2014 Beauty Resolutions

Like many of you, I have set myself some goals for the coming year. Some are more of your typical 'eat better, lose weight' kinda ones, some are more on the boring side of things like 'save money, don't buy unnecessary things' but today I thought I would share with you my beauty related resolutions. That way you can help to keep me on track...

01. Back to Basics

I want/need to get on board with the things that we are expected to do; eat five pieces of fruit and veg, drink two liters of water and get eight hours of sleep per day because we all know that this benefits us inside and out. 

02. Up My Skincare Game

It's no secret that I am a lover of skincare. However, since slacking on my skincare over December my skin is looking worse and worse so I plan on correcting this asap. I'm also now the owner of a Clarisonic so I need to put this to good use. 

03. Switch It Up! 

More often than not, I get stuck in rut when it comes to my makeup. Not in a negative way but I tend to find a look that I like so I do it every. single. day. Meaning that everything else in my collection goes unloved, but I am planning of changing this and trying to use at least two different products a week. 

04. Get Organised

This is more on the blogging side, but beauty and blogging go hand in hand for me. I will aiming to post four times a week and to do this I need to plan way in advance for up coming posts. I already have a few in the works but if there is anything that you would like to see from A Day in Beauty in 2014 - just let me know! 

What are your new year resolutions? 

Life Lately #5

@adayinbeauty

1. The barn I stayed in for my birthday weekend | 2. A very toffee cake - toffee on toffee on toffee with a bit more toffee | 3. My little kitty is no longer that little | 4. Blogging life - waiting for my camera to charge | 5. My new MAC blush palette | 6. New Muji and new a Yankee Candle | 7. Some bits from FeelUnique | 8. Freshly organised makeup in my tower of Muji | 9. Makeup picks for the day | 10. Light or dark hair? | 11. NARS One Night Stand palette in all of it's glory | 12. Kevyn Aucoin purchase | 13. Halloween - I want to play a game... | 14. The morning after the night before | 15. Cosy socks | 16. A new blanket, a new candle.

Current favourite product: after a long time being faithful to mattifying powders I have dipped my toes in to the world of brightening powders with the Bourjois Java Rice Powder. This has become my favourite step in my makeup routine as it gives the most amazing finish, see my full review here.

Most lusted after product: as I love the Bourjois Java Rice Powder I feel it is only natural to progress with the brightening powders and the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette seems like the perfect next step...

Slimming World: Information, Advice & My Journey

Since joining Slimming World a few months back I have has many people asking me to do a post telling you what it is like, how I'm finding it and mostly importantly... what I eat. Having recently reached my 2 stone weight loss I am feeling inspired and wanted to share this with you.

Why I Joined
I made the decision to join Slimming World to change my life. Which does sound a little bit dramatic but I found myself to be so unhappy with my weight and how I looked to the extent that I was only going to places if I absolutely had to (such as work/college) and would turn down family gatherings and social events because I felt too self conscious. I knew this needed to change, and with a encouragement from my boyfriend and family I went to my first Slimming World group, I also bought my mum along as well so we can help each other out as we go through our journey.

About Slimming World
The first thing you need to know about Slimming World is that it is not a diet, but a lifestyle change. They teach you to change how you are feeling about food and not to kick yourself if you slip up, or have a gain one week as it can be due to many other factors other than what you are eating such as water intake, monthly cycles or it could just be for no damn reason at all. Going to a group is a lot different to doing it by yourself at home. When I would diet at home, it would last about a week (if that) and I would be stuffing a chocolate bar down my throat but knowing that I am going somewhere to get weighed gives me motivation. Because let's face it... you don't want people knowing that you are not trying and just keep putting weight on. They will never announce your weight to the group but they say 'Emma has lost 'this many' pounds this week' and then you get a round of applause - which is nice! You also receive stickers and certificates for each mile stone, for example - 1/2 stone, 1 stone, 1 & 1/2 stone and so on. You also get a sticker for being Slimmer of the Week and Slimmer of the Month. This is probably my favourite bit as I love adding the stickers to my book.

The Food
This is probably the most important bit as no body likes to feel deprived of anything. Nothing is off limits... if you want a take away you can work it in, if you want a bit of chocolate you can work it in and if you want a huge blow out one night and want to eat every naughty thing under then sun then do it and get back on plan the next day. Simples. There are hundreds of recipes to try online, you can share them in group with other people, there are lots in the magazine and the hashtag 'slimmingworld' on Instagram gives me loads of inspiration. What you do have to watch and measure out is what you are cooking in such as oil, the fat that is in meat, diary such as milk and cheese and things like bread and cereal - however you are given a generous amount of each to use every day. Some of my favourite recipes are the curry sauces, homemade double stacked cheese burgers with chips and macaroni and cheese... just to name a few. If you would like to see recipes for these - let me know!

My Journey
In my first week on Slimming World I lost 5lbs which was a huge motivation to keep at it and with in 5 weeks I had lost 1 stone. In just 18 weeks I have lost 2 stone and that is with having about 3 weeks off plan for various things like holiday and birthdays and having a couple of weeks where I gained. I also had a quick measure the other night to find that I have lost 15 inches all over since losing my first stone (I forgot to measure myself at the very beginning). Although I still have a way to go as yet I am looking forward in seeing the changes in myself, not just physically but also mentally. I have so far been losing weight with out any exercise but once I achieve my 3 stone weight loss I will be looking into starting an exercise regime.

I am so happy that I took the step to join Slimming World and I am more than happy with the changes that I am seeing in myself! If you want to know anything else, or see any recipes just let me know!

A Weekend Away...

As a part of my present for my birthday, which is today, my boyfriend whisked me away to a barn in the Suffolk countryside for a quite weekend away from everyday life. No internet or phones were allowed, and I even went so low maintenance that I didn't bring any makeup with me and just the skin care essentials (four products in total). 

We stayed at the Woodfarm Barns, the Stour Barn to be exact, and it was every bit as perfect as we had expected it to be. The barn had been kept very traditional with big wooden beams, very shabby chic esk furniture and a wood burner to keep warm. The barn had a private garden in which was a small, hand made table decorated with hanging baskets of colourful flowers, along with some chairs and both a patio and grassed area. There was also a communal area just outside the door step which featured two water features and a decked area for anyone to use. 'The Shed' which was there for any vistors to use contained bikes, DVDs and books to borrow free of charge whilst on your stay. Being in the middle of the country side there was vast amounts of land and roads which were perfect for taking our dog Bella on a walk.

Whilst we there we visited the near by town of Debenham, which had a lake and some fields to walk Bella in and we picked up a home-made jar of jam, because you cannot beat home-made jam. We didn't venture out too much as we wanted to spend as much time in the barn as possible and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. So we spent most of our time snuggled up on the sofa watching Breaking Bad while the birds chirped away in the background. Oh, and enjoying a huge fry up! My idea of the perfect weekend. 

After a lovely weekend away I am looking forward to my favourite meal this evening, my mum's home-made lasagne and lots of birthday cake. Also well done to my boyfriend for planning this weekend away all by himself!

Life Lately #4

1. Enjoying having curly hair | 2. Finally completing my MAC palette - see post here | 3. My ever growing skin care stash | 4. Reaching my stone and a half award from Slimming World | 5. Merryteaser - probably the nicest tasting thing, ever! | 6. The first autumnal manicure | 7. My sample basket which needs to be used up | 8. One of my casts just being cute | 9. Getting my hands on the L'Oreal EverRiche range | 10. Making my own blog planner | 11. Doing bloggy things | 12. Loving the Maybelline Baby Lips | 13. Getting a Canon 600D for my birthday | 14. Cute fairy lights | 15. Hitting pan on NARS Laguna | 16. Spot which one is my doggy.

Current favourite product: my MAC eye shadow palette (see post/swatches here). I have been using this day-in, day-out for weeks now and I just can't get enough of it. I feel like I have got the perfect selection of shades, even if I do say so myself!

Most lusted after product: the Origins Mega-Bright Serum makes for the perfect serum in my eyes as it is brightening and makes your skin incredibly soft. I have tried a couple samples of this product but a full-sized bottle is definitely on the horizon.

20 Facts About Me!

1. I love Friends. I can (and have) watch and re-watch every single Friends episode and never get bored of it.

2. I am list maker. I have a list for anything and everything, including a list of lists that I need to make.

3. My name isn't actually 'Emma-Louise', I just wish it was. Emma is my first name, Louise is my middle name - but call me Emma-Louise as I much prefer it! I actually used to tell people that this was name.

4. I hate spiders. I may even cry if one comes a little too close.

5. I love 'crime drama' programmes. Criminal Minds, Law & Order SVU, CSI, Luther, NCIS... just to name a few.

6. I don't drink alcohol, nor do I go clubbing. The whole idea kinda bores me - plus my money would be much better spent on makeup.

7. I have been in a relationship since I was fifteen.

8. I love pasta, cheese, bread and chocolate.

9. I get way more excited over stationary than I should.

10. Autumn and winter are my favourite seasons. Berry colours, knits and cosy nights - perfect!

11. I have no idea what I want to be when I'm older. I'm just taking opportunites and seeing where they take me.

12. My decision to buy something is easily swayed if it is pink.

13. Blush is my favourite makeup product. In my opinion you can never have too many.

14. I used to be a 'tom boy'. It lasted about six months.

15. The Notebook makes me cry every, every single time.

16. During my early teens I would change my hair colour all of the time... pink, black, purple, blonde, ginger, brown, red...

17. I don't have a lucky anything. Although I wish I did.

18. I used to be the biggest horror movie fanatic but now I have turned into the biggest wimp.

19. I can't wait to start having babies.

20. The reason that I love makeup and beauty so much is that I truly believe everyone should be able to feel the best that they can, to have confidence. Beauty; makeup, skin care, hair care, body products and all other beauty related products and procedures help people to do this.

Life Lately #3

'@adayinbeauty'

1. Going shopping in my biggest sunglasses | 2. A new holder for some of my makeup brushes | 3. A lovely meal cooked by my boyfriend | 4. Big hair, don't care | 5. New palette offering from NARS - Fairy's Kiss | 6. Loving a strong brow | 7. A new Pandora bracelet to add to my jewellery collection | 8. I spend most of my time cuddling Bella | 9. Swapping some beads over to my new Pandora bracelet | 10. I had a little Muji drawer re-vamp | 11. The new Clarins powder is a beaut | 12. Say hello to the CHANEL creme blushes | 13. Kicking my butt into gear to help me loose weight | 14. Still loving these polishes | 15. A sneak peak at an up and coming haul post | 16. Philip Kingsley Elasticizer free with this months InStyle magazine!

Current favourite product: the Bumble & Bumble thickening spray (free with ELLE last month) has been helping to give me full and voluminous hair and it will definitely be purchase, full-sized, when I run out. 

Most lusted after: having done some research I am really coveting the Hourglass Ambient Lighting powders in Dim Light and Luminous Light - they have been added to my birthday list! 

Life Lately #2

'@adayinbeauty'

1. Me, ready for a day at work | 2. My only sale items - heeled trainers and nude wedges | 3. Wishing some one else would wash my brushes (my boyfriend refuses) | 4. Enjoying the scenery in the garden | 5. Willow at 1 month and now at 3 months old | 6. Baking a whole lotta cookies for my boyfriends birthday | 7. Curly hair, don't care... | 8. Finding pretty clothes hangers | 9. My MAC eye shadows | 10. Marc Jacobs Honey perfume | 11. Crushed Oreo butter cream | 12. My boyfriend's homemade 21st birthday cake - delicious! | 13. Benefit Rockateur blush | 14. Finding an used Estee Lauder Double Wear | 15. Willow drinking a mug of tea, cheeky! | 16. September ELLE comes with a great freebie!

Current favourite product: the Laura Mercier Radiance Primer has been ticking all the right boxes lately - giving me a glowy complexion whilst keeping makeup in place in this hot weather. 

Must read post: a girl crush of mine, Miranda Kerr, dishes info on her healthy lifestyle and skincare line over on Into The Gloss . Now only if I could have her looks, career and life? Swoon...

Most lusted after: NARS Fairy's Kiss palette is one of their offerings this autumn. A palette for creating a soft or dramatic smokey eye with purple hues, it is the stuff dreams are made. It is a good job it is on it's way to me then! 

Life Lately #1

1. Heading off to a BBQ in the biggest sunglasses I could find 2. Enjoying a pub lunch in the sunshine with my boyfriend 3. Waking up to Bella wrapped up in the blanket 4. Willow cuddling his best friend after getting his vaccinations. 5. Creating some make-up mayhem whilst getting reading for a meal 6. Going a bit crazy for Sinful Colours nail polish 7. Finding a home for some new beauty products 8. Taking an afternoon stroll across an empty beach and paddling in the sea. 9. A visit to my mum's is not the same with out having a cuddle with this cat.

Find me on Instagram: @adayinbeauty

A New Beginning...

I have been blogging on and off now for almost two years over at Belles Avenue and it has become my second favourite hobby, shopping is first. Shopping is always first. But since starting a new chapter in my life recently I have decided to have a complete overhaul and start again - from scratch.

A Day in Beauty is going to be a beauty journal of all my favourite products and reviews with some lifestyle, fashion and food posts thrown in for good measure.

If you would like me to check out your blog/website leave it in the comment section below as I love to discover new blogs! Also if you have any requests for posts, do not hesitate to let me know :)