Tanya Burr Lip Glosses Review

I am just one of the many fans of Tanya Burr and so I have been desperate to try out her new make up range. I already have one nail polish (I can do a review on the nail polishes if you would like to see that) but it was the lip glosses that really got me excited! It was 3 for 2 in Superdrug so I couldn't walk away without buying one or three. 

If you're short for time or don't fancy reading the whole review, I can tell you now that these lip glosses are AMAZING. The pigmentation is fantastic, just one swatch on the top or bottom lip adds the perfect amount of colour but you can build it up depending on the look you are going for.  

The thick but moisturising consistency means that these lip glosses are extremely long-wearing and they actually really remind me of the Victoria's Secret lip glosses. The high-gloss factor is able to transform the thinnest of lips like mine into plump and juicy looking lips too.

As for the colour range, I had a very hard time choosing! There are a variety of colours from bold pinks to hot reds to daytime nudes meaning there is something for everybody. I went for First Date, Just Peachy and Picnic in the Park.

First Date is the perfect bubblegum pink that can be applied over a nude lipstick for a hint of colour or worn by itself for a flirtatious and girly look.

I can tell I am going to be getting a lot of use out of Just Peachy as it is a classic nude with peachy tones meaning the colour will not wash you out. I think this lip gloss would look great with a tan so it will most probably be my go-to gloss for summer!

Picnic in the Park is a timeless and classy dark pink perfect for both the daytime and evening. I also found that Tanya's lip glosses smell a bit like strawberries so you're left with a pleasant taste in the possible event of licking lip gloss off your teeth!

I love the packaging as it is simple but special with the adorable pink heart that Tanya has on her YouTube channel art on the top of the lid. The applicator is also great for applying generous amounts of gloss.

I definitely recommend these lip glosses as they are a fantastic quality at the affordable price of £6.99. You can purchase them at Superdrug or www.feelunique.com. I am already eager to add to my collection and can't wait for more Tanya Burr cosmetics to be released!

"Every day is a fashion show and the world is your runway." - Coco Chanel

Lots of love,

Lily

Sinless Cookies Recipe

It's no secret that I love a cookie considering my third recipe blog post is, that's right, MORE cookies. These aren't just ordinary cookies though, as surprisingly, they aren't that bad for you at all! They actually contain mainly healthy ingredients meaning that you can tuck into these treats without feeling guilty!

My cookies had more of a cake texture, they really reminded me of banana loaf infact. This meant that I wasn't sure whether to name them cookies or cakes or even cakies, that's a cross between a cookie and a cake incase you are wondering. I settled for cookies in the end though as I actually came across this recipe on a fitness Instagram account called beinspiredthissummer so I thought it was best to stick to the original name.

To make 8 cookies you will need:

1 cup of oats

2 ripe bananas

A heaped tablespoon of peanut butter

1/2 cup of dark chocolate chips

Chop your banana into small pieces and mash it up using a blender or a fork. Don't worry if your mashed banana is a bit chunky, it all adds to the texture!

Add both the mashed banana and the cup of oats into a large mixing bowl and stir together.

Once the oats and banana are combined, mix in the heaped tablespoon of peanut butter.

Stir in half a cup of dark chocolate chips. A little bit of dark chocolate is actually good for your health, it's full of antioxidants and a small amount can help lower your blood pressure.

Separate the mixture into 8 small balls on a baking tray lined with grease-proof paper and bake at gas mark 4 for about 15 minutes.

I think you'll find that these cookies don't spread or completely flatten out as much as you'd expect normal cookies to. I can only assume that that is because of the different ingredients.

It's that simple! Enjoy!

"There is no love sincerer than the love of food." - George Bernard Shaw

Lots of love,

Lily

Banoffee Pie and Sea Air

My Mum, my sister and I had a bite to eat at this gem of a bakery in Leigh for lunch. Beforehand though, we couldn't resist a mooch around in the quaint little shops. We even spotted this beautiful dog tied to a lead outside one of them and I really wanted to take him or her home!

It was difficult deciding what to pick for lunch. I ended up choosing a chicken, chorizo and emmental cheese toasted sandwich with pesto and salad and it did not disappoint. It would have been rude to have not tried something sweet of course so I went for the Banoffee Pie whilst Daisy opted for a white chocolate caramel shortbread slice. After having a bite of Daisy's, I can tell you they were both equally delicious. 

It was lovely breathing in the fresh air as we walked along the sea front. It also made for the perfect photo opportunity!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! 

"Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Lots of love,

Lily

Day Trip to Ypres

At school we were given the opportunity to visit Belgium as a history trip to expand our knowledge of World War I by visiting cemeteries and museums. It was a day of mixed emotions but I found it lovely wandering the beautiful streets of Ypres and getting to know a different culture. Despite the early 5am start, the day went surprisingly quickly! 

We visited Essex Farm Cemetery and Tyne Cot Cemetery and both were incredibly moving. One thing I noticed is how beautifully maintained everything was and you could really sense a feeling of sorrow yet pride and honour amongst everybody. 

As you can probably tell, the day started off rather dull and drizzly and my friend Sophie and I came up with the genius idea of using our scarves to shield ourselves from the rain! 

We then made our way over to Langemark, a German cemetery in Belgium. It is well known for being the place where poison gas was first used in the war. It was very different to Tyne Cot and had an almost strange energy; it was still a reminder of the devastating effects war had on everybody though.

We even had the chance to go through a real trench at Hill '62 which was really interesting and quite scary. We were warned beforehand to be careful of sharp objects and deep puddles and at one point I found myself in a pitch black trench. That really did open my eyes to the terror of war. Thankfully Sophie used her iPhone as a torch or I don't think I would have been able to get through it!

We also went to Flanders Field museum. It was fascinating seeing real artefacts from nearly a hundred years ago and our trip was made even more memorable as Sophie, Fin and I decided to walk to the top of the Bell Tower. When I say 'walk', I actually mean 'trek' as the hundreds of stairs really made it feel like a workout; I think we were all wondering why we had decided to do it at this point! When we reached the top, the view of Ypres was truly breathtaking and as you can tell from the pictures below, it was very windy! It all made for an exhilarating experience though.

Here I'm rocking the Rod Steward look!

Before meeting up for dinner, we were given two hours to roam the town of Ypres. I found myself gawping at the beautiful Belgium make up and I had to talk myself out of buying a lot of it, I did pick up a soufflé blush though; I convinced myself that it was acceptable as there's nothing like that here in England. You obviously can't go to Belgium without picking up chocolate too. Being a self-confessed chocaholic, I think it is safe to say that I went slightly overboard leaving with two bags FULL of chocolate. I don't feel the slightest bit guilty about it though!

It would have been rude to have not tried a waffle in this gorgeous little ice cream parlour. We both chose Nutella as our topping and it was so yummy! I am actually having a serious craving of it right now. 

We were fortunate enough to be able to witness the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate. The crowds were huge and that made it all the more special, especially because we are coming up to the hundredth anniversary of the First World War. I'm glad we were able to pay our respects.

I had a wonderful day exploring Belgium with friends and I would love to return one day. The trip also really made me realise how valuable the gift of life is.

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace." - Jimi Hendrix 

Lots of love,

Lily