic.
Earlier this year, pre-COVID, I had been training for a half-marathon. I hadn’t properly ran since then. I felt so happy to tick off that week’s goal of running. Now, carrying over into this week, I’ve made it my goal to run for 15 minutes after every gym class I do, which is four classes a week.
As well as that, I set myself the goal of trying out a new gym class. On Tuesdays I don’t go to the gym because my favourite classes with my favourite instructors aren’t on. However, I figured trying out a new class on the day I’m not usually found at the gym was a good idea. Now, all I had to do was decide what gym class to sign up for.
One of the other general October goals I set is to stretch more and to do more yoga (and by “do more yoga” I basically mean “do yoga” because it’s something I never do). Question answered – I will try out a yoga class!
So this takes us to right now. I’m currently sitting in the Starbucks opposite my flat because I am MORE than sick of working from home. I thought I’d treat myself to my first Pumpkin Spice Latte of the season, albeit rather late into autumn.
It’s delicious. It’s creamy and warming and tastes like the memory of sitting in front of an open fire roasting smores.
Each sip takes me back to living in California, shopping with my mom around the holidays. We’d often go into kitchen supply stores (who doesn’t love a new kitchen gadget?!) like the lovely Williams Sonoma. You walk into any Williams Sonoma at this time of year and guaranteed you’ll be smelling pumpkin and gingerbread from every corner of the store.
But back to yoga. I decided I’d try out a Hot Hatha Yoga class, as the description of it on my gym app said it was a good place to start for people new to yoga. What I didn’t realise was that hot yoga was actually done in a room that feels like a sauna. I thought hot yoga meant: *BEWARE*, you will get sweaty during this! Aka, a more high-intensity yoga…though perhaps high-intensity yoga is somewhat of an oxymoron.
Let me tell you how it went…
I walked out of the women’s changing room and saw a man heading into the yoga studio. He was wearing no shoes, only socks. Darnit, I knew I should’ve left my sneakers in my locker. Oh well, he was holding the door open for me now, I couldn’t exactly turn back – he knew I was in this class now. I walked through the door and was greeted by people lying on the floor exhaling so loudly, and so in their own “namaste” zone, it felt like I’d walked in on a group therapy session. I looked for a place to put my shoes that I’d naively kept on. You could see people staring at me between breaths thinking: “Pfft, what a newbie.”
I sprinted over to a yoga mat at the back of the room, out of sight. Everyone was stretching – one girl even had her legs up against the wall while she laid on the floor. I sat there with my arms over my legs just looking around the room, pretending I was lost in my own thoughts. I was actually asking myself: “Why were people stretching pre-yoga? Isn’t the whole point of yoga to stretch?”
Finally it was time for the class to start and it wasn’t so bad in the end. Some yoga classes I’ve done in the past ask you to immediately balance your legs on your elbows and hold yourself up only using your hands. Compared to that, this was a walk in the park. My favourite part was the end. Not because it meant the class was over, but because the instructor turned off the lights as we were lying flat on the floor with our eyes closed. I could’ve totally fallen asleep in that moment.
Would I do this class again? Maybe. If I’m going to go to the gym, I usually only want to do lifting classes because then my body knows it’s been to the gym, and I also really enjoy lifting weights. However, given that Tuesdays are usually my rest day, I suppose squeezing in some yoga and letting my body have a nice long stretch wouldn’t be such a bad idea. But perhaps I’ll wait until this global pandemic is over. Hot rooms where everyone is breathing as loud as a police siren, putting their germs out into the hot air, seems like a breeding ground for illness.
Well, at least now I can check off one of this week’s goals – and it’s only Tuesday.
It’s officially been one week since I received my Smart Skin package in the mail. I’ve tried out each product multiple times and in different combinations, so that I could provide the fullest review possible of the skincare range.
Digital Creator, Niomi Smart, who exudes wholesomeness, health and wellbeing, founded this skincare line, which is vegan, sustainable, and natural.
The price of the products ranges from £24-32, while the bamboo towel sells for £8 per two pack. If you buy the whole range it costs £100 – a saving of £22. That’s what I did.
It’s been a long time since I’ve invested in some skincare. When I was younger, I always wanted try whatever was new on the block. But now that I’m older, and have finally accepted that my skin is sensitive to constantly trying out different products, I usually just stick to what I know works.
I figured that because Smart Skin is so naturally sourced it wouldn’t cause too much face drama #pimples.
I was actually right.
I’ll start with the cleanser because that’s usually the first step to any conventional skincare routine. The “Golden Jelly” is a purifying jelly-to-oil cleanser with grape seed oil and orange fruit water. It’s 100% naturally derived.
It squeezes out of the tube just as you’d expect: a thick orange gel. It doesn’t have much of a smell to it, but that’s probably due to not having any artificial flavourings. It’s a very thick gel that you rub together in your hands before massaging all over your face. I only used this product to remove my makeup at night. For me, the test of any good makeup remover is whether it can successfully get my three layers of mascara off without having to rub my eyes too much. This did the job. I will say, however, that sometimes I had some oil residue left in my eyes causing my vision to blur for a while. It wasn’t anything unusual though – most oil-based makeup removers will result in this.
After washing off the product with the bamboo towel (which, yes, is the softest thing I’ve ever felt!) and some hot water, my skin felt so refreshed and renewed. The cleanser doesn’t steal any natural oils from your skin, so it doesn’t make your skin feel dried out. For that reason, I usually didn’t use the moisturiser or facial oil afterwards. I would just follow up with my normal skincare routine of toning my face with organic rose water. But if you want some extra pampering, I’d recommend applying the Smart Skin moisturiser.
I don’t think I would ever use this cleanser as a morning face wash because it doesn’t strike me as necessary, unless I had slept in my makeup. For me, this cleanser is synonymous with makeup remover. It’s so handy having a makeup remover all in one, where you can get your makeup off as fast as possible before hopping into bed at night.
So, for that reason: Is it a Smart buy? Personally, I wouldn’t rebuy this product merely because I couldn’t justify spending £24 on a makeup remover. I use inexpensive facewipes and an eye makeup remover – and Bob’s your uncle (even though, yes, that is two products over one). I would rather spend my £24 on a nice bottle of wine, or some other skincare product that’s unique.
Speaking of face masks…
The “Miracle Meta Mask” is a warming cell regenerative face mask with olive and camellia. This product is 95% naturally derived.
I used this product while taking a relaxing bath. The balm squeezes out of the tube and is a clear-ish white coloured gel, which changes into a white paste as you massage it onto your face. A little goes a long way with this one.
I applied it all over my face and left it for around 15-20 minutes (though the instructions say anywhere between 10-20 minutes). I splashed my face with warm water and rubbed the white paste into a milky liquid. Then I used my bamboo towel to wipe it off.
My face felt very clean afterwards, and adding water to the paste before you rinse it off makes the removal process much smoother for your skin. It doesn’t feel like you have a face mask on, in that though it only dries a little bit. It doesn’t solidify on top of your face like other face masks do, so you still have free reign of all facial expressions. Perhaps if you used loads of it, it would do so – though I wouldn’t recommend doing this.
I’m more willing to splurge on a face mask because you don’t use it everyday, maybe once or twice a week, which means it’ll last longer. This product costs £30. Is it a Smart buy? Given that it’s a mostly naturally derived product, that truly does leave your skin feeling radiant, and the fact that a little of it goes a long way means, I think, that it is a Smart buy. I would definitely restock on this product.
After using the face mask, I used the Smart Skin “Multi V Elixir”, which is a vitamin enriched facial oil with rosehip and avocado oil. This is a 100% naturally derived product.
It’s a beautiful deep lemon yellow coloured oil. It’s the most scented product in the whole range, probably due to the number of oils mixed in it. Avocado, argan, milk thistle, blueberry, turmeric, to just name a few.
Admittedly, I’ve never used facial oil before. I normally opt for a moisturiser over oil. Using this after the Smart Skin face mask was a lovely extra bit of self-care and pampering. I don’t think I’d apply this oil in the morning, pre-makeup, because it is much heavier and doesn’t dry into the skin like a regular moisturiser would, so it wouldn’t make a good base for makeup.
I also applied this oil after using the Smart Skin moisturiser that we’ll come onto shortly, but it was definitely excessive and left my skin feeling far too caked in product. After a while, once it had dried slightly, it did feel better, but still a little too greasy for my liking. *Though as aforementioned, I am not used to facial oils, so maybe this is normal?
Is it a Smart Buy? This is the most expensive product in the range at £32. You’re only meant to use 2-3 drops at a time. For that reason, it would probably last you a long time, and because it’s an oil it really does get the job done when it comes to moisturising your skin. It’s also very impressive that it’s completely naturally derived. I would buy this product again if I come to love facial oils over moisturisers in the future. But for now, we’ll see how long this one lasts me and judge it from there.
Now for the moisturiser. “Super C” is a protective facial moisturiser with blueberry and kakadu plum. This product is 99% naturally derived. This is MY FAVOURITE product in the range. I’m already going to put it out there that I WILL be buying this again.
The moisturiser is like jelly – not a thick gel, but imagine the type of jelly that you buy at the store. It glides right over your face and has a fresh scent. I’ve tried this after using the Smart Skin face mask as well and it felt great. I’ve also used this many times under my makeup as a primer, and OH MY it is perfect. It’s basically a moisturiser and primer all in one and it is the best base for your makeup. It’s very hydrating without feeling too thick.
Is it a Smart buy? Absolutely. For £28, given that it’s not only a product I would use at night-time when my skin is dry, but also in the morning on both makeup free days as part of my usual skincare routine, as well as under my makeup – it’s so worth it.
Finally, the bamboo towel, or I should say the “Organic Bamboo Washcloth”. You get two for £8 and it’s 100% bamboo fibre. I’ve seen people on Instagram saying it’s the softest thing they’ve ever felt and I can officially second that motion. It’s great that you get two in a pack because then while one is being washed, you still have another one you can use. Or you could use one for washing your face and one for drying. Either way, I love this towel and it’s definitely a new staple in my skincare routine to accompany whatever products I might be using.
During the course of this week my skin was noticeably more glowing and radiant. Even my boyfriend commented on my skin complexion! So if he can even notice a change, then it must be mega!
Overall, Niomi Smart created a very wonderful skincare range that makes you feel fresh, clean, and healthy.
If you’re interested in trying out the products, you can find them here. Let me know what you think if you do give them a try!
Reflecting on the time that has been and the time yet to come. This week was a busy one, with many long days spent working, but also some rewarding fun-filled evenings.
Work hard play hard, right?
On Monday, I had part of an investigation I’ve been working on published. That was very exciting. Not just a food blogger y’all!
When the evening approached, I couldn’t shake my need for a good espresso martini. My boyfriend indulged me when he got home from work and took me out to Bermondsey Bar & Kitchen so I could have one. As you can see for yourselves, it was very nice.
For the rest of the working week, I was court reporting, so the next evening out was on Friday.
I had been wanting “curtain bangs” for a while, so I finally booked an appointment at a hair salon and did it. I am totally obsessed with it, despite the fact I can no longer be so lazy with my hair – these bangs definitely need styling every day.
I then thought it only appropriate to take my new hairstyle out on the town. It’s like when you get a new car and feel the need to drive it around the block a few times to show it off. So, my boyfriend and I got dressed up and went out for a few drinks. First we hit up Crol & Co. – a coffee/cocktail bar nearby. More espresso martinis may or may not have gone down. I think I’m officially on a mission to find the best one in the area.
Next, we wandered over to Chapter 72 on Bermondsey Street. These guys make amazing espresso martinis, including flavours ranging from velvet vanilla to salted caramel to popcorn. I went for the popcorn one, which had an adorable miniature red and white striped bucket filled with sweet popcorn attached to the edge of the glass. After that, I tried the El Presidente & Pornstar cocktail. It’s their take on the classic portnstar martini, but instead of passionfruit they use lime juice. It’s a very tangy, refreshing drink!
Then we came home, ordered Papa John’s pizza and started a new series on Netflix called The Haunting of Bly Manor. I absolutely HATE scary things, but this show is really very good. Though, I’ll admit, I think my pleasure from it derives largely from laughing at my boyfriend hiding under a blanket and watching it with his hands covering his eyes.
On Saturday morning we went for a stroll back to Bermondsey Street. We got a coffee at Black Swan Yard Coffee, which is uniquely served to you from underground. Sadly, I did not try their advertised cardamom bun on this visit. But it’s certainly on my list for next time!
We got home around lunch time and I put together a dish that I find I keep making at the moment. A kale salad with roasted almonds, goji berries, halloumi, tomatoes, and turkey breast. It’s so easy to make. You just remove the stems from the kale leaves and then massage the kale in a small amount of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Pan fry the halloumi. Cook the turkey breast in some freshly chopped garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, and an optional step, in some white white. You could wrap up the turkey breast in tin foil and cook it in the oven, but I usually just fry it in a pan. Then top with dried fruit and nuts of your choice.
That takes us to today, which is Sunday.
I started my day with a morning stretch and my greens powder mixed with Vitamin D fizz (a new daily morning routine of mine). I then threw on some leggings and a baggy sweater and walked over to Borough Market. I had hoped to buy some flowers for a beautiful wine bottle I acquired this week, but I had forgotten that the market is closed on Sunday.
On the way back home, flowerless, I stopped in at a new Italian grocery store that’s just opened nearby: Prezzemolo & Vitale. This place is a foodie’s heaven! Fresh meats, cheese, wine, produce, pastries, pasta and more. Everything is Italian – even the packaging of the Philadelphia cream cheese they sell there is written in Italian!
I got a flat white coffee, which was hands down one of the best coffees I’ve had in a looooong time. It was intense and rich, while still being creamy enough. I also bought a croissant that was stuffed with a thick, decadent chocolate hazelnut butter. Think Nutella, but even more delicious (if that is even possible!). The pastry itself was light and buttery, which contrasted wonderfully with the taste of the chocolate.
Sundays have always been my favourite day of the week. What’s your favourite?
So I went to New York on holiday in the midst of a global pandemic. When I came back, I was hit with the sad reality of having to spend 14 days inside, quarantining.
Back around the end of June, I finished my master’s degree here in London. My mom, who lives in New York, was changing jobs at that time, so it was as if fate had set up the ideal opportunity for us to see each other. Except, of course, that there’s this little thing called COVID-19 ruining everyone’s best laid plans. Luckily, however, I have an American passport, so any visa restrictions with regards to Brits visiting the USA don’t apply to me.
It took me a few days to weigh up the rationality of going away. I knew I’d have to quarantine when I got back, and that was extremely off-putting. Was it the safest thing to do? Was it irresponsible? What would it even be like to travel internationally during a pandemic? In the end, I decided that the timing of the trip was too perfect to pass up on, and I knew I’d be as responsible and cautious as possible. So, I booked my flight.
I went away for three and a half weeks. I knew that if I was going to do this, then I would need to be away for longer than the time I’d have to spend quarantining when I returned.
From the moment I left my flat in London, to the moment I got into my mom’s car at Newark Airport (around 12 hours later), I was wearing a face mask. It actually wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, but I think I owe that to my very comfortable soft fabric mask. After a while, I almost forgot I was even wearing one.
_From LNDN –> NY_
June 29th: the day of my departure. At 6am, I locked my front door, put on my backpack, and picked up my big black suitcase full of British goodies in one hand, and in the other, my little pink carry-on case. I carried both down the stairs of my building complex in one go. I knew that all my lockdown workouts would eventually pay off.
I ordered my Uber to Heathrow Airport, and when the driver arrived, I put my face mask on.
The airport was actually more full than I expected it to be, but nothing compared to normal times. I had arrived there in record time, so I had to wait a while before I could check-in. I stood awkwardly under the electronic screen displaying flight information – that way I’d be ready to run to the front of the line when the check-in desk number was shown. As I stood there, I watched people enter the airport, wiping down their cases, using hand sanitizer and, generally looking a little confused and stressed.
After around fifteen minutes, a man about my age came up next to me. He had an American accent so I figured he was probably going to be on my flight. Flights were extremely limited – I think mine was the only morning flight to Newark.
My presumption about him was right, and we ended up chatting for the whole time before our flight boarded. We decided to grab a coffee on the way to our gate. Though, in this instance, “grab” might not be the right word. There was only one place open selling coffee, and the line for this café was truly unbelievable – you would’ve sworn they were handing out free money. We had ages to kill, so we joined the long queue (and I desperately needed some caffeine in my system). I bought a halloumi and avocado breakfast sandwich and a flat white coffee.
Once on the flight, a miracle happened: I had the WHOLE row to myself. In fact, most people did. I suppose that’s one perk of flying during a pandemic. It was SO empty.
We were allowed to take our masks off when we were given our food and drinks; but as soon as we finished, they had to go straight back on.
Throughout all of the flight I was filled with so much excitement. I hadn’t seen my mom since November last year. But I was also filled with sadness, because I knew it would be the blink of an eye before I would be back on this flight, heading in the other direction to go home.
When we landed, some authorities came on board and gave us their spiel about if you feel unwell then blah blah blah. I’m sure by this stage you get the gist.
Once off the plane and in the airport, we each had our temperature checked and were asked by airport security if we had any symptoms of COVID-19. We also had to tell them where our final destination was.
Finally through border control, I collected my bags and went to go find my mom.
_Fast-forward three weeks_
After the most amazing trip away, I was right – a blink of an eye and I was back at the airport to head home to England. The car journey there was pretty smooth, except for the pounding hangover I had from the previous night’s big send-off, and the gigantic hail storm my mom and I got caught in, where visibility was literally -5.
Once I was through security and had handed in my bags, I thought I’d make the most of my final few hours in the US and pay homage to our amazing cocktails. May as well go out with a bang!
The calm before the storm
View from the plane. Can you spot the London Eye?
When we finally boarded the plane, many many hours delayed (yeah, remember that hail storm? Well, it followed me), I had the whole row of seats to myself…again. SCORE!
Safe to say that I was overwhelmed with emotion to be leaving, as I always am whenever I say goodbye to my mom. It wasn’t even like I was going home to anything exciting. I knew that once I got off this plane, that would be the last of my in-person interactions for the next two weeks. Well, except for the Uber driver and the Tesco delivery people.
Once we landed, authorities came on board and gave us the rules of having to quarantine and so forth. In the airport, to my shock, nobody took my temperature, or asked me about any symptoms. All we had to do was fill in an incredibly long form about our quarantine address, how long we’d been away – that kind of thing. This was done on your smart phone once you got off the plane, so while it was being completed, everyone was pretty much on top of each other in one big crowd. Great social distancing, eh? After we had filled in the form, no one checked to make sure it had been completed.
I got in an Uber home, hauled my suitcases up the stairs, and had a little cry. I was so exhausted (I never sleep on planes) and felt so alone. It was such a come down, coming from what I had – a full house, family, friends, delicious home-cooked meals – to then being in an empty home. My new flatmate that I had only met once before (she moved in the night before I went away) was at work until 6pm. It was just 10am.
The next two weeks sucked. That’s the most elegant way I can put it. I figured that to pass the time, I would just throw myself into work. I had just finished my degree – it was time to get job-hunting! What made quarantining far worse than lockdown back in March, was that it was just me. Before, the streets had been silent, the traffic minimal, and we were all in this together. But now, it was just me. I could hear people socialising on the street outside my window, and it was torturous.
But I got through it. And overall, it was totally worth it.
I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve never been a big fan of watching sports. I would much rather play the sport than watch it on TV.
Having said that…
I do love a good Super Bowl party, or getting together to watch the final world cup match in a local pub that’s filled with far too many drunk people swinging their freshly-filled pint glasses above head, shouting: “It’s coming home, it’s coming home!” Unfortunately, that year it didn’t come home.
Other than that, I’ve never had the desire to watch a match on my own.
My boyfriend and I recently moved in together. He is OBSESSED with Liverpool Football Club. When I say obsessed, I mean, the guy would probably miss the birth of his child if it coincided with match day. Due to his undying love and commitment to the team, I’ve come to accept that they’re inevitably now part of my life too. Premier League, Champions League, and whatever other leagues there may be (truly clueless here), I’m going to have to hear about them one way or another.
I’ve never had the mental ability to “zone out” when someone is talking directly at me; that is, until I dated a football fan. I swear my boyfriend will be telling me, excitedly, all about a game, or what new player the club just bought, and I’ll immediately go elsewhere in my head, even though I can still see his lips moving and know he is talking.
But I figured, because I love him and because it means so much to him, I will watch the Premier League games with him. We’ll make it a “thing” we do together. However, if my attention-span is going to last more than five minutes into watching a ball and a bunch of men onscreen, I’m going to need to make it fun. Really fun.
So of course, I decided that every time a Premier League game is on – we’re going to order, pick-up, or make food for the match. But it won’t be based on what we’re in the mood of that day – instead, we’re going to leave it down to fate.
I found a jar that was lying around in my kitchen cupboard, and got a piece of paper and wrote down a load of restaurants in our area that deliver or offer the option to pick-up. I also wrote down some homemade options like nachos, or a wine, cheese & charcuterie night.
I folded up each piece of paper so tightly and threw them into the jar, gave it a shake, and now each week when we pull out a little square, we will be committed to whatever it says.
So, truth be told, I am officially excited for match days. But I’m still just here for the snacks – at least for the time being. Who knows, maybe I’ll become a die-hard Liverpool fan too.
If you have any suggestions of recipes or restaurants to order from that are in central London, leave a comment down below!
This week I turned 24, and I am literally still in shock. I feel like at 23 you still have the comforting proximity to your early adult years and late teens. But 24? That’s a whole new realm of adulthood.
Birthday celebrations kicked off on Monday evening, when I tried Pho for the first time with one of my best friends. I got the Beef Combo, which had brisket, steak and meatballs in a broth with rice noodles. I’m not going to lie, but I think ordering a pho with chicken or prawns would’ve been a better decision. It’s just that steak in a soup like this is a little too strange for my liking. For me, steak should stay served with a creamy peppercorn sauce and garlic mashed potatoes. However, it may not have helped that we were eating a gigantic bowl of hot soup in 28C weather (82F for my American readers).
Then came Tuesday, my actual birthday. I woke up to the sweetest video-card from my boyfriend, where he revealed 1/3 of my present (as he labelled it). The clue was the backdrop of his video – he was standing right outside Bermondsey Square Hotel; a four-star hotel that I recently told him I’d always wanted to stay at. He booked us in to stay there for the coming weekend.
I pulled myself out of bed and got ready for my birthday brunch at 11:30am: makeup done, hair curled, and a change of outfit RIGHT as I was heading out the door (classic). I met my gym-instructor-turned-gal-pal at Coppa Club near Tower Bridge. I had hired us out an igloo, despite the fact igloos are meant for eight people and there was only the two of us. Honestly, the igloo was more like a greenhouse in the major sunshine that came out – but it was nevertheless EPIC. I was running a little late (for which I totally blame the last minute outfit debacle), so my friend ordered us mimosas, which I was then greeted with upon my arrival. Then poured the espresso martinis, aperol spritz, pornstar martinis, and lemon drop martinis. *The fact that I can list off what we had is probably a good sign though.
We shared a club caesar salad, truffle and parmesan fries, and a fig, ricotta and walnut sourdough pizza.
Next, The NED. I had never been The NED Hotel before, even though I have passed it twice a day, everyday, for over a year. I wanted to get my nails done, so I booked myself in for the Ultimate Cowshed Manicure, which included a scalp and shoulder massage. Let’s be honest, they had me at “massage”. Safe to say it was the most relaxing experience and I will totally be going back for more. I went for a bright red nail polish called “Lipstick” to match my red heeled sandals.
My friend waited for me as I got pampered, so when I came out of the spa – there she was! We strolled over London Bridge and decided to continue the party, which resulted in a cheeky pitcher of sangria at Borough Market. After the pitcher was fully consumed, *cough cough*, I mean, evaporated into the air, we picked up some bubbly at a local grocery store and headed to my new flat.
A bottle of bubbly, a boogie to tunes, and another outfit change later, we went to go meet my boyfriend and old flatmate for drinks on the green by Tower Bridge. After this, my boyfriend took me out to a beautiful Italian restaurant in Shoreditch called Gloria Trattoria. We shared the truffle & fennel salami, creamy burrata, and tomato focaccia for starters. We then had a truffle pizza, a spicy meat pizza, and spaghetti and giant meatballs. Then, as if I had anymore space in my stomach left to fill, a tiramisu was delivered to our table by three singing waiters.
The next few days were spent detoxing from all the fun.
On Friday morning I met another one of my besties. This time, it was for coffee & a bagel at this really cool coffee shop, Crol & Co, near Borough Market. (Yes, yes, I know – everything I do is around Borough Market! I can’t help it, I am simply in love with the area!). We sat outside in the sunshine while we drank our almond milk cappuccinos and ate our salmon and cream cheese bagels.
The next day it was Bermondsey Street Festival, or “Market”, as it was called this year given COVID-19’s restrictions on gatherings like this. I bought a delicious canelé from B-Street Deli that was covered in a mouth-watering salted caramel. I also had a grapefruit spritz that Comptoir Gourmand were selling outside their amazing bakery that turns into a cocktail/wine bar at night.
My boyfriend had this delicious ‘nduja mac & cheese, which he ate as we wandered over to our favourite food market nearby on Maltby Street. There, I had orange wine from Bon Vino and a delicious steak in a chimichurri sauce with crispy french fries.
It had reached 3pm and was time for us to check into Bermondsey Square Hotel for the night. On the way there, we picked up some ice cream because WHY NOT?! I got a waffle cone with rum & raisin ice cream on top of a scoop of pistachio ice cream. OH MY LORD. Rum & raisin is definitely a new favourite flavour. If you haven’t tried it – literally run to the shop now and go get some. Though, admittedly, it’s actually a really hard ice cream flavour to find.
The fun doesn’t end there my friends.
We checked into our hotel and had a little snooze. A few hours later, we headed out for some wine at Trivet near London Bridge. I had a full-bodied orange pinot grigio in the most beautiful wine glass. If you follow me on Instagram, then you are fully aware of my obsession with their glasses.
Chapter 72 was next on the list – a family owned, independent coffee shop/cocktail bar that has won multiple awards. It was the TimeOut 2018 winner for ‘Best local coffee shop SE1’, and the Evening Standard said it makes ‘one of the best Espresso Martini in London’. Not bad, eh?
So obviously I ordered the espresso martini.
My boyfriend and I then walked to Café Amisha, an Italian restaurant and deli where First Dates star, Fred Sirieix, can often be found. The service was absolutely impeccable and the food and drinks were amazing. Instead of boring you with more words of what I ate, I’ll leave it down to the photos.
As I’m sure this post implies, I had the most fabulous birthday week. I am so grateful to all of the beautiful people who celebrated with me <3.
Here are some more pictures of Bermondsey Street Festival to showcase the local effort that goes into putting on an event like this for the community.
SEE: Sip Eat Enjoy 