eva tries

Post Christmas Pamper

11:04 PM

I'm one of those crazy start-decorating-for-christmas-in-november kinda gal, so it's hard to deny that I love Christmas. However, with all the parties and family duties, it can get pretty stressful and tense. So, now that the holiday chores are (almost) over, I thought it would be the perfect time to have some "me-time" to unwind from Christmas and get ready for the new year.

I ran myself a bath with the lush Cinder bath bomb -which smells of holiday joy and cinnamon- and made myself a cup of classic english tea. For my face I decided to try two new products out (since I have a pile of foil packets to last me a life time). I cleansed using an argon oil based cleanser from an italian-only brand, but I really did not like it. It tried out my skin too much; leaving it sticky and not feeling like skin. I then used the Kate Somerville 'ExfoliKate intensive exfoliating treatment'. If I have to be honest, I was really scared to use this because a) it is green and b) a lot of reviews online rated it as harsh and irritating, and I have quite sensitive skin. However, since a lot of people with oily/acne prone skin (which is what I have) seemed to like it, I decided to give it a try. I didn't find it irritating, even though it burned a bit, and it did leave my skin feeling fresher and softer, but I would not purchase a full size. It's not gentle enough and not worth all that money.

For my body I stayed true to the Body shop, starting with the pink grapefruit body scrub and topping it all off with the vanilla body lotion (which I think might not be sold anymore-but don't quote me on that). I had tried the scrub many times before in the shower, but had never really liked it, however this was my first time using it during 'bath time'. I don't know why, but it made a world of difference. I really enjoyed using it this time and it left my skin very soft- the only down side is that it numbs my hands while I massage it in.

Last but not least I applied my vaseline lip therapy lip balm as usual. I was also supposed to paint my nails with the Maybelline 'forever strong super stay 7 days gel nail color' in the shade 615 'mint for life' but I didn't have time. I'll probably do it tomorrow as I love both the color and the formula!

At the Park

6:45 PM

My Goals for this Blog

8:31 PM

How to be Healthier

10:18 PM

2014 is coming to an end, which means we're all busy scribbling in our notebooks our new year's goals, and I'm ready to bet that the majority of us have written down "be healthier". But that's easier said than done. I know from personal experience that as soon as February rolls around I'm back on the couch with my chocolate in one hand and no intention of getting outside. This year though, I really mean it (okay, I say this every time, but I swear 2015 is the year!). I've decided to gather up some tips I've learnt from my previous mistakes to make my journey (and maybe yours) to a healthier lifestyle easier.

Number One:

I am not a sporty kinda gal, never have been and probably never will be. During my life time I have tried a lot of different sports, but none of them have ever worked out. When balls are thrown my way, my first instinct is to duck or scream (like a little girl I might add) or just run away; so this already rules out most athletic activities. I also don't like swimming, I can't do gymnastics (trust me, I've tried) and I have the worst sense of rhythm in the world. So the first tip is: find an activity that you like (or at least that you don't hate). This is a trial and error process and it can take a long time, but it's crucial. Don't do something only because it's convenient or because everybody is doing it. Do something that you aren't going to 100% hate. Personally, I've discovered that going to the gym works best for me, because I really couldn't get into sports, but everybody is different.

Number Two:

If you have a good friend with a similar goal, buddy up and start exercising together! But be careful; be sure that your friend is serious about this and that they're not going to abandon you or drag you down with them. Also make sure that you have compatible schedules and taste, so that you can do the same activity at the same time. I'm going to the gym with my best friend, and so far it's been really good because we just chat and gossip the whole time and it doesn't even feel like a chore anymore!

Number Three:

I'm one of those people that loves to buy gym gear as soon as I decide that I'm going to start being active, and I'm sure I'm not alone. However, it's not very smart and actually just a waste of money since I often end up giving up. So my advice is to buy one thing only, being it shoes, a shirt, or those cute yoga pants, but nothing more. This way you'll get excited about using your new purchase, but won't have wasted money.

Number Four:

If you're anything like me, after a month or two you'll get bored of your "new" running shoes, and going out to exercise will become a bigger chore. A good idea would be to set little goals and little rewards to keep you motivated. Say, for example, that you go to the gym for a whole month without skipping more that 'x' days: boom! You can buy a new shirt! This way you get to buy something cute (which in my opinion is always fun) and be motivated to keep working hard.

Number Five:

At the start of a new year, we often end up setting unrealistic goals, which can result in the worst outcome. When choosing how often to exercise check your schedule and be realistic, this way you'll be more consistent. It's better to go twice a week every week, than everyday of the week only once a month.

Number Six:

I've mostly focused on exercising in this post, but there's other aspects of being healthy. To just generally improve your lifestyle try spending more time outside, preferably in parks or other green places where the air is fresh. Clean air can make a ton of difference to both the body and the skin, and it can be a good change from the pollution of the city.

Number Seven:

Obviously a huge part of being healthy is eating healthy. I didn't really say much about this because it's something I really struggle with, and so I don't really feel capable of giving tips on it. The only thing I will say is that you should allow yourself to have a cheat day, but don't overdue it. Cheat days can be great, but if you use them to completely pig out, it can mean taking a step backwards, because it will make it harder to go back to your "diet".

Gift Wrapping Inspiration

9:40 PM

3 Festive Jar Candleholders Decorations

11:41 PM

Gift Guide

8:39 PM

DIY Christmas Decorations

7:45 PM

5 Tips to Get to Know Yourself

11:53 PM

November Non-Beauty Favorites

6:37 PM

The best month of the year is finally upon us; hot drinks, fluffy clothes, sparkly makeup looks, and everything Christmas. But before we get too excited, lets give one last bit of attention to December's ugly sister. I don't like November, it's always gloomy and unexciting, however I did discover a lot of nice things this time, and I wanted to share them.

My fluffy socks. Seen here paired with christmas pjs, a jumper, and some tea.

Speaking of fluffy clothes, my first favorite have been these amazing socks. I always have super cold feet, but I can never be bothered with slippers; the "slip on-slip off" thing is too much work for me. These are perfect because I can put them on as soon as I get home and not have to worry about cold feet for the rest of the day!

(x)

Yes. I know. I'm a horrible blogger. I swear I meant to photograph this jacket but then suddenly it was dark out and I'm sorry. Anyway my next favorite is a bit of a weird one, because it's actually a jacket for men. I bought it last year from Zara man, but I really love it. It's oversized on me and I think it looks really cute and laid back (it's a bit like boyfriend jeans, but jacket version). I mostly like to pair it with 'dainty' shirts, but I think it goes really well with a lot of things and recently I've been reaching for it almost everyday.

My number one favorite this month is without a doubt 'Shameless'. This is the best tv show I've seen in a really long time. (Warning: it definitely handles mature content and it is only meant for a mature audience. It features lots of violence, nudity, drugs, bad language and other things of that nature.) It's one of those shows where every episode feels like a whole season because so much happens, but it's really nice because the characters don't get lost in the plot. There's so many different people in the show, but each of them have developed personalities and story lines. You really feel like you get to know and grow with the characters, and I really like that. I really really recommend it.

My favorite app of the month has been 'stick hero'. I love playing iphone games, and each month or so I tend to switch and download a new app. It's a really silly game, but it's fun and addictive. It's perfect to play on the train or bus or anything like that.

(x)

My last favorites have been 'blank space' by Taylor Swift (I still haven't bought the album though so don't hate me) and Christmas songs in general. My two all time favorites are "baby it's cold outside" and "white christmas" they just always get me in the best mood and I love singing along to them with my best friends.