10/29/2013

The NO-vember Challenge 2013

Winter has always been my favourite time of year. 

The nights get colder, the skies get darker, and there is just a general sense of excitement and festivity in the air that you don't really get at any other time of the year. 

With Winter also comes scrummy comfort food. And scrummy comfort food is the kind of food that I find it really hard to say "No" to.

So, I decided that for the month of November, I'm going to have a bit of a detox and create a challenge for myself...


The NO-vember Challenge

For a whole month (or longer if I think I can manage it,) I will be challenging myself to eradicate all my little vices from my diet. I will be taking out all: 

Chocolate 
Takeaway 
Alcohol
Cake/Biscuits
Sweets 

No doubt that this ill be a particularly challenging challenge (haha) for me, but I know that having a month off in the build up to the festivities of Christmas will do me the world of good. 

For the month of November I'll be posting more recipe ideas and updates on my NO-vember progress

Boyfriend is going to help me through this challenge, and if you would like to take part too, leave a comment below and we can help support each other. 

Feel free to save the NO-vember Challenge image above and add it to a challenge post relating to what you are giving up (but don't forget to link back to me.) 

Good Luck! 



Current Favourites (Autumn 2013)


Last week I had a week off from work, so decided to sit down and film a Current Favourites video.



When it comes to beauty products, I can be a bit of a creature of habit. If I find a product that I really like, I will generally tend to stick to it for ages. So doing a favourites video or blog post every month would be a bit counter-productive. 

Instead, this video is a selection of products I have been loving over the past few months or so; Beauty & Miscellaneous bits and pieces that have brought me joy. 

Now that the weather is starting to get colder, I'll probably be switching up a few products in my beauty/skincare regime, so make like an onion and keep your eyes peeled for another video coming up before Christmas. 

What products have you been loving lately?






10/16/2013

Soot Ball by Lush | Just Add Ginger


Just Add Ginger

I couldn't tell you how excited I was to see the launch of Soot Ball by Lush a few weeks ago. 

It's by far the cutest bath bomb I've ever seen, and as soon as I saw the little guy, I was immediately drawn in by those adorable big eyes. 

So when Boyfriend and I were in Chester a few weekends ago, and we popped in to Lush, Soot Ball was on the list of goodies I needed to buy.

I don't think we really need to say much about the bath bomb design. Soot Ball speaks for itself. The bomb is whimsical and incredibly cute. The gold shimmering through the darkness of the bath bomb creates an immediate sense of excitement and anticipation about what amazing goodies may wait inside. 

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The price is fantastic too. For a bomb like Soot Ball, normally I'd expect it to me more than the price tag it carries. So you can imagine how impressed I was when I discovered that it retails for only £2.50.

100% WIN!

Like with my Luxury Lush Pud, I really wanted to hold out as long as possible until I tried Soot Ball, but one cold and dark evening, feeling in the need of a little pick-me-up, there he was, waiting for me. So into the bath Soot Ball went. 

If you were to just look at the colour the bath water is turning, it might out you off slightly, but give Soot Ball time to work its magic. Unlike Luxury Lush Pud, I did have to help Soot Ball on its way a bit, but look at the end results after it ad finished fizzing away. 

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So much glitter!!! 

Soot Ball gives you such opulent, luxurious bath water. The charcoal-y nature of the bath bomb itself highlights just how shimmery the water becomes and I felt so glamorous bathing in gold. 
The scent of the bath bomb was similar. Very comforting for a cold Autumnal night. Not as memorable as Luxury Lush Pud, but it complemented the consistency and finish of Soot Ball well and added a great fragrance to such a glamorous bath. And like with all the Lush bombs I've tried, the formula made my skin feel really nourished and soft, and I didn't feel the need to moisturise afterwards (a step I sometimes just cannot be bothered with.) 

There is just one small thing about this bath bomb that may put some people off.....

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It did leave some residue in my tub after I'd let the water out. 

Now, this didn't phase me. I'm used to some of bath bombs leaving shimmery residue behind, and the charcoal-coloured marks wiped off quite easily (with only one spot needing a bit of elbow grease, but that part of my bath is tricky to clean anyway.) So if you don't mind giving your bath a bit of a rinse and a wipe after you've had a soak, then there should be no problem. But in the grand scheme of an honest review, I need to include al good and not so good points. 

For a novel, shimmery, and comforting bath, I'd definitely give Soot Ball a go. The concept is so cute, and you really do feel so decadent bathing in a bath full of beautiful shimmer. 

For more information about Soot Ball, or for a look and lots of Lush goodies in general, visit: 

10/15/2013

ZipSlide Adventure | Just Add Ginger

(Thank you to Boyfriend for filming this for me)

I don't know how many of my followers/subscribers know this, but I suffered difficulties at birth which resulted in left side hemi-paresis. It has never got in the way of anything in my life, and I never really see myself as anything different. In short, I have been very fortunate. Fortunate to be surrounded by such amazing people who love me, fortunate that having had this happen has never really stopped me from doing the same things as everybody else. 

Earlier this year, I knew it was my time to give back to those who may need a bit more support in achieving their own goals. Whereas I am very lucky. I know that there are others out there who need a little bit more help on their own journeys. 

On Sunday I took a trip to the Imperial War Museum in Manchester to participate in a ZipSlide across the Salford Quays to raise money for The Stroke Association. It was an amazing experience (even though I was terrified,) and a great way to show my support for a charity that is close to my heart. 

I am so grateful to everybody who sponsored me for this event, sent me a good luck message, and who came to watch me. I was really overwhelmed by all the support I received, and this made jumping out of a very tall building that little bit easier. 

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Me mid-ZipSlide
We are all different in some way. It's what makes us special. I didn't always see myself as a unique person, but as I've gotten older I've come to really appreciate and love me for me. No matter what you go through in life, it's always so important to be thankful for the good times, and respect the tough times. Without them, we cannot grow and learn those important life lessons that make us stronger people. 

Sunday was my chance to celebrate how unique we all are, and help show my appreciation and respect for a charity that does so much for those less fortunate than me. 

For more information about The Stroke Association, visit: 


10/08/2013

Luxury Lush Pud | Just Add Ginger


Just Add Ginger

For years, I have been an absolute Lush fan. A great. Big. LUSHIE

So when I knew that the Lush Christmas Collection would be coming out last Friday, my insides did a little excited dance of joy. 

Last Saturday, Boyfriend and I were in Chester, and he - very kindly - let me pop in to Lush to have a look and see if they had any of the Christmas Collection in (as well as a Soot Ball.) 

I hadn't tried the previous version of the Luxury Lush Pud, so picked up this bath bomb with no previous expectations. 

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The first thing I was drawn to was the colour. The mixture of pastels is just so pretty, girlie and luxurious-looking that I just couldn't resist picking one up without really smelling it to make sure I like the scent. I was also really happy with the price. At only £3.40 for this bath bomb I seriously wish I had picked up two - especially because they are quite large. 

Initially, I wanted to hold out as long as possible before using my Luxury Lush Pud, but it had been sitting in my Lush bag all weekend, and by the time I got in on Sunday night, my living room smelt so delicious that I couldn't help but tear open the bag, turn on the taps and give the bomb a whirl. 

Now, I do admit that when it comes to describing scents, I'm rubbish! I know nothing about notes or tones, so the only way I can related how Luxury Lush Pud smells to me is like a toasted marshmallow: sweet (but not sickly,) and delicious. It's a very girlie smell, very more-ish (but not overpowering.) I've got the bag sitting next to me now, and I just can't get enough of this scent! If you are a fan of sweeter scents, then this is definitely for you!


As soon as I popped the bath bomb in to the water I knew that I was not going to be disappointed! The water turned the most gorgeous colours, and the bomb kept fizzing away for a good 2.5 minutes. I couldn't wait to hop in the bath and have a lovely relaxing soak in my beautiful bath water. 

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Luxury Lush Pud also felt really nourishing on the skin, and gave a tremendous amount of scent pay-off. It was an absolute delight to have a bath with this bath bomb in it and my skin felt gorgeous and soft and smooth after I used it. In fact, my skin felt so soft that I didn't even need to moisturise after the bath. And in the morning, when I woke up, my skin still felt as supple, and smelt lovely too!

I can see the Luxury Lush Pud being a definite staple for me throughout the Winter months, and the next time I pop into Lush (which is quite regularly,) I will be stocking up on these little bombs of beauty. For £3.40, you get your moneys worth and more. This is definitely one of my favourite Lush bath bombs of all time, and I cannot wait to try out the rest of the Christmas collection! 

Has anybody else tried any of the Lush Christmas products yet?