GracieGoesGreen Reusable Make Up Remover Pads

Today I’m going to be reviewing these washable make-up remover pads I have been using the last couple of months. I went with GracieGoesGreen eBay seller, and have nothing but good things to say about the quality of product and service. I paid £5.25 for seven organic cotton pads and they have varied patterns on the reverse. Along with this came a handy bag to put the pads in during the wash.

I had a good look on eBay for the best options. There was surprisingly an excellent choice, with varying prices, designs and so on. GracieGoesGreen seemed like the best though, and I thought the price was very reasonable. Postage was free.

I was a little nervous about my first eco-friendly purchase though, I didn’t know what to expect. The fabric is lovely and soft, and the pads are generously sized. After months of using them, I found a little staining was left, but they are perfectly clean after being put in the wash.

It took me a while to get into a routine of putting them in the wash for example my Mum would put them in with certain things etc. I haven’t been using mascara in lockdown, I think I’ll have one or two pads saved for that. If you want to be kinder to the environment, I would recommend these! The link to buy is here.

Have you made any eco-friendly purchases recently?

Would you be curious to give these a try yourself? :-) Xx

Sultana Walnut Cookies

After a break, I’ve got the baking bug back! I found this recipe in Mary Berry’s Fast Cakes baking book which I mention from time to time on my blog. What’s great about this book is the instructions are simple, but there’s quite a lot of variety without too many ambitious bakes, therefore being great for beginners. Chapters include every day cakes, chocolate bakes, family fruit cakes, biscuits and cookies, especially for children, and so on. I recommend both the book and this specific recipe included.

This particular bake was a quick, yet fun one to make. It’s a basic cookie recipe, while adding sultanas and walnuts as the name would suggest. The final effect came our quite doughy like scones which isn’t such a bad thing. They lasted a couple of days for desserts at meal times and went down well. You can pick up Fast Cakes online or at The Works.

Describe your perfect biscuit in three words!

Have you been baking recently? :-) Xx

Jigsaw Log #3

Hope my readers are doing okay at the moment. Today I’m back with a jigsaw post! I completed this tropical sea life one a few months back now. I bought it for my Nan for Christmas, so we could do it together and this one came from The Works priced at £4.

It has 300 oversized pieces which could suit a wide range of people. I might consider buying another one from this brand, as there are different images to collect. I’m currently working on a very ambitious 1000 piece jigsaw which I’m doing a bit at a time.

Are you into jigsaws too?

What hobbies are keeping you well at the moment? :-) Xx

Recent Reads Reviewed #24

Angelica the Angel Fairy by Daisy Meadows - 3/5 

I asked my lovely librarian for some easy reads to get myself out of a reading slump, and this was one of the ones she picked. She made some really thoughtful choices throughout. Angelica the Angel Fairy is part of a series, and this instalment includes three connecting stories.

I enjoyed following the special adventures of two best friends and a few magical characters. I particularly loved the last story, which gave me a few laughs. The stories weren’t overly memorable however, and I thought some of the illustrations could have been improved. The cover is really sweet, and I liked the shiny pink.

Moods of the North York Moors by Ian Carstairs - 5/5 

I’m doing quite well with the moods series, as this is the third book I’ve read this year. I’ve been on holiday many times to the North York Moors, so I have a bit of a connection to that area. I found this edition to be the most fascinating, and well written. Many of the photographs had a documentary feel which I appreciated. It was a fairly short but memorable book for me, which I would recommend to anyone wanting to know more about this part of North Yorkshire.

Little Adventurers: Leafy the Pet Leaf by Philip Ardagh - 2/5 

We follow a group of young children called the little adventurers who meet in their back shed, to learn new things. On this occasion they each bring in their pet, but Sprat who has no animal to share, chooses to bring in Leafy the leaf. I liked that the book felt very visual, and interactive but the layout wasn’t clear and overall the story didn’t really float my boat.

Happy Days: Official Illustrated Autobiography by Olly Murs - 5/5 

I’ve loved X-Factor over the years it’s been on TV, but as I wasn’t so keen on the refresh last year I tend to watch old clips on YouTube now. This sparked an interest to read some of the previous contestant’s books, and so far I’ve read Olly Murs, Matt Cardle and James Arthur’s autobiography.

It was interesting to hear about Olly’s life before the X-Factor, as well as behind the scenes experiences after the show. I don’t think this is an official X-Factor book, which I appreciated because some of the X-Factor gossip was more honest. There were loads of photos too, great for Olly fans!

#GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso - 5/5

Sophia Amoruso, founder of Nasty Gal clothing company first started out as an eBay seller. Part autobiographical part self-help manifesto, we follow her journey and the huge success she has had building a fashion empire. A quirky character, and most definitely a #GIRLBOSS, her empowering words struck a chord with me. I can see many enterprising, girl bosses taking something from this book.

Summer Adventure Stories by Enid Blyton - 5/5

There wasn’t one story I didn’t like in this collection; Blyton pulls us into her magical worlds so naturally and using just a delicate thread they weave together as a group. Enid Blyton’s work has a timeless beauty that anyone of any age can appreciate. She is one of my favourite authors.

Paper Girls, Vol. 4 by Brian K. Vaughan - 5/5

I’m getting more invested in the Paper Girls series as I go along, and the fourth episode might be my favourite so far. The storyline, and illustrations are superb as always. I can’t see where the plot is going, but I’m excited to find out!

Have you been reading anything in lockdown?

What kind of books have you been gravitating towards? :-) Xx

The Snack Diaries | Part Nineteen

Ten Acre Crisps The Story Of When The Cheese Met The Onion
(From Holland&Barrett, £0.89 for 40g)
With the current lockdown my Mum placed an online order at Holland&Barrett for a few foodie bits. These were the first item that I tried, and I was pleasantly surprised, they were really delicious. They are vegan, but the cheese and onion taste is amazing. Even if you’re not vegan, give these a go!!

Lentil Bites Tomato & Herb 
(From Holland&Barrett, £0.85 for 20g)
These were my least favourite from the H&B haul yet they were still pretty good. I wouldn’t pass on having them again, if I saw them on offer or something. The tomato and herb taste comes through nicely, and the crisps are pleasantly, crunchy.

Eat Real Veggie Straws 
(From Holland&Barrett, £1.89 for 113g)
Another wonderful surprise, they are actually super moreish and delicious. Without a doubt I will be repurchasing these. They came in a bigger value pack, if you are a family that might be a plus. Another vegan item.

Green & Black’s 85% Cocoa Dark Chocolate
(From Morrison’s, £2.00 for unknown quantity)
I bought this to share over Easter with my family. It’s one of my Mum’s favourite dark chocolate brands so it was a bit of a treat for us. I’ve been more into dark chocolate lately, I enjoy the taste, and it has less sugar. A firm favourite but not quite as good as the Lindt alternative.

Do you have any snack recommendations for me?

Did any of these foodie reviews interest you? :-) Xx

Superdrug Simply Pure Calming Cleanser

I’ve been using this cleanser for about a month so I thought it was about time I did a review of it. My normal go-to cleanser is by Simple because it’s so gentle on the skin, but it’s not cruelty-free unfortunately. So with that thought I wanted to give the Superdrug Simply Pure one a go which features the leaping bunny logo.

“Developed for sensitive skin, Simply Pure products are mild, gentle and 100% fragrance free.” I would agree with this statement on the Superdrug website, the cleanser is mild and gentle on the skin. It removes make-up well and overall I’m pleased with the results.

I can see myself repurchasing, and switching from the Simple brand to this Superdrug own brand. It retails at £2.99 for 200ml but there’s nearly always an offer on. There are other things in the range such as serums, toner, face wash, etc. Click here to view the range.

What cleanser are you currently using?

Do you ever buy anything from the Superdrug brand? :-) Xx

Jigsaw Log #2

I started this series last year but it’s been a while since I last updated you with my jigsaw progress. With everyone stuck at home at the moment, I thought it would be a good opportunity to revisit the series. From memory I think my Nan won this Wallace and Gromit jigsaw on a tombola a while back and she gave it to me.

As you can see from the photos, it’s a very long and narrow shape which I split into two to fit on a table. My Mum gave me some help with this one. It’s one of the nicest jigsaws I’ve done because of the quality and it's just the right level of difficulty to make it relaxing. It actually has a double sided picture too!

Let me know if you have been doing any jigsaws!

What kind of picture do you like to gravitate towards? :-) Xx

Bunny Shaped Scones for Easter

Easter seems to have crept up on us rather quickly. I’ve been doing quite a bit of baking recently, but just not feeling like making it into a photo opportunity. I made these scones a good while back, and they are a very simple recipe which I will chat a little further about.

I used a basic scone recipe from my Cakes and Cookies for Beginners baking book. Scone recipes are all fairly similar, and so they are easy to find anywhere online. I put some sultanas into the mixture, you can too. Cherries, cranberries or chocolate chips work nicely also.

To make them look more Easter themed, I dug out my Easter shaped cookie cutters which I think I bought last year in a discount shop. They include bunny, chick, and egg shapes. I’ve seen The Works and eBay stock a lot of inexpensive Easter bits such as this.

There are other ways of adapting, for example you could dip half in chocolate or decorate with icing sugar and sprinkles. My family seemed to enjoy them without any extras, and they are a yummy treat while still being moderately healthy.

Have you been baking at the moment?

Has Easter inspired you to get creative too? :-) Xx

Film & Music Reviewed #2

Film // Me Before You

A girl in a small town forms an unlikely bond with a recently-paralyzed man she's taking care of.

A film released in 2016 that was originally a book. I have to say I’ve read the book and preferred the film. In parts the way the story told was problematic but I enjoyed the emotional, heartfelt journey Lou and Will took us on. I think the acting was quite well done and I loved Lou’s fashion choices for example the bumble bee tights.

Rating: 4/5

Music // Man of the Woods by Justin Timberlake

Justified is one of my all-time favourite albums, so I’m always keen to listen to anything new by Justin Timberlake. He took a new direction with this album, which I enjoyed and appreciated. The electronic sound featured on a few of the tracks is really unique. The story telling lyrics and artistry involved in the production is noteworthy. I like most of the songs but my favourites are Filthy, Midnight Summer Jam and Say Something.

Rating: 4/5

What music/films have been your go-to recently?

Do you like to listen to albums or do you make your own playlist? :-) Xx

Recent Reads Reviewed #23

The Girl With the Lost Smile by Miranda Hart - 5/5

I’m an avid fan of Miranda, both the comedian and TV show so I was curious to see if I would enjoy her first children’s book. Some of her other books have been a bit hit and miss for me but the premise of this book sounded like just my sort of thing.

The girl with the lost smile, is a moving story about a girl called Chloe Long who has lost her smile. She is a courageous, positive spirited and imaginative girl. As we step into her world, we discover why she has lost her smile, and with the help of her imagination, she finds hope.

I suppose you could say this book was classed as magical realism, as we learn about Chloe’s magic land and I thought this aspect was beautifully written. Chloe’s journey through the book, was quite emotional from time to time, and found a special place in my heart. One of my favourite reads of 2020 so far!

The Invincibles: The Hamster Rescue by Caryl Hart - 5/5

In this children’s book we meet Nell and Freddie, who are the best of friends. The story cleverly portrays what school children can be like at that age as Nell is invited to two birthday parties on the same day. While Nell is keen to go to Freddie’s birthday, she makes the mistake of turning up at her much more popular classmate’s party. She soon realises she would much rather be spending time with Freddie and his family.

I absolutely loved this book, the storyline felt very current, and the humour was witty. Each of the side characters added something to the story, in particular Nell’s older brother and his band. The book on the whole was fun, and could appeal to many. The yellow and grey two tone illustrations were done well, but the storyline was outstanding.

Colour Me Younger by Veronique Henderson - 4/5

In this book, we learn how to look younger in your 40’s and above through the power of colour. Follow short quizzes to find what colours in clothes and make-up work best for your complexion. I found the advice, to be very well researched, and insightful in many ways. The photography of everyday women, looking there best through clothes and make-up in the right colours was quite inspirational.

I don’t meet the target audience, I’m a little too young, but appreciated what the book has achieved. There’s another book by the same author called Colour Me Beautiful which I think would be more suited to me that I hope to get to.

Hello, Horse by Vivian French - 5/5

I could tell this was going to be a wonderful read as soon I flicked through. The illustrations, using watercolour and pencil are just so beautiful. The story follows a little boy, as he meets Shannon the horse for the first time; he feels nervous around this big animal, but soon realises Shannon is a gentle giant and they become firm friends. I found the story touching, and I think many children after reading will want to go horse riding for the first time too.

Moods of Hadrian's Wall by Tony Hopkins - 4/5

I picked this book up on impulse at my local library, and was so glad I did. Hadrian’s Wall is a Roman defensive wall across northern England, and we follow its history along with atmospheric photographs at different times of the year. It’s more of a coffee table book really, with an image on each page with a small snippet of information.

I did read it cover to cover, and found it a very enjoyable read. There’s a whole series of these books, in which different places in Britain are photographed in different ways according to the weather and mood. I can see myself continuing, and reading a few more.

Handmade Christmas by Unknown - 5/5

Okay so you may think it’s rather early to be planning my Christmas crafts, but I wanted to get a head start, as I always run out of time for things like this. I was looking for a few simple, yet effective projects, and this book provided me with some really helpful ideas.

The projects range from a large variety of mediums: baking, cards, decorations and gifts. I actually already make handmade cards, and found inspiration from those ideas featured. The projects range in difficulty throughout the book, but I appreciated the easy to recreate ones the most.

I was happy to see many of the projects were environmentally friendly, for example, using recyclable gift wrap, and stamping onto it for decoration. The book is beautifully presented, particularly the festive photography.

Paint Yourself Calm by Jean Haines - 5/5

I previously looked at watercolour as being a hobby for the very skilled, but after reading Haines approach of keeping it simple, enjoying colour and the process; I now really want to get into watercolour. Her philosophy is infectious, and I can see this book being a great source of calm with people of all walks of life.

The book teaches us how to be mindful through simple watercolour exercises and some self-help mantras. I’ve not come across something before in that niche that felt this accomplished. It’s a strong contender for one of my favourite non-fiction reads so far this year.

Do you feel inspired to read any of these books?

Do you have any book recommendations for me? :-) Xx