Home Sweet Home - Bedroom

Hello there!

I am finally getting around to putting up some pictures of my new house. I'm so excited for it to have gone through and I've had the keys for over a month now. Broadband has taken a while to be installed and even when it was it had a few issues but I am definitely back online now!

I thought I would separate my posts out by room, I have so many pictures and the before/after is an easier story to tell.

So first up is my bedroom. When I viewed the house I knew I would be changing it straight away, you can see it below:

Honestly, it's not bad decor but it was so DARK. The walls were really dark grey and there were so many black items in the room as well that it made it feel so much smaller than it was. The wallpaper was also a bit too over the top for my tastes, even with all of the furniture removed the room was still really dark.



My amazing dad removed the wall paper revealing a white-ish wall behind. I knew I wanted to decorate the room with a white and grey colour scheme, so it was always going to take a long time to cover all of the black/grey walls.
It took a grand total of FOUR coats of white paint to cover it up - it took days!!

Eventually we got there and my white and grey bedroom has arrived!

I love how full of light it is now, it feels so much bigger

I have some of my prized possessions in my room, including my antique pewter tea pot which looks like something from Alice in Wonderland, and also my Grandma's bureau.
It is a beautiful writing desk that I kept when she died, it's now been turned into a dressing table for all of my make up. I hope she would approve of me recycling an old piece of furniture into something for me to use.
It's a future painting project when I have settled in more and have chosen a colour.




I'm sure that will be a post in it's own right but I love the fact the front folds down and I can sit and do my make up at it every day.
I've also set up some silver plant pots with my brushes in and have a cake stand ready for some jewellery to live on. I love using items for a different purpose than they were designed for!



As for my bed......it could do with looking a bit more inspiring but I've found a throw that I really like and brings a bit of colour to the white and grey palette. I need a few more cushions so I'm looking for some in a similar colour now to bring it all together.

I've also got a really cool bedside table and lamp - they do not match at all!



I bought the bird lamp shade from Asda to go on an antique silver metal lamp stand I was given. The table also came from the same people and I love the detail on it. I think mixing silver and gold can sometimes be completely wrong but when you have a room with such a neutral palette the metallics can bring more to it.
I cannot stop staring at the patterns on the table it's so beautiful.

At the foot of the bed I then have a blanket chest with amazing detailing across the front. All of the main wooden pieces came from family members so it's great to have a few bits of family history in my new house.




At the moment I keep bags and shoes inside this but it's not ideal so hopefully things will be moved around when I get more furniture.

I don't have any pictures or mirrors on the walls yet but I do have an old style map to go up, and hopefully some things more colourful too.

What do you think of that I've done to the bedroom so far?

Do you have any ideas of what I can do to make my bedroom more colourful?

I'm going to upcycle the bureau and the blanket chest, I'm hoping to do them a dove grey colour so if you have any ideas of painting or sanding then please send them my way!

L xxx

Trek Protein Flapjacks*

Good morning all!

Today's post is allllllllllllll about one of our favourites things, protein bars. These particular protein bars come from Natural Balance Foods, and they are the Trek Protein Flapjacks:

We were kindly sent a mixed box of the Protein Flapjacks which contained 16 bars in total, with 6 different flavours. They are protein packed and each bar has around 9 or 10g of protein, they are also gluten, wheat and dairy free which is pretty cool!

You can see the flavours in the image below:

I don't know about you but there's not a flavour there I wouldn't enjoy!!

After munching on them all week I can say that they were all very good and true to their flavours, however the Cocoa Coconut one I cannot stop raving about and I need to find some more asap! What an amazing taste, an oat flapjack covered in chocolate with pieces of coconut inside, it is actually amazing and everybody needs to try it!

I've been eating these at various times, my morning snack break and as a pre-gym energy boost. They're really great as they stop me feeling hungry but they don't take forever to digest either so you know you can get to the gym without waiting forever.

Have you tried Trek bars? I've tried the normal bars and now these flapjacks and they have all been great, I would really recommend them to anyone looking for a healthy snack to add to their day. 

A box of 16 bars will cost you £14.99, that's less than £1 per bar which is great for a healthy, filling and protein rich snack.
They've recently brought out some Protein Bars too to refuel after the gym, the Cocoa Chaos and Peanut Power flavours sound just up my street, I'll have to put an order in soon! Thank you to Natural Balance Foods for sending us this box of goodies to try!

L xxx

Life Lately

Hey All

I really feel like life is whizzing by at the moment. The past few weeks have felt like a bit of an exciting blur with loads on and the next few weeks feel like they could be the same. Two weeks ago I got my dude back from his latest work trip away which was just in time for my birthday so we headed down to the local street food place with some good friends including L (my housemate has pictures of me opening my presents from L which I need to get off of her so I can share them as L did good on my birthday presents this year!).

I love Depot and going with L is great as we like to share food so it means we get to try loads. I'd recommend heading down if you're local to Cardiff as it's still on through August so there is still time and the have one of our favourite places Science Cream (review here!) and as it's the Summer they have an awesome outside area with converted cars etc to sit in!

I spent my actual birthday with my family and OH. They came down to visit and bought my nieces so we ended up just eating out and exploring Cardiff. We had planned to go to the international pool and go on all the slides but we ended up not having time!

I've been spending lots lately. I really should put a haul together. When hunting for the perfect nude shoe I came across these beauties from Miss KG and couldn't resist!! They were half price and just to pretty not to order. I ordered from Very and couldn't believe how quickly they arrived!

I also finally got my first tattoo and I am totally in love with it. I can feel it becoming an addiction where I just want more. Also I got to properly bake again which I haven't for a while and made macaroons (my new favourite!) and my niece a rainbow sprinkles cake!

As well as all that there has been graduations (OHs brothers), weddings and overnight stays in Brighton and Bristol. Somehow most of this has all happened over the past two weeks!

The weekends just aren't long enough! Have you been on any trips yet?

Love M

xxx

Beauty Rehab

Hello there!

Before moving house I worked my butt off to work my way through any last products that I could get through before packing up. I think I did pretty well but my stash still seemed to overwhelm every other type of stuff I had! Ah well - it was always going to be a large part of my life wasn't it?!

Dove Summer Glow Lotion - This is always my favourite tanning moisturiser, doesn't smell half as bad as some of the others I've tried and is a good colour
Garnier Micellar Water - This was great, I would definitely repurchase as it was a good price too. Took off my mascara easily and didn't leave an oily residue
Label M Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner - this worked great for thickening hair but it did feel dry afterwards, great for a Saturday night but not regular use

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish - Still like this, it melts onto skin and removes make up. It's quite expensive though so will be holding off for a bit
Nip and Fab Glycolic Serum - I really liked this but it took me four different bottles to get one that worked....and a small bottle at that. Maybe I'd repurchase on a deal
Nip and Fab Dragon's Blood Serum - Loved this, this was my second bottle and I'd repurchase again, sinks in great and is a full 50ml
Origins Checks and Balances - Always my fave face wash, need to use my one sparingly until I can buy another!
Nip and Fab Glycolic Face Pads - Expensive for what it is but I do think these helped clear my skin. Possibly I would repurchase on a 3 for 2 deal 

Aussie Miracle Moist Shampoo  and 3 Minute Miracle - always my favourite hair products as they are so cheap but work so well with my hair
Nip and Fab Energy Boost Body Wash - wouldn't repurchase, average shower gel for an inflated price
Garnier Ambre Solaire Tanning Mist - Another favourite, the best tanning mist for face and hands for me, so easy to use

Herbal Essences Dry Shampoo - awful dry shampoo, acted more like hair spray, amazing scent though so I was disappointed with this

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation - love this, need to repurchase asap!
Lush Yummy Mummy Shower Gel - great smell, lovely product, would repurchase
Good Things Deep Pore Anti Blemish Lotion - Great product for bad skin days and useful as a double cleanse, I'd repurchase when I break out next
Smashbox Photo Finish Blemish Control Primer - can't comment on the blemish factor of this but the primer was great, and NEVER gave me the rolling bits that others do, big fan of the texture of this

Stay Matte Pressed Powder - Best powder for the best price, have 2 as back up!
Algenist Eye Renewal Balm - this was pretty good even for my sensitive eyes, loved the balm texture
Origins Ginzing Moisturiser - loved this, never been disappointed with a Origins product, need to repurchase!
Mac Mascara - this was average, I'd prefer Rimmel for a much cheaper price

Rimmel Scandaleyes Mascara - possibly the most disappointing mascara from Rimmel but it's possible that it was due to it drying out and going clumpy
Eve Lom Eye Cream - very thick and luxurious, not in my price range unfortunately!
Kiehls Rosa Arctica Lightweight Cream - this was lovely and indeed lightweight, I'd consider buying
Lush Full of Grace Serum - love this and my skin feels so much more hydrated

No7 Eye Make Up Remover - Great when getting the No7 vouchers, very useful product
Una Brennan Superfacialist Oil - really liked this to remove the first layer of make up in a double cleanse, it all seemed to melt off
Garnier Ambre solaire Tanning Mist - see picture above
Dr Organic Moroccan Argan Oil Eye Serum - really like this product and it sinks in lovely, Dr Organic are a great brand
Kiehls Midnight Recovery Concentrate - a great oil, I'd love to try this out full size as the tester only allowed 3 nights worth. I think it would be worth the money

Nip and Fab Dragon's Blood Cleansing Pads - not sure about these, I did like the extra hydration but not sure if they were worth the money
Good Things Manuka Honey Cleanser - another great product from Good Things, they are definitely my go to high street brand and I will be back for more
Batiste Brunette Dry Shampoo - super impressed with this product, SAVES MY LIFE during the week. Batiste is the best!
Toni and Guy Glamour Hairspray - perfect handbag sized spray and works great to hold hair in place



What do you think of my empties this time? I worked so hard! The last few images are taken on my desk on moving day so apologies for the poor quality, everything was so last minute

Have you been using up products recently? What have been your favourites?


L xxx