Me Time

A few days ago I found this post by Sinead in my Bloglovin feed and it seemed like a fun tag to do. Enjoy!

What do you watch or read during me-time?
All the girly tv shows! I can only ever watch them when the bf is not around (which he rarely is), so whenever I get the chance I watch a lot of Gossip Girl and Desperate Housewives. I also like listening to audio books: My favourite Christmas novel right now and all the Harry Potter audio books. I've been listening to them since I was about twelve, there's just something very comforting about them. If I'm in the mood for something a little more dramatic, I will read something like The Body Farm by Patricia Cornwell.

What do you wear during me-time?
Probably a huge hoodie, a top underneath, pyjama or yoga pants and fluffy socks. Basically the most comfortable outfit I can find.

What are your me-time beauty products?
No makeup, of course. I'll sometimes use a face mask and some kind of body butter or oil, if I'm feeling extra fancy. The Kiehl's Rare Earth Pore Cleansing Masque is one of my favourites and the Caudalie Divine Oil always leaves my skin feeling extra soft.

Current favourite nail polish?
I'm in love with red nail polish at the moment. I'm probably going to paint my nails some shade of red today, as my nails are in serious need of attention. My current favourites are Essie's (duh!) Bordeaux, Shearling Darling, Toggle To The Top and Summit Of Style, for a little sparkle.

What do you eat/drink during me-time?
In autumn and winter it's definitely tea and biscuits. In the warmer months I usually just drink a lot of water and eat whatever fruit is in-season.

Current favourite candle?
I'm not the biggest fan of scented candles. Most of the ones I've come across smell lovely in the jar but don't actually make my room smell any different. I did however like the Yankee Candle Indian Summer gift set I ordered a few months ago. I burned two of the five candles already (Ginger Dusk and Lake Sunset) and surprisingly actually liked the scents.

Do you ever have outdoor me-time?
This mostly depends on the weather. I get cold very easily and right now it is very cold and rainy where I live, so I like to spend my me-time inside. I love being outside in the spring, summer and autumn though.

Would you ever go see a movie alone?
I did see a movie all by myself a few months ago and I'd do it again in a second, as long as I'm not seeing a scary movie. I can barely watch those with the bf.

Favourite online shop?
I actually don't like shopping online. I feel like I'm always sending back most of the stuff I buy, because it doesn't fit right. I also don't like waiting for things to be delivered. If I can just run out to a store and buy it, I will probably do that.

Anything to add? What else do you do during me-time?
If I'm lucky enough to have my me-time take place right before I'm going out, I will take my time doing my makeup. For some reason it really relaxes me.

A Festive Read

(source)

Ever since I was a child I've been a big fan of audio books. I remember joining my parents on their Saturday grocery shopping trips just so I could spend some time in the local library to find something new and interesting to listen to. My mum and I share a taste in literature and a lot of times I listened to the ones she had picked, which were mostly crime fiction or even thrillers.

One year, around Christmas, she handed me a pack of CDs and told me, that she had enjoyed this Christmassy novel and that I'd probably enjoy it as well. She was very right about that. He Sees You When You're Sleeping by Mary and Carol Higgins Clark is till this day one of my favourite Christmas stories and if you're looking for a heartwarming read, I'd highly recommend this one. I have always found that knowing even parts of the plot spoils my reading/ listening experience, so I'm not going to tell you anything about it. I'm sure you know how to use Google.

Happy Holidays!

10 Things | #3

| Forests

| The prospect of moving and decorating the new flat

| Listening to audio books

| Advent calendars

| A lot of sleep

| A lot of sushi

| Christmas markets

| Soft blankets and rainy days

| Chocolate chai tea

| Hot-water bottles

Buried In A Scarf

About two months ago I was looking for a huge scarf, as bundling up in it seemed ideal for the chilly days ahead, and found this wonderful piece in Zara. It's basically a picnic blanket masquerading as a scarf and so incredibly soft, I want to wear it all the time. I tried wearing it around the house, but it was way to warm and I had to take it off after just a few minutes. Its only downside is the fluff it leaves behind, especially on dark pieces of clothing, so my lint roller has been used a lot more frequently these past months.

Nail Favourites: Autumn/ Winter

Most of my nail polish collection consists of Essie polishes as I love their brush, formula and shade selection. While these three shades don't make up the fanciest of combinations, I do love them individually.

Take It Outside is a beautiful taupe and looks a lot lighter on the nails than this image suggests.
Soul Mate had been on my wish list for over a year before I finally caved and treated myself to this lovely shade of deep plum.
Back In The Limo, a creamy melon hue, was the latest addition to my ever growing collection and it's been on my nails for a few days now, despite not being the most wintery shade.
My current top coat of choice is Essie's Good To Go. It drys fairly quickly and leaves a nice shine on the nails as well.

What are your favourite nail polishes for this time of the year? Anything I need to try?

December Playlist

Today I'd like to share my December playlist with you. It's a mix of old and new discoveries and still a work in progress.
Enjoy!

10 Things | #2

| Leaves
| Candles
| Being able to go outside without wearing any makeup
| Going for walks
| Giant scarfs
| Salted popcorn
| Friends who work out with me
| Gingerbread
| House of Cards
| Walking in heels until my feet hurt

A Breakfast Smoothie

| 1 frozen banana
| 1 1/2 cups milk
| 1 tbsp. chia seeds
| 2 tbsp. shredded flax seeds
| 1 tbsp. cocoa powder
| 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
| 1/2 cup oatmeal
| pinch of salt

Blend, blend, blend! Enjoy!

10 Things | #1

| October sunshine

| Beautiful music

| New Moleskine calendar

| Comfy socks

| Hot-water bottles

| Lazy video game days

| Drinking all the tea in the world

| Family

| Goodnight kisses

| Breakfast smoothies

A Motivation

I'm not the biggest fan of working out, but I do like to stay fit and not be exhausted every time I climb a few stairs. There are so many different ways to stay active, it was hard for me to choose one, at first. But I knew I didn't want to go to a gym and running wasn't the best thing for me as I already had some problems with my knees. I wanted something I could do at home and that didn't require any equipment.
I found Blogilates and started with Cassey's Beginner's Workout Calendar, which went great for about three weeks until I went away on holiday and just stopped doing it. A few lazy months went by, interrupted by me trying to motivate myself and tragically failing. I tried a few different workout apps, like Nike Training Club and Sworkit, but none of them were right for me.
Then, a couple of weeks ago, I discovered Seven and fell in love. It's a wonderful app. It reminds me to workout every day and one circuit takes less than eight minutes to complete. The circuits consist of twelve different moves, but you can also customise them and pick and choose from all the workouts you unlocked. This is perfect for me because it doesn't take a lot of time and there are a number of achievements to unlock, which motivates me even more.
If you're still looking for a way to incorporate some exercise into your life, this may be a way to start. Good luck on your journey!