The Vincent Ehindero Blogger Award

Hi guys.

Today I have a bit of a different, special blog post for you guys. I am proud to say that the blogger Eromonsele Emmanuel nominated me for this award. Thank you!

He Blogs at ( Blog site) and posts about his experiences and opinions about travelling to a range of different places. My favourite post of his is https://ericotrips.wordpress.com/2020/03/15/barracuda-beach-birthday/

You can read the rest of his post’s here. https://ericotrips.wordpress.com/

The rules are:

1. Thank the person who nominated you with a link to their blog.
2. Make a post of the award (with a photo of the logo).
3. Post the rules
4. Ask 5-10 questions of your choice.
5. Nominate 10-30 other bloggers (or more) and notify them.

I absolutely loved answering these question’s, so lets get started;

1. What’s on your mind?

At this moment in time, food. I’m currently waiting for my cauliflower broccoli bacon cheese to cook.

2. What activities inspire you to feel like you are living your life to the fullest?

Concerts, as those are the one of the only times where I every truly feel free – where all the drama and worries of my life disappear for that moment in time and nothing else matters. Also, when i’m excersizing. I see so many people in my life who are ill, so for that reason I strive to make sure I give myself every chance to live my best, healthiest life.

3. Three things that make you happy?

My Cats ( Bonnie and Blackie), my friends, and chocolate.

4. How do you think your future self will remember your current self?

I think future me would remember current me as a strong, independant, hard working young woman who marches to the beat of her own drum. Someone that has faced many challenges in early twenties/late teens, such as finding happiness in being alone, but also balancing it out by cherishing her relationships with others which had previously been unintentionally neglected a little.

5. If today were the last day of your life, what would you be proudest of?

The fact I’ve strived to never settle for less. I have been around people who didn’t treat me with the respect I deserved so instead of being sad and settling, I promptly cut ties and surrounded myself with the most positive, inspiring, genuine people who I love very much. Basically, I’ve pulled myself out of the muck and become a much happier person because of this.

6. If you could teach the entire world just one concept, what would it be?

The law of attraction! There’s a lot to it ( Deffo worth a google search if you have the time) but the just of it is, positive beliefs are always followed by positive actions. It’s simply a case of manifesting yourself in positive beliefs and thoughts, paired with lots of hard work.

7. How many countries have you visited?

1, I’ve been to Tennerife 2 times when I was younger.

8. What’s the farthest you’ve been away from home?

To Tennerife on holliday.

9. What country is still on your bucket list?

I’d love to visit Amsterdam, because I want to see that famous river ( Where they filmed part of The Fault In Our Stars) and as morbid as it sounds, i’d like to visit Ann Frank’s house. I love history and learning, so it’s always interested me.

10. If they were to ever make a movie about one or all of your adventures, what would the title and plot summary be?

” Winging it”. The plot summary would be about a girl who’s stumbling through life… learning everything the hard way aha.

And the Nominees are;

New Lune

The Doubting Thomas

lizofwords

THE DIARY OF ELLIE

Ana, ONE OFF THE RACK

Not-so-modern girl

Mind and Body Intertwined

jodi – a brash attitude, a brash attitude

L, The Life of a Twenty-Something Year Old

Goldfish and Gin

My questions are;

1. What brings you the most happiness?

2. What things do you really want to do once this pandemic is over?

3. whats your favourite dessert, and why?

4. What’s your pet peeves?

5. Do you believe in the law of attraction? Explain your reasoning.

6. Are you a morning person or night person?

7. What do you want to do before you die?

8. Do you believe in love at first sight?

9. Name one thing you can’t live without?

10. Who inspires you the most, and why?

I hope you guys liked this post, I had so much fun writing it and look forward to seeing all of your answers!

Take care,

~ Emma x

Self Care Tips, and why its important

Hi guys. Lately, quarantine seems to have been taking its toll on everyone. Life is weird and so many changes are happening, and some people don’t take too well to change. I know I don’t, and so I’ve tried to take extra good care of myself in these challenging times – and have found these things work the best. They may differ from person to person, but I hope you can benefit from something from this post, if not all of it. So, without anymore rambling, lets get into it.

Firstly, have a bath. Make it nice and hot, and stick lots of bubbles, bath salts, or bath bombs in. My choice was an Avon Lavender Bubble bath, along side this robot Lush Bath bomb that has lots of really calming properties. Its also full of natural ingredients that are good for the skin. I find baths to be so essential in my self care routine, because its one of the best ways to calm down, the heat and bubbles seem to give me an instant relief.. It’s really quite difficult to explain, but once I had a really stressful 5 weeks, and when things were finally getting resolved I decided to have a bath. Got in with all the weight of the world on my shoulders, and came out a much calmer, new woman. If you know, you know.

Next, I also value the importance of a good skin care routine. Mine is nothing too crazy, and it hasn’t changed too much in the past few years. I just use the Simple Refreshing Face wash, or a Loreal Face Scrub ( the kiwi one and brown sugar one are my fave at the moment) depending on what my skin needs. I then use the Hydrating Simple Moisturiser, and Simple Soothing Eye Balm to finish. Although my routine is rather basic, I make sure I do it once every day, because i’m a strong believer that if you don’t take care of yourself on the outside, then you’re plgoing to feel even worse on the inside.

Another thing I think is important, is to eat comfort food whenever you’re taking time to practice self care. Of course this is subjective to the individual and their circumstances, so it may or may not be for you. I find that chocolate is not the way to go with this. Although small amounts are good, if I eat too much junk I feel gross – which can lead to me feeling even worse about myself. Instead, when I say comfort food, I mean filling, wholesome meals that are balanced but can still bring comfort. A good example of this can be home made pasta bake, or vegetable soup. Very easy to make, and minimal effort which is what you might need when you’re sad – but is also full of goodness so won’t leave you feeling gross afterwards.

Aside from pampering yourself and eating, it’s also very important to make sure youre moving your body. Of course, this can depend on the individual and circumstances again – but I find yoga to be the best thing for when i’m in a bit of a funk. When I’m sad, the last thing I need is to jump around doing hiit, but a few simple stretches while focusing on breathing, can be so relaxing. It can also stop you feeling stiff, and if done enough can promote flexbility and strength too.

Next, if all else fails have a cry. Honestly its never good to hold it all in, it can only have a worse impact in the long run. So just let it out! Watch a sad film if you have to, it’ll be worth it in the end.

Finally, forgive yourself. We all make mistakes. Sometime times we say or do the wrong thing but that’s okay – so long as you haven’t seriously hurt anyone. Take a deep breathe, and try and take logical steps to solve thr problem. If it cant be fixed, just be kind to yourself both physically and mentally. ( However, I am no professional so if its something deeper, always seek help if you need too.) A quote that sticks with me is “Practice Reckless Optimism.” So remember, no matter how hard the situation is, it will get better if you believe so.

That’s all guys. I hope this was helpful. Leave me your thoughts in the comments down below.

Take care,

– Emma x

My bare minumum makeup routine

Hi guys! So today I thought i’d try and make a bit of a different post today. As you know, I love doing makeup posts, but have never done a full face tutorial before. It was really fun to make, I hope you like it! Let’s get started.

First, I applied a clear, pore covering primer to ensure my makeup lasts all day.

I then went straight in with my collection lasting perfection concealer in the shade Fair, and put a small amount on my T-Zone, under my eyelids, on my chin, and any other blemishes I may have. I blended this in with a buffing brush.

I decided to skip foundation completely, as i’ve gone off it at the moment. After not wearing any for a few months, I now notice it feels like its too much despite only putting a little on to start with. I may return back to it one day, but right now i’m enjoying skipping this step.

Next, I set it with the Rimmel Stay Matte setting powder in the shade Translucent, with a big fluffy brush.

Taking an angled, fluffy brush, I applied some of the MUA bronzer to my forehead, cheeks, jawline and neck to bring back some colour. I then used a blush brush, and blended a small amount of a peachy blush (bottom row, 2nd shade) into the apples of my cheeks. This brought some colour back into my face, stopping me from looking ill.

I then took a small angled brush, and took the shade Brazen from the I ♡ Revolution Chocolate Nudes palette. I gently dipped it in and lightly ran it through my brows, just covering any small gaps and thinner patches.

Using the same Palette, I took the shade Skimpy on a fluffy brush and ran it all over the eyelid, as a base colour. Next, I used the shade After Dark and ran it all over my lid and crease, with the same brush, making sure to blend out the edges.

Finally, I added the Soap and Glory Thick and Fast mascara to my top and bottom lashes. I finished the look by applying the Revolution Soph lipstick on the shade Cake – and applied some setting spray to keep my makeup in place.

Here’s the finished look.

That’s all guys, I hope you enjoyed this look! What products have you been enjoying this spring?

– Emma x

What I’ve Been Enjoying On Netflix During Quarantine

Hi guys. So lately, in between blog posts, I’ve been watching a lot of Netflix. This just passes the time away, and makes me feel a little bit calmer during these strange times. Also, although its important to watch the news and be aware of whats going on in the world, Netflix is a nice change from when you can’t watch anymore news reports.

As we all need a bit of positive distraction right now, I thought i’d share what i’ve enjoyed watching so far. Lets get started.

1. Queer Eye. In all honesty, this ones taken me a little while to appreciate. I didn’t really pay too much attention the first time I watched it so it didn’t really grab me. However, one day I decided to sit down and actually pay attention to it, really take it all in with no distractions. It was amazing, I loved it! The fab 5 really are all so wonderful, and this show has really brought me some comfort during this quarantine.

2. You. This show has been out for a while now, and this isn’t my first time watching it. It’s so creepy, intense, and full of twists, keeping me on my toes. However, the second season is a tad more gory than the 1st. (If you’ve seen season 2 episode 2, you know. ), which is worth knowing if you havent got a strong stomache. If you can make it past that part, its definitely worth it!

3. Next In Fashion. I started this after finishing Queer Eye, as I needed more Tan France content in my life. This is such a nice, light hearted show and is super positive. Each designer is incredible in their own way and everything is judged well. In my opinion the right person won, but now thats up to you to decide.

4. Nadiya In the Kitchen. Lately, I’ve been doing lots of baking and cooking, so have been more drawn to cooking shows. With being a fussy eater, i’m not usually too excited by cooking shows but this one was amazing! Not only is it a really comforting, light hearted show, but I felt so inspired watching this. I want to try 95% of the recipes on the series which says a lot, it all looked so yummy! Definitely worth a watch if you’re in need of inspiration.

5. 60 days in – This show is about 7 people who go undercover as an “Inmate” in an American prison. Only 2 staff members are aware of this. As a result of this, it allows the Sherrif to become aware of changes that need making inside the prison. I found this show so interesting, it was a good insight on how life really is inside and how people deal with it. However, it does contain a few sensitive subjects so you may want to bare this in mind before watching.

6. Unorthadox. This is about an Hispanic Jew, and the journey she goes through as she runs away to start a new, happier life. I really enjoyed this show, it was actually eye opening to see how things are done in this religion and the struggles they really went through. It’s only four episodes long so is easy to get through, but is very intense and emotional at times. It’s so good though, i’d love to see a season two!

That’s all guys. I hope you enjoyed this, what shows have you enjoyed lately?

– Emma x

Baking Nadiya Hussain’s No Flour Brownies

Hi guys,So while in quarantine, I’ve done a lot more baking. Not only is it super relaxing, it also makes me feel a little more productive – which the intensive being getting a yummy treat at the end. What’s not to love? However, due to the pandemic, buying flour is a nightmare at the moment. There’s none to be found, everyone seems to want to bake so has gone from panic buying toilet rolls, to panic buying flour. Fabulous. * eye roll.*However, I’ve been reallyyyyy craving brownies lately, but given my current financial situation, cannot justify buying brownies when its definitely cheaper, and probably more healthy ( But only slightly ) to make your own. So, I stumbled across this recipe and let me tell you, it is a life saver!You will need:

• 375g (13oz) chocolate. Either milk chocolate or dark, or a mix, either is good.
• 220g (8oz) butter
• 4 eggs
• 150g (5oz) caster sugar.

Instructions:

• Melt the butter and chocolate together. I did this in the microwave, setting it for 30 seconds, mix, 30 seconds, mix, until it was done. However, this may vary depending how powerful your microwave is so be careful!
• Once melted, mix the chocolate and butter really well.
• In another bowl add 4 eggs, and the caster sugar. Whisk until light and fluffy. ( it should look super pale and bubbly, if you’re unsure)
• Add the butter and chocolate mix into the egg and sugar. Mix until combined.
• Pour into a lined and greased tin ( 25 x 25cm)
• Bake at 160 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 minutes. ( I found that mine took 45 mins, so take it out at 25 mins and poke it with a knife to check. It very much depends on your own oven, so you may need to use your own judgement for this part.)
• When cooked, take the brownies out and put them to one side until they’re room temperature. When they’re cooled, place into the fridge for 4 hours ( Or however long your will power will allow… it’s too easy to be impatient and sneak a taste!)
• After 4 hours, cut into squares and serve. I like to serve mine with ice-cream, but its completely up to you!

My Personal Thoughts:

So I tried this recipe myself, and have a few thing’s id like to share about it with you. Firstly, although I joke about having the willpower to not touch warm gooey cake, I soon learnt that its actually really important to leave it alone. I had a little taste before it was ready, and it was very soft as it hadn’t firmed up yet. The texture wasn’t quite right, despite the fact I followed the recipe word for word.Putting it in the fridge helps it to firm up, as that’s almost taking the roll of the flour. However, I put them back in the fridge and actually waited to have it with ice-cream for dessert that evening, and it is much better when its firmed.I would also like to add that because they’re so soft, they’re a bit harder to remove from the tray when you come to cut them. They just stick… so although I greased the tray well, it was a challenge. I counted out 15 squares when I cut them, but it definitely turned into 15 – ish – not quite due to this. However, if you’re eating them alone then that may not matter to you.Despite these few facts, the brownies were really Delicious! Everyone in my family loved them, and I hope you enjoy them too!Please let me know if you make Nadiya’s recipe! Also, what food/desserts to you like to make? See you soon, stay safe.~ Emma x