Mothers day picks // What I bought

Mother's Day is coming up on the 30th March,and like most Daughters I have been racking my brain trying the think of perfect gift ideas.As much as I love her,she is the most awkward woman to buy for! She can't used scented body products and has a lot of aversions to different types of food.Finally, I think I've picked some things she'll love.

Card from Etsy £2.95

I'm really soppy so this card definitely appealed to me.Unlike my husband who insists on buying humorous cards for everyone in case someone thinks he's being soft! I love the cute font and I completely agree that you're never to old to need your Mum (even at 22).I thought this really stood out as something unique and pretty to look at.

       Quote book from WHSmith £5.99

Cadburys Eclairs £1

I love memorising quotes to help me though tough times, and I always share them with my family,they never fail to cheer Mum up.This little quote book really caught my eye,it's full of lovely words that she can treasure forever.I also picked up a bag of Cadburys Chocolate Eclairs because I always remember her eating them when I was a child,she even managed to give me a few! I don't even like them that much,but I felt so important when she handed me one.

I thought this quotes were so lovely and heartfelt,they would make a great gift for any Mother.I know holidays can be quite commercialised now,but I think it's wonderful when we have an excuse to give our loved ones a well deserved present.If you're still trying to find the perfect Mother's Day present,WH Smiths have lots of lovely books which have offers on,so try and get yourself a bargain.

Have you bought anything for Mother's Day?

5 easy ways to give up caffeine // My green tea detox

It's no secret that I love caffeine.Like most people,that cup of coffee in the morning really helps set up my 

day.I also love Diet Coke,and on a bad day I could drink enough to sink a small ship.I feel great when I drink caffeine,full of energy and excitement but a few hours later and I feel lethargic,bloated and irritable.A few times a year I try to give myself a little break to see if I feel any improvements from cutting it out. 

From past experiences,after the initial withdrawal period,I normally feel pretty good! The main motivation for doing it is that it makes my skin much clearer and I just look a little bit healthier overall .I'm going to be drinking only green tea and water in the hopes that it will give me a boost.

I thought I'd share some useful information with you that will help you if you're looking to give up caffeine.

1.Keep hydrated

Drinking enough fluids can stop you getting a dry mouth and feeling foggy headed, which is definitely needed when moving away from caffeine. If.If plain water isn't very exciting,you could add a splash of fruit juice or drink herbals teas.

2.Write down your reasons for quitting

Writing down the reasons why you're quitting caffeine is a great way to keep up your motivation.If you see why you're doing this in black and white,you might think twice about having that sneaky coffee.My main motivation is money,Starbucks is really expensive!

3.Make time to relax

Caffeine is often used as a way to relax or get a little buzz.Why not do something else that you enjoy? Going on a nice walk can be invigorating and really help to  freshen up your mind.Do whatever feels good for you.

4.Feel proud of yourself

Giving up or cutting down on anything is hard.Feel proud of yourself and give yourself a little pat on the back.When you're having a wobbly moment say some positive affirmations like "I'm making good changes to my health" or "I can do this!".Having faith in yourself can keep up your morale and make you feel great!

5.Switch to decaffeinated coffees or teas

I find these a massive help.A warm cup of tea can be a great comfort and a lovely hand warmer,drinking decaffeinated drinks means you can get the same feeling but still reduce your caffeine intake.Although these drinks do contain a minor amount of caffeine (2mg per cup) it shouldn't have an affect on your body.

So there you go! I'm clutching my green tea now,hoping that in a few days time I will be glowing with health (maybe to much to ask for),but I know it will do me some good.Let me know if you're doing something similar.

Have you ever given up caffeine? How did you find it?

Blog your heart out tag

I love these tags! This is the 2nd one I've done now,I received the Liebster Award which also had great questions.You can find my answers to that here.On on to this one though,I've loved reading people's answers,so I'm excited to get started!

To join in with the Blog Your Heart Out tag,you have to answer 5 questions and then tag 5 bloggers who will do the same.

1.Who/what encouraged you to start blogging?

I'd have to say my love of sharing things with people.If I like something (or hate it!) I love telling people about it,and sharing our opinions and experiences.I think it's a great way to learn new things,and even better ourselves as people.Also,I have read blogs for a long time! I love reading snippets of people's lives and I thought I could do that.

2.How did you choose what topics to blog about?

I decided to start a lifestyle blog as I wanted the flexibility to talk about the things that were interesting me at any particular time.My mind tends to go of on a tangent,and lifestyle blogging suits the way my mind works! Sometimes I get a bit of writer's block which can be frustrating,but I just chat to other bloggers and scribble in my notepad until an idea comes.

3.What is something most people don't know about you?

I pray in difficult situations even though I don't practice a religion.It gives me strength and a moment to focus and collect my thoughts.

4.What three words describe your style?

This is a hard one! I'd say comfortable,casual and evolving.I particularly like mixing feminine looks with more grungy type clothing to create different looks.

If we're taking about blogging,I'd like to think that I was quite an organised and I do like to work hard at it! I can waffle on,but I'll get there in the end.

5.What do you love to do when you are not blogging?

I love to travel,learn new things and do housework! Strange I know,but there is nothing nicer than a sparkling clean house.

The bloggers that I tag are;

Laura at Blonde Velvet Lover

Stefanie at Casually Awkward

Freya at Norse South

Jessica at JessicaCasillasx

Sarah at Beauty blunders and other wonders

I've had fun answering these questions and I've hope you've enjoyed reading them.I'd love to hear your comments.I'm looking forward to hearing their answers!

Ebay bargains // Korean pearl face mask review

I am forever on Ebay and I'm always after something new to freshen up my beauty routine,that's why I was so happy to come across these.I picked them up for £2.99 from this seller from South Korea.It took a little while to get here,but I expected that and I was impressed that the delivery was free!What attracted me as well  was the beautiful packaging and the wide range of masks they offer from Snail to Bee Venom,interesting! I chose the Pearl Essence which claims to "brighten and illuminate,and was beloved by Cleopatra".Well if it's good enough for her,then I should expect great results.

Each package contains one sheet which you place over your face and leave for 15 to 20 minutes.I was worried that it wouldn't have any understandable instructions but it did come with a handy guide.(I later found out it does have very basic English instructions at the bottom!)

Upon opening the packet I noticed a very fresh and clean smell which wasn't too overpowering.The sheet was saturated in the product,which makes this pretty good value for what you get.I gently placed it on my freshly washed face and went to relax for 20 minutes.During this time it didn't drip once which makes these sheet masks great for a quick freshen up without all the mess.Also,I didn't feel any irritation on my sensitive skin.Once the time was up I removed the mask and rubbed it onto my skin,to ensure that my skin had soaked up all of the pearl essence.I went to look in the mirror to see how it fared.

This was the final result! I suffer with uneven skin tone and I'm pleased to say this has really helped to combat that.My skin feels much smoother and it was definitely a relaxing and fun experience.I also found it did help slightly reduce my pores! Bonus.I would recommend these to anybody who loves to put on face masks at home (don't forget the cucumbers on the eyes!) and wants a cheaper and effective alternative to the spa.

Have you bought any beauty products from Ebay? Did you like them?

How Parsley tea has improved my health

I always try to take my vitamins when I remember, I think they're a great way to support my immune system and give myself nutrients that I might be missing out on in my diet.I was browsing around online and I noticed a lot of people talking about the benefits of drinking Parsley tea.It's a bit strange isn't it? The only encounters I have with Parsley are when people garnish triangle sandwiches with it at buffets! I decided to give it a try, people where saying that it helped regulate their periods and provide essential nutrients to the body.

Before I start,I would like to mention that you shouldn't drink Parsley tea if you have high blood pressure,Kidney disease or Edema.It is very important for you not to drink Parsley tea if you're pregnant as it can cause birth defects or an abortion.Breastfeeding mothers should also not be drinking Parsley tea.I'm not a Doctor,and don't claim to have much medical knowledge,I'm just sharing my positive experiences.Any serious concerns you may have should be discussed with your Doctor.Anyway! Onto the story..

Whenever I get stressed my periods can become a little irregular,so a few days beforehand I scooped two teaspoons of dried Parsley (you could use fresh) into a cup and topped it up water.It didn't smell very nice,it reminded me of grass but I put a little sweetener and took a sip.It was perfectly fine,definitely not my nicest cup of tea but I was willing to try it.The science behind it is that Parsley is a mild emmenagogue which is a fancy word for saying that it helps the Uterus to contract and to stimulate the shedding of the lining and promote blood flow.I wasn't to sure about this but I gave it some time.

During my little experiment I drank about 3 cups a day,I was even beginning to enjoy the taste.I started experiencing some mild menstrual cramps a couple of days before I was due to start my period,and it came right on time!

Obviously this could have just been my body having a regular cycle but I was very pleased.I definitely had more symptoms of my period arriving and it was one of the most regular periods I'd ever had.Parsley also contains the Vitamins C,A and Folic Acid,it even has chemo protective properties that can help to neutralise carcinogens.It felt great to be drinking something that has so many health benefits.I also noticed that it helped to reduce the water weight during menstruation,and it helped my skin have a healthy glow to it!

I'm very happy with the results and I will definitely be continuing to drink Parsley tea.Who would of thought that the common household herb would help this much?

What tips do you have to help with "that time of the month"?

How to dine out for less

Having a lovely meal out is a great way to catch up and unwind with those you care about.Haven't you noticed food always seems much nicer when it's being cooked for you! More people are spending a large portion of their disposable income on dining out,thanks to there being more interest in various cuisines and probably because it's enjoyable too! I'm sharing some tips that I use to still have a wonderful meal without it costing the Earth.

1.Take advantage of restaurant vouchers 

There are some great sites that offer brilliant deals on eating out, and they definitely help cut the cost.Just print them off and take them along to the restaurant.It's always best to check that the location you're going to is participating,but you shouldn't have a problem.The vouchers vary but often you can get up to 25% off! Sites I would suggest are Money Saving Expert and Voucher Codes,they are normally kept very up to date with the latest deals

Here are my top picks;

Buy 1 main and get a 2nd for £2.50 at Bella Italia (expires 16th March)

30% of main courses at Zizzi (Victoria and Earl's Courts restaurants excluded)

25% of your food bill at Loch Fyne (valid until 31st March)

I'd definitely sign up to your favourite restaurant's newsletter as they often send their customers their latest offers and news via email! 

2. Try to recreate the meals at home

I know that this post is about dining out,and I'm no Delia Smith,but it can really save money.Also, expanding your cooking knowledge and giving your family something you've made can be a great confidence boost! Sometimes there is nothing nicer than sharing something you've spend time over.Normally go for a curry? Try to make a Chicken Tikka. More of a pizza person? Why not buy a pre-made base and top it with whatever you fancy?

If you're trying to save even more money,there are some great sites that help you think of what to make out of all of the items you have left over in your fridge.My Fridge Food does just that! Just click on what food you have and it will create delicious recipes for you.It's a great way to stop food going off and buying what you don't need.

3. Save money on drinks and share food

We all know how much a good meal out can cost! One way I've found that really helps to cut the bill is by asking for a glass of tap water to drink.I know it's not the most exciting thing,but restaurants can charge £4 + for a nice glass of wine or a soft drink.Also,if you're out with someone else,why not offer to split a pizza? I've done that before and just got my own portion of chips.We left full and still with quite a bit of money left over for the evening.

Using these simple tips has really helped me free up some of my money for more important things.I know what it's like when you can't spend much,so I hope this helps people have a great time out for less!

Do you have any tips on saving money when dining out?

Car boot market haul

My local market is every Saturday,and it normally gets pretty busy.It sells all kind of knick knacks and it's very popular with the tourists.I don't normally look for too long,as they don't often sell clothes,but I saw that a few people were having car boot sales and I do love searching through and seeing what I can find! I managed to pick up quite a few things,so I think I did quite well.

I love the Aztec trend that appears when it gets warmer,and this cute top is a really subtle and simple way to wear it.It's slightly cropped,so I'm planning on wearing it tucked into a high waisted skirt.I love the little pocket detailing and it's a comfortable fit,so I'm hoping to get quite a lot of wear out of this in the summer.It was originally from Primark so I wasn't expecting to be too expensive,but I was very impressed as it only cost 50p.

I also bought this top for 50p because I mentioned it had a small hole in the back (nothing a needle and thread can't fix!) Also originally from Primark,I think this vest will come in handy when it starts getting warmer (hopefully.) I've been wanting to get this kind of top for a while,so I'm glad I waited.

I picked up this jumper instantly because I'm really into 80's/90' s style clothes at the moment.I wish my Mum had held on to some of her old clothes! This was slightly more expensive at £3,but it is in really good condition and from Topman,so I expected that.It's kind of ironic as I'm not particularly athletic,but I love the vibrant print which really brightens up an otherwise plain item.As it's a man's jumper,it has a very relaxed fit which is great for those lazy days where you still want to look good.I know buying a thick jumper in Spring/Summer is a bit strange,but you never know what the weather is going to do.Also,I do have a habit of stockpiling Winter clothes!

I have seen these in my beloved Primark,and I've always debated on whether or not I should buy it.I don't listen to Guns N' Rose but I really love the design of this vest.Although,Sweet Child O'Mine is a pretty good song! It's got a nice slouchy feel and would like nice with a skirt or leggings and some cute ankle boots.

I was thinking of imposing a spending ban,but seeing as I walked away from there with change from a £10,I don't think that's too bad.Recycling clothes is good for the environment too,so it's a win-win situation.

What's the best thing you've ever bought from a Car boot sale?