What I ate today...

Hello everyone!

As a start to my new 'healthy' routine, I decided to keep a food diary today. I will admit that while not all of the meals I ate today should be considered the 'healthy option,' I can safely say that I did not snack in between meals today and only drank tea or water (except for my coffee at breakfast!)

Breakfast:

For breakfast this morning, I decided to have some porridge with a squeeze of honey for sweetness and some strawberries. The strawberries at the moment are AMAZING and I would eat a big bowl of strawberries at every meal if I could...but alas I can't. I also had a latte and a glass of ice cold water.

Lunch:

After doing some unpacking from moving out of my college house, I started to get hungry. Usually, I would have a cup of tea and a biscuit (or two.. or three) to satisfy me. However, today I decided to actually have a lunch! I made myself a chicken, stuffing, cheese and mayo toastie with gluten-free crisps, a cup of tea and another glass of ice cold water.

Dinner:

The family dinner today consisted of a fry. I changed mine up a bit by cooking the sausages in the oven and having wedges instead of fried potato. I also had a rasher (the lean bit..can't stand the fat of a rasher!) and some mushrooms. Again, I drank an ice-cold glass of water. 

After dinner, I had a cup of tea and a sneaky jam tart to satisfy my sweet tooth. 

Evening Snack:

As a little snack in the evening, I had a mint chocolate (fat-free!) yoghurt. I had never had this before, but I have to say I would definitely have it again! 

I then decided to do a bit of Friday evening baking. I had been craving brownies for days(!) so I decided to take a recipe from one of the books we have in the press and replace some of the ingredients with (sort of) healthier options, such as replacing the butter with half coconut butter and vegetable oil. For my first attempt, I have to say I was quite impressed! They were fudgy in the centre but crispy on the outside, just like a regular brownie! I had this with some strawberries and cream.

I now have multiple photos of food on my phone that I have to go delete before someone sees...

Until next time. 
Fifs xo

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A New Direction

Hello everyone!

No, I am not here to talk about how One Direction will go on now that Zayn has left the band... 

I want to talk about taking a new direction in your life - or in this case, how I am going to take a new direction in my life. Things happen as you grow older (but maybe not wiser) and sometimes these things cause a change in your life. Maybe it's a small change, like your hair colour, or it's a major change, like losing a loved one. For me, it was a number of different things that made me decide to take a new direction in how I was living my life. 

First of all, I plan to become more healthy. To feel good about my life, I need to feel good about myself. I want to eat better, drink more water, and exercise (yes, I am willing to exercise...) 

Secondly, I want to create new memories with people. I want to have some new experiences! I want to do something new every day of the summer with the people I love.

Lastly, I just plan on being happier. I want to be happy with who I am and what I'm doing, who I'm spending my time with. I want to go through each day and be happy by the end of it.

It's time I started to focus on myself. And I urge everyone who reads this to do the same. It's your life - so live it for you! 

Until next time.

Fifs xo

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Make-up Favourites!

Hello everyone!

I've decided to share a few of my make-up favourites with you all! I'm no make-up expert; I'm still learning everyday with what type of make-up suits me best and what's the best way to apply it. But there are a few products that I have been using for a few months (or years in some cases!) and I just thought I would share my thoughts on them here. (Disclaimer: all opinions are my own!)

MAC Studio Fix Fluid:

I have been using this foundation since I was 15 years old (so that's a total of 5 years!) and it is honestly one of the BEST things I have ever put on my face! It is a very high coverage and covers up any discolouration, which I have a lot of particularly redness on my cheeks and around my nose. I use the colour NC15 and it is perfectly matched to my skin tone. Although the price is a little steep for students like myself, it is honestly worth it and it lasts ages as well - a bottle would last me for about five or six months! 

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer:

The fact that I have more than one tub (tube? bottle?) of this concealer in my make-up bag goes to show what I think of it! I love this stuff! It is a great coverage for under the eyes and for any imperfections on the skin. The reason I have more than one of this concealer is because it is only sold in Boots, so whenever I am there I buy some. It is also very affordable and lasts a long time.

Rimmel Scandaleyes Precision Micro Liner:

This liner is honestly one of the best liners I have used. I've only been using it for the last two weeks, but I have found it so easy to use and to create a flick with. The tip is so small, which makes it easy to create a thin line, but one that you can build up if you want a thicker line. 

URBAN DECAY Naked 2 Eyeshadow Palette:

As you can see from the photo, this palette has received a lot of love over the last year. I particularly love the shades YDK, Chopper and Half-Baked (which I believe is also in the original Naked palette). As I have blue eyes, the golds and brown shades in this palette suit me very well, and I love experimenting with the different colours to create different effects.

Essence Lash Mania False Lash Effect Mascara:

I have been using this mascara since the beginning of the year, and I was very shocked to discover how much I loved it! I only bought it because I was out of mascara and I just wanted to buy a cheap one until I could afford my usual mascara. However, this mascara is now my usual mascara! For the affordable price of just under €5, my eyelashes are seperated, volumised and lengthened with two or three coats of this mascara (depending on the look I am going for). I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a cheap mascara.

Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in 006 Pink Blush and Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Moss Lipstick in 107:

These are my two go-to lipsticks when I want to complete a day time look and a night time look. I use the 006 for a day time look as it is a beautiful natural pink shade. My night time looks are not complete without my 107! This vibrant red stays on all night and just completes any make-up look. 

Until next time.

Fifs xo

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A New Beginning

How do I even begin to write a blog post? 

Hi? Hello? Welcome? (takes deep breath)

Hello everyone! 

And welcome to my first ever blog post! I've been wanting to start up a blog for some time now, and I think that now is the right time for me. I plan to keep this as general as possible: lifestyle, fashion, makeup, food, just life in general! 

I should start by introducing myself. My name is Aoife (nicknamed Fifs by my college housemates!) and I am 20 years old. I am finished my second year of college in Dublin where I am training to be a primary school teacher. I am from Galway and love where I come from! I love fashion and makeup, as well as musicals and drama. I enjoy reading other blogs and watching YouTube videos and vlogs. 

This summer, I plan to start a fresh with a lot of things. I plan to be more healthy, exercise more, get organised, and just be happier in general! It's a new beginning for me, and I want to take everyone on this journey with me!

Until next time.

Fifs xo

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