Greek food, the D Word + FitGirlsGuide

Cue long post...

I love Greek food!  Feta, olive oil and bread, olives, tzatziki, moussaka, gyros, baklava, kleftiko (just some of the food I ate on holiday)  I feel like I should of been born a Greek.  In Skitathos I'll put my hands up and admit I overindulged and let myself go. It's sometimes good to relax the reins and enjoy yourself but I think I may of gone a tad too far.

Usually I only eat approximately 1200-1400 calories a day.  I usually stick to the lower end with the help of the app My Fitness Pal.  But this holiday I blame lack of Internet and WiFi service for my down fall.  Plus the lack of will power.... I could of used a pen and paper to record my eating habits but I took the easy way out.

Fast forward 10 days to me all most crying on the scales when I returned home.  I'd put on a whopping 7lbs and felt mortified.  Someone said to me I was silly to get upset by a 'small' gain like that and that same person is also boasting about their own weight loss a lot.  Kick someone when they are down comes to mind.

I've been back from my holiday for a while now but I cannot get my head back in the game.  There seems to be too many temptations right under my nose and I just fall at the first hurdle.  Plus work stress and long hours are not helping me.  Excuses excuses I know what you're thinking.  But it's hard.

So I have invested....

On Instagram I follow the @FitGirlsGuide (Link HERE to the website).  The food has been purchased and I'm on board.  Enough is enough and I've joined the 28 Day Jump Start Plan.  For a small fee you get the ebook emailed to you with 200 pages of tips, meal plans and shopping list, exercise guides you name it.  It's your best friend for 28 days.  Not long really??

The Plan gets results, just check instagram for before and after shots from girls who have taken part.  The cool thing too is everyone is normal and everyone is there with love and support.

I'm happy to be a part of the #28dayjumpstart team.  GO TEAM!

Link HERE again for you!!!
Ax

Books I Read on Holiday

I usually have to be in the mood for a bit of reading so a 10 day break is the perfect opportunity to give my brain a fiction work out.  Now don't worry they'll be no spoilers in this post,  just a mini review.

Firstly we have S J Watson - Before I Go To Sleep.  Recognise the title?  This recently hit the silver screen with Nicole Kidman and Colin Firth playing the leads in this awesome thriller.

This is my second time reading this as wanted to refresh myself before going to the cinema to watch it on the big screen. Plus I knew I'd enjoy it on holiday as I'd already read it and loved it. I just didn't fancy a girly romantic novel...  I wanted more grit.

I'm not normally a thriller kind of girl but this book certainly keeps you on your toes and glued to it.  You just want to keep reading to find out what happens with Christine (the main mentally unstable character) and her husband plus the cute doctor.  There are  lots of unexpected twists that will make you gasp with shock.

The second book I read which I found abandoned in the reading nook of the hotel was The Food For Love Cookery School by Nicky Pellegrino.  To find out if I like a book, I usually read the first two pages to see if I can instantly 'get into it'.  This I did.

From the very beginning you feel part of the story,  the characters talk to you directly which is a nice touch. There are also some laugh out loud moments and there are some predictable parts to this cute story. I wizzed through this (pretty unheard of for me). 

I very much loved both SJ and Nickys writing skills and would gladly read more of their books.

You can pick up your own copies from HERE (S J Watson) and HERE (Nicky Pellegrino).
What’s your perfect holiday read?
Axx

Punk Rock Nails

Gone are the bright coloured nails of summer and now they have been replaced by more autumnal shades.  Punk Rock (part of the Rimmel Salon Pro Kate line) is perfect for this time of the year.

From far away you don't see the beauty of this shade...  it just looks like any other dark steely shade.  But up close it's a whole different story.  You can really see the creamy plumy purple tone to this and I happen to love it.

When I picked this up, the first thought which came to me is 'I've never seen a shade like this before' which is true.  I don't think there is a shade like this... it feels like one of a kind.  I can see myself wearing Punk Rock a lot this winter.  It's that perfect shade.

Axx

Holiday nails... Rimmel Peppermint

Yeah so I'm showing you my feet..ugly I know and I apologise for that.  However I had to share with you my favourite holiday nail polish and it just so happens I was wearing it on my toes.  See there is always a reason for everything.

Peppermint from Rimmel (part of the Salon Pro line) was my go-to polish for my trip to Greece.  It's that perfect eye catching turquoise green which is pretty and bright.  Just the colour a girl needs on her holidays.

There were lots of pros: the longevity, the shine, the colour with my tanned skin, the brush and consistency.  There weren't no cons to be honest. I can't really fault it, even the price is good. 

To get this look I used two costs with no top coat.  As you can see it's very glossy.  The lasting power was ridiculous.  I had to force myself to take it off.

What is your holiday colour??

Axx

P.S....Happy Friday my friends.

Clown Pants and Kimonos

I'll start this post by mentioning the obvious.  I have no idea at all what the official name for this style of trouser is.  I keep referring to them as clown pants and it's kind of stuck in my mind now.

So moving on... kimonos and clown pants are a big thing right now... they are everywhere.  I thought they would not suit me and would engulf my frame and height.  However sometimes you need to bite the bullet and be brave.  Got for it!

I wouldn't say I was the most fashionable girl on the streets of Skiathos town in these pictures but I like the clash of patterns.  I would never usually do that... but here it works.  Well I think so anyway.

Kimono | Primark - no online store.

Clown Trousers | Primark - again no links....boo hiss!

Black Vest | Marks and Spencer - Link here

This outfit has proved to me it is good to mix up patterns and to be daring.  You just never know it might just work for you.

Axx

A Few Duty Free Buys

Nothing gets a holiday started than visiting the duty at the airport.  I usually have to hold myself back a heck of a lot not to go crazy.  This time I was prepared with a list of items I wanted to get and others are just right time, right place items.

Clarins | Beauty Flash Balm - Link

I still had a small amount of this in my tube I already had but I'd stopped using it for the fear of running out.  I love this stuff.  The smell, the texture, the feel on the skin.  I like using this as a makeup base but I also like to use it as mask (pretty much every other night).

Ghost | The Fragrance - Link

I have to thank my sister-in-law for the introduction of this into my life.  I got a mini set including a body lotion last year at Christmas and I fell in love.  It is subtle warm scent with a musky-ness as well as florally hint.  It's a bit of mixture but it works well and I loooove it.

Clinique | Bottom Lash Mascara - Link

I'm that typical girl who get panda eyes when I use bog standard mascaras on my bottom lashes.  This stuff... wow it's amazing and doesn't budge an inch.  The teenie tiny brush is the perfect size to coat the bottom lashes individually.  It makes the job so easy with this mascara. I'll totally recommend this to anyone wants an easy solution to panda eyes.

Clinique | Chubby Stick Shadow - Link

Not on my list of things to get but I'm glad I did.  Bountiful Beige is that perfect shade that you can just throw on.  I was surprised how smooth and easy this glided on my lids.  It's great as a base and well as on its own.  Think MAC's Paint Pot Bare Study in stick form.  Got it??

Clarins | Instant Light Natural Lip Protectors - Link

A chance encounter with an airport only offer got me buying this duo set (shades 01 and 02).  And I'm glad I got these as the hype about them is all true.  They are so nourishing on the lips give a beautiful hint of colour without leaving your lips sticky like glue.  Give me more of them.

You can see me chatting about my purchases plus my non-beauty holiday favourites below >>>

Axx

What's In My Carry On Bag + Tips

Ahhh plane travel, where you're cooped up forever in a tiny seat flying at high speeds through the air with a bunch of strangers.  Fun times...

Travelling can be stressful. Preparing for it, the getting to the airport, going through security...gosh that's a mission on it's own and you've not even boarded the plane yet!  So what better way to relieve some hassle from the issue but to have an organised hand luggage???  Hopefully this helpful What's In My Carry On Bag? post will give you some tips.

The one thing I must insist on when packing your carry on is to get some zip lock style bags.  You won't realise how helpful they are until you're looking for that vital boarding pass for boarding the plane.

Every bag has it's job.  Passport, currency and e-ticket in one, electronics like Ipads, Ipods and phone in another, liquids and accessories in their own bags. They are really quite helpful when to track things down in a hurry.  I have links HERE, HERE and HERE of some style bags I recommend and would use myself.

If you'd like to see a video of talking about what's in my bag?? Well carry on scrolling and click the video then :-)

Speak soon peeps!

Ax