To gym or not to gym?

Its time for gin... oh no wait, gym!

The majority of people dont necessarily like going to the gym or find it more of a chore.. I am one of those people!

Exercise, in any form, It is one of those things that kind of has to be done, not to lose weight but to keep healthy.

I have always been similar a weight, I yo-yo between a few pounds but nothing drastic.

Going to the gym for me is more about staying healthy and mainly to tone up; I like to keep a bit of muscle in my legs and keep the shape in my bum!

My problem is not with working out at the gym its with actually going, I have to find the motivation to actually put on layers of Lycra and find the effort to go!

When people think of the gym, they think: sweaty betty's, huffing and panting leaving all stiff which admittedly is part of it but what I actually enjoy is being able to clear my head and leave with increased energy whilst staying fit.. basically killing two birds (or three) with one stone.

Its not about losing weight or dropping dress sizes so dont pressure yourself, stick to what you are comfortable with and bring on the motivation by thinking of all the good things that is does plus I feel like I've achieved something once i've been which is fab!

Put the gin down!
I think exercise is something we should all be doing and not enough of us actually are. Just under 50% of the people I asked say they don't go to the gym because they have no motivation,  So..find what motivates YOU
, whether that be certain activities, (running, trampolining, yoga) just the fact you bought a super cute gym outfit or you love being outside!! It all helps.

Whats your fave way to excercise?
Meg x

The products that brought my healthy hair back

Although I have always had hip length hair, It's always been pretty healthy.
I get bored quite easily with my hair but then I also get bored and impatient in the process of a change.

Little back story: I've bleached my hair about three times (this being the third) and its been completely fine, might I add, either my hair couldn't take another go, or I put waay too much on, way too quick.

Lets get to the point.. my ends were dead after the ombre, they were shedding away as they had lost their elasticity.. so I cut it.
I cut it from my belly up to my boobs (ohh what a mistake, my tubby face can't handle a short cut).

If you've had both brunette and blonde hair you'll know you're hair looks much healthier, brunette.
Knowing this I went back brunette, to hide the hay until I could restore it.

Obviously what you're here for is to find out what products I've been using to give it a kiss of life.

Before I put anything on it after I cut it, I covered it in coconut oil to revive it a bit after it took a killing from chemicals!

I make sure I only wash it every other day, at most, just to get some of the natural oils back into my hair. Half of those washes I use a hair mask instead of a conditioner, my favourite is L'oreal Elvive restore mask.

I have been trying to do a few little things to help along the way but the main reason i'm writing this is because of the Tresemme Keratin Smooth shampoo and conditioner. I have always had a love hate relationship with Tresemme as I feel like they make your hair feel great but on the other side of things, they can make my hair quite greasy and heavy.. as someone with long, fine hair that was a bit of a issue because I never liked the flat look.

BUT (and a very big but) after wondering around Superdrug desperate to find something to make my hair look and feel some what normal again, I picked the Tresemme up.. mainly because I knew the brand made my hair feel soft, plus it was on offer too, so I thought it couldn't hurt to pick these up. I hadn't seen them around before, however I think that's due to them being repackaged? I'm not totally sure tho? ...

...Anyway, the first time I used this (bare in mind my hair was brittle and got really knotty) I was actually shocked and actually very happy that my hair felt great again! I could literally run my fingers through my hair with no interruption, which I've not actually been able to do properly since the bleaching. My hair was so soft, and had that newly dyed hair shine!

So as you can imagine i am very pleased to have found a product that has tamed my hair again, i've never really had much trouble with my hair until now, but i can finally straighten it with out it going bushy at the ends and finally brush it without it snapping!! I always finish my hair off after getting out the shower with Umberto Giannini Mend My Hair serum- it has been a life saver for a few years now, however i know they have changed their packaging too and can't seem to find the exact one.

Just a few products that have helped my hair and can maybe help you too!

what are your hair miracles?

Thanks for reading!

Meg x

xoxo

Hey Upper Eastsiders, Gossip Girl here.. oh no wait just Megan (getting a little carried away).

I like to write about things I know or love, this just happens to be both of those things, I mean the amount of times you've heard someone mention this show you're probably sick of it by now, but me? No I just love it more and more, without the risk of sounding sad. Some may see it as a cheesy programme for teens but i'll probably still be watching it in my late 20's and will definitely make my daughter watch it!

After watching several characters  that we all hate to love or love to hate (depending on who we're talking about here) for what feels like a life time, I feel like I could quote them word for word but it also makes it easier to point out from limb to limb, why I enjoy these characters so much. So here's my play by play.

IT Girl-
From first watch she's obviously the main focus and the easily adored blonde bombshell, although I agreed with this through the beginning and oh how I do still enjoy the ins and out of Serena VanderWoodsen, as time passed and the more I watch the series, the more she began to grate on me. Whether it be her arrogance or her ignorance to anyone but herself, something just doesn't quite sit right anymore. When she's good, she's good but her stubbornness can at times over shadow her humour and her kind, lively spirit.

Queen B-
A character I have grown to love the most, although she may have a sharp touch and a tad high maintenance, watching her grow changes your perception. indulging herself in schemes and missions shows the looser side to her, slightly more fun but still determined. we all know B has run her course round the triad of boys, but each relationship holds their own significance. Nate, her first love, her high school boyfriend and close long time friend. Dan, her other half (in many ways), her best friend, her savior and lastly Chuck, her partner in crime, her enemy, her love of her life and destiny.

Golden Boy- Although he makes bad decisions in the bedroom, hes a lot more intelligent than he lets on. He's full of humour, kindness and i definitely think he is underrated as people dont tend to take him seriously and take slight advantage. obviously as much as he is a lovely guy, he isn't bad to look at either!

Lonely Boy- Mr Gossip Girl himself, The brains behind the screen. I thinks its safe to say Dan goes through the biggest journey in the series. Lusting after a lovely blonde to pining over her brunette best friend, with a Georgina or two in between. Its quite clear his fate lies with S but a part of me hoped B would leave her past behind for Dan, they had their ups and downs but they just cant get enough (i just cant get enough!)and that showed as they were always there for each other and had this special connection that i dont think anyone else had, obviously Serena had a reason to be Jealous!

I'm Chuck Bass- The master of manipulation, the room full of girls. I've noticed that in the first two seasons he is full of advice for his best friend and soon to be step sister and brother, how ever after that he starts to grow up and gets more and more attached to work and very vacant. He goes through a lot of battles: his dad, Russel, Blair, his mum and uncle (which i have to say i find Jack very funny, especially towards the end.), loses a lot of people in his life and meets some interesting people along the way (can we talk about Eva?!) but there is one person that is reluctant to stay out of his life, no matter what...

There we have the main five, the reason you watch the series, the reason there was a show, played by the perfect actors/actresses. if i were to go through everyone i'd probs be here all day because theres so much to say about them all but lets leave it here. If you haven't watched Gossip Girl then where have you been and what do you do with your life?!? in all seriousness if you haven't then you should (and sorry for any spoilers) but if you have then you're probably reading this because you are just as obsessed a i am.

Thanks for reading.
Meg x

beauty tips to my younger self

• A few coats of mascara is enough, you dont need the whole tube.

• Please stick to one foundation preferably something less cakey.. you dont need Rimmel match perfection with dream matte mousse on top!!!

• Foundation lips are not a thing! No not put gloss over it!!

• Go to a salon and get your nails done for prom, dont attempt it yourself, you'll only regret and hide your hands all night!

• I appreciate you blending your foundation and not creating 'slag lines' well done but your fake tan needs to be rubbed in, please ask someone to check it is before you leave the house.

• Mattifying powder is not extra coverage, stop clogging your pores by packing it on over foundation!

• Stop running a mascara wand through your hair to create streaks... stop trying to be cool!

Yes looking back at these things makes me feel very nostalgic and... embarrassed, although my make up skills have improved, leaving these horrid habits in the past woo!

what were your teenage mishaps?

Thanks for reading.

Meg x 

Lessons I learnt when starting a blog

1. Everything is not what it seems

is one thing that circulates social media quite a bit, the fact people put themselves down a lot because their blog, instagram isn't quite as well polished as everyone else's or that their life doesn't seem so great. No ones life is perfect not even for the person themselves, Pictures are deceiving, yes they might be off at a luxe resort in Bali or be splashed across a magazine for an AD campaign but everyone has troubles: Relationships, Family, Money, Self confidence. It is all ok, no matter what your life is like, you are the only one who can make your life the way you want it.

2. A small start

Everyone has to start somewhere and unfortunately that is the bottom! Engagement isn't going to happen over night, it takes time; some longer than others. Keep at it even if you feel like you are getting no where. 

3. Social media is your best friend

Although this is quite a obvious one, it really helps! I, myself have always tried to spread the word about my blog, i can openly admit i have never pushed it hard enough. I realised this recently when i put a lot more effort in to my socials and stepped away from blogging (i am not saying drop the blog for the internet.. keep at it guys!) the time and effort i put in to engaging on instagram and twitter really proved its worth. Liking and commenting on photos, posting on blogging trains, Hashtags and retweeting others work!

4. It's ok to say NO

I agree it may be exciting getting your first collab/sponsor with brands, however don't let that stray you. It is ok to promote a brand just to get exposure in return, if you are comfortable with it, it is the best way to start getting involved with brands. Having said this once you hit the right time, the right following and the right engagement, it is acceptable to turn down things because they have not offered enough, you need to know your worth. You may be sent lots of fab thing, you might be sent nothing but make sure you are in it for the right reasons eg. compatible content, similar beliefs/interests, a brand you enjoy or something that's relevant to you! Everyone loves tea but dont go advertising a tea-tox if you blog about fashion and you're just doing it about the money or product, promoting lip plumper if you are a food blogger, if its not for you just say no! 

5. Ask for help

I dont think i need to explain this one but anything you are struggling with, near enough everyone has been there! if you dont understand ask someone: a fellow blogger, google, twitter. Express your concerns, someone will help you, even if you have run out of ideas, every blogger has been through the small struggles of, blogger or wordpress, URL, schedules. Even to this day there is a lot of things i still have no idea about, the same as some others!

Just a few things i have learnt from my small time of blogging and inevitably there is more to come!

please feel free to ask me anything or share your own lessons learnt.

Thank you for reading!

Megx 

Beauty favourites that tested time

Every month there is hundreds of new beauty products that appear on the market and dont get me wrong I LOVE testing a new product in the works BUT that doesn't mean I forget my originals.

Here I am going to be talking about my oldies but goldies because there are still some products that I cant get over that I first fell in love with.

Lets jump in with a first favourite which is a high-street foundation. Rimmel 25 hour foundation is a lovely foundation however i will openly admit it wont last all day if you are up and about all day, other than that it is a lovely thick base with lots of coverage but still lets through a  natural glow, for those who like the best of both worlds.

Obviously I couldn't write this post without including collection lasting perfection because well it was one of the first concealers I bought and I still use it now. Its thick and creamy, that's all i'm going to say about that, because you should already know!

Rimmel long lasting lip liner, firstly they are retractable which are my fave kind of liners and the creamy texture to them are lovely to apply, these are pretty much the only lip liners I buy!

Estee Lauder sumptuous infinite mascara is a high end product I will always re purchase because its rare for me to find a mascara I love! I was shocked to fall in love with this 2/3 years ago when I realised it had a thin, plastic wand (not normally ma thing) damn was I surprised,  any time my eyelashes are looking on point, I'll be wearing this.

Maybelline falsies mascara, I feel like there was no drugstore mascara before this one, it was a fave for everyone and for everyone who didn't think so, you are doing life wrong. Such a basic mascara with a wand from the heavens that made it work! Obviously i like a bristle wand so that's a plus, but it also has great staying power, the non-waterproof formula stays just as good as the waterproof ones.

Malin and Goetz lip balm, one for all you dry lip lasses. I use this still to this day, lip balm is a thing you have about 100 of and apply constantly because you think its working but more than likely its just sitting on your lips, BUT this one I can actually feel it working even after all these years, minutes after having it one my lips they feel renewed. Also no stick which is what we all want. It has a protective layer which stops it from budging off your lips the second something touches it.

I feel like I have gone on a bit and could go on even more for another few paragraphs, I could.... but I wont for your sake.

Any way I hope you enjoyed my post of products that have got me through from the start of my beauty life and will forever (hopefully) be on this list.

What beauty products have been your day ones? Mwah!

Megan
    X

Seasonal transitions

Going through the seasons there are many transitions eg. Weather, temperature, colours etc. I for one love the fashion transitions, especially when it comes to Autumn/Winter, the colours start matching the trees and the clothing starts getting thicker.

Skin gets drier, sky gets darker and the days getting colder but everything gets a little more seasonal!!

So we've established fashion is my fave thing in winter, but so is the beauty aspect of it all.. lets talk about that a bit more.

 Makeup: The lips and nails start getting darker and the eyeshadow tones start to match the leaves. I have been looking a dark red/purple eye with a nude lip and a manicure to match, to create this looking i have been using the Revolution Resurrection palette mixed with the Mac burgundy x9 palette, i pair this all with Nyx soft matte cream in the shade London.

Fashion:
Red is a big part of autumn/winter fashion this year, however i am still addicted to my mustard threads and as usual anything grey!! Most of my outfits have consisted of my mustard suede jacket but i am sure i will be converting to my faux fur coat during the colder days.

Skincare: This season i will be trading in my simple skincare routine for a routine packed full of thick moisurising products and one of my faves.. Clarins HydraQuench mask which is great for feeding the moisture back into my skin in the colder months where my skin tends to be very desert-esque.

Obviously I have to mention the chang in decor.. ALL THE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS.

If you love winter as much as I do, give this a share!
Thankyou for reading!
Meg x