NSpa Beauty Rituals : Spa Skincare Box

My best friend and I went on one of our regular late night jaunts to ASDA last week and as usual, we went in for 1 thing and came out with a basket full of stuff we neither needed or could afford! Anyway, on Lyndsey's recommendation, we purchased the NSpa Beauty Skincare Box and chilled with some home made food and a beauty night. 

I had never used a hot cloth polish before I sampled this one but I will definitely be using it again. The set came with a melting cleansing gel, a hot cloth polish, radiant flash serum and a brightening day cream and combined, they made up a 4 step process which Lyndsey and I closely followed. As someone who wears a relatively dense layer of foundation and bronzer, I am always sceptical about a cleanser or make up removers' ability to completely remove my make up and leave my skill feeling fresh and most importantly clean. However, despite my doubts, after wetting the muslin cloth (which comes with the set) with warm water and covering my face in the melting cleansing gel and then the hot cloth polish, I was exceptionally pleased with the results. All my make up had been gently removed and after applying the brightening day cream to finish off the 4 step process, I definitely felt fresh and my skin was feeling soft and looking radiant.

This set is only £10 which I believe is an absolute steal! As someone who would rather splash out on clothes, eating out and travel, skin care products aren't always my top priority when they are highly priced. However, the NSpa Skincare Box was excellent and I will definitely be purchasing it again!

The set came beautifully packaged and presented. Priced at £10.

The 4 step skin care routine.

The NSpa range is exclusively available at ASDA along with many other beauty, toiletry and skin care products they have available. I will certainly be sampling more NSpa products in the future.

www.nspa.co.uk

groceries.asda.com

The BBC Good Food Show 2014

It was a first for my best friend and I when we attended The BBC Good Food Show at the SECC in Glasgow last week. As massive foodies and 'experimental' amateur cooking enthusiasts, this was an ideal day out for the 2 of us; sampling the free tasters, purchasing luxurious food and watching some of Britain's finest chefs at work! We were lucky enough to get tickets to see both Tom Kitchin and James Martin prepare some mouth watering culinary delights in front of our very own eyes. As individuals with a wide palette and an interest in trying almost anything that is presented to us, the monkfish with saffron, the leek and potato soup with ox tounge, the risotto with pancetta and an American style doughnut dessert kept our taste buds thoroughly tantalised! 

James Martin preparing lamb shanks.

To take home, we bought pulled pork burgers with apple chutney and for dessert, giant pistachio meringues with cream, both of which tasted amazing and I would highly recommend them. Tom Kitchin's cooking display was especially entertaining as he spoke about his restaurant business, new expansion plans and his desire to maintain product sourcing locally as much as possible. As an Edinburgh born chef, he spoke of his love for Scottish produce and how he maintains this on his menus within the restaurant. He also spoke about how important he believes it is for chefs to attend and work in their own restaurants - a mantra he has stuck to throughout his years within the culinary industry. He maintained that he does not believe in opening lots of restaurants and not attending them, but having fewer where the customers know that you are there and have in some way contributed to the sourcing, preparation or presentation of their meal. The Kitchin, Tom's restaurant is only a 15 minute drive from my house so I look forward to booking a table here in the near future and trying out the Michelin star rated menu for myself.

Tom Kitchin.

I would highly recommend getting tickets for the BBC Good Food Show when it comes around next year, especially if you are into your food and drink and are willing to be adventurous! It is an ideal place to grab some free samples, buy presents for friends and family, watch cooking displays and gain new knowledge which can be used in the kitchen. The tickets are priced at £19.95 and are valid throughout the whole day, meaning you can slowly wonder around the different stands at your own pace.

The most amazing meringues!

A cute little Tunnocks stall!

Scottish Travel Post 1 : A Trip to the Beautiful St Andrews

2014 has been an enormous year for Scotland, being the host of several internationally recognised events including The Glasgow Commonwealth Games, The Edinburgh Festival, The Gleneagles Ryder Cup and not to forget, the unforgettable Independence Referendum - all of which have heightened what was an already deep love for our wonderful country. As a small island with a population smaller than some American states, what was titled a 'mammoth task' was pulled off and I believe perfectly executed by the ever passionate, proud and patriotic Scottish people. I was fortunate enough to be at the heart of these events and experience the sheer electric atmosphere that engulfed the country and this is something I will always value. I believe it has made me more eager to explore Scotland and the breathtaking scenery it has to offer which is why I will begin my first instalment of Scottish travel blog posts with my recent trip to St Andrews.

St Andrews pier and the cathedral.

Some of my earliest and fondest memories which I will always treasure were spent in St Andrews at my Grandparent's caravan, situated on a sea view cliff which looked onto the historic town and famous cathedral. My Grandparent's were keen travellers and my Dad tells me that from a young age, they were always seize their weekends to go out and about to explore the seaside, venture up the coast and on a few occasions, they even took the long drive over the sea to Spain. My family would frequent at the caravan about 4 times a year and it was always such a happy and exciting occasion, catching up on old times and sharing valuable moments with the children who were growing up so quickly. My sister and I were taken out during the day, maybe to the aquarium, or the cinema or a walk along to the world famous St Andrews Old Course. However, after my Grandpa passed away, maintaining the caravan became very laborious for my Granny who was expected to keep it running and cover the expensive annual site and maintenance fees. So it was much to the family's delight and surprise that my Dad decided to buy his own caravan which was the perfect compromise as the pressure was taken off my Granny but we still had a place to visit and catch up with family - just like the old times. This caravan is based a little further up the coast in a small town called Crail, situated just near Pittenweem and Anstruther.

Last week my friend and I decided to take a road trip up to St Andrews to visit our good friend Stacey who is studying a masters in marketing up there. Prior to moving into her accommodation, Stacey had never visited St Andrews so I was keen to explore the town with someone with a fresh pair of eyes. We had lunch at the famous Jannettas- a gellato ice cream parlour which offers almost any flavour you can imagine. I ordered a 3 scoop tub with snickers, white chocolate raspberry and pistachio. We then took a walk to see some of the old historic university buildings, some of which have been standing for over 500 years and then followed on to take a stroll along the chilly pier. 

Jannettas' elaborate ice cream selection.

As a 23 year old adult, I no longer view St Andrews as a place equipped with play parks, sand castles and colouring books  but as someone who especially enjoys sampling new restaurants, cafes and bars, and appreciates fresh local food, St Andrews has become a hub for all of these things. Over the last 3 or 4 years a wealth of new places have opened up which offer a contemporary feel to a very historic town which I imagine pleases the thousands of students and visitors who reside and pass through here. The world famous golf course and cathedral are also worth a visit - ideal for the history buff and additionally there are 2 beautiful beaches; East Sands and West Sands - both of which are scenic and perfect for a brisk walk.

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit up to an old favourite town and I plan to continue exercising the habit to re-visit St Andrews when I get the chance. 

www.visitstandrews.com | www.visitscotland.com | www.tripadvisor.co.uk

Local Businesses 1: The Skylark in Portobello

I am and always have been a lover of Scotland and local business and over the last couple of years, I believe the country has excelled in the hospitality sector with the opening of many unique new bars, bistro pubs and restaurants which all tend to carry their own versions of bistro food presented in contemporary and quirky ways. I am a huge foodie and will sample any kind of food or drink that is placed in front of me, no matter how bizarre it may look or sound so when Portobello (Edinburgh) suddenly became an overwhelming scene of delicious eateries, I have grown to love my seaside town even more. 

From authentic Spanish tapas, award winning Indian cuisine, grubby unfinished greasy spoons that surprise you with their Masterchef style presentation and taste, bistro style pubs that supply only the finest locally sourced Scottish produce and a wide drinks selection, all the way to a kitsch beach hut style cafe based on the famous seaside promenade, Portobello is currently booming and really does have something to offer everyone, of all ages and tastes.

I believe local businesses are fundamental to the economy, the hospitality industry and most importantly their customers. No disrespect to some of the huge organisations which are established throughout the Western world, but undeniably there is a generic sense of limitations and repetitions when choosing from their menus which is why I love trying local businesses which offer a constantly changing menu that can be altered to the customers needs (because it is not pre-made). I remember visiting a chain restaurant last year and ordering the risotto but preferably with no mushrooms, however, the waiter naively let it slip that because the risottos arrive pre-made and frozen, this was not possible (an incident only encouraging me to eat locally more often). It is important to give encouragement to local businesses that are still finding their feet and looking for some deserved reassurance that that their business risk will pay off.

The first in my blog posts about my love for local businesses is The Skylark on Portobello High Street which opened in the summer of 2012 and was one of the first of many to bring a contemporary uplift to the town. They serve great quality local beer and ale from Stewart Brewing and source 100% Arabica coffee which is roasted in Glasgow. Their belief is to go as "local as possible", serving free range eggs, corn fed chicken, Scottish beef and bread and pastries which are baked in a French bakery in Edinburgh.

I have visited The Skylark several times during the 2 years it has been open and each time I re-visit, it gets better with an ever increasing and interchanging menu that has something to suit everyone's tastes. The bistro is moderately priced which I believe effectively mirrors the fresh produce, friendly staff and vibrant atmosphere. On this occasion I ordered 100% freshly squeezed orange juice and a home made warm toasted almond croissant. My Dad ordered a sausage and butter bean cassoulet (a type of stew) from the specials menu which was hearty and full of flavour, perfect for the cooler weather of late. Whether you are out for brunch, lunch, dinner or some late night drinks, The Skylark offers it all. Open until from 10-12 during the weekend, it is worthwhile place to visit with its welcoming, friendly and vibrant atmosphere.

If you don't finish your bottle of wine, they let you take it home!

www.theskylarkportobello.com

My Glasgow Commonwealth Games Experience

My team and I at  the Royal Commonwealth Pool, Edinburgh.

Although I don't play any sport, since a young age, I have loved watching it whether on TV or live playing and regardless of whether I support the team or athlete, I always thrive off the exciting buzz and atmosphere! I remember in 2000 (I would've been 9) when the Olympics were held in Sydney, Australia, we got to watch some of it while we were at school when it was raining during lunch or break times. I started to become very interested in the games and would race home from school to see if there was any more I could watch and I think this is where my love for sporting environments started.

In 2007, Glasgow won the bid against Nigeria to host the Commonwealth Games and I was thrilled as I believed that Glasgow was the perfect choice! I have been going through to Glasgow all my life to visit family and I have always loved the city with its vibrancy, unique culture and friendly people. It was going to be a 7 year wait until the games would actually be held but even at 16 years old, I was delighted by the news and was motivated to get myself involved in the games, one way or another.

2012 came and it was the year of Team GB! The Olympic games were brought to London and were a huge success, leaving a sporting legacy all through the country and motivating thousands of people like myself, to volunteer at sporting events. The undeniable positive impact the the London 2012 games brought to Great Britain motivated me to apply to volunteer at the Glasgow Commonwealth games which were to be held just 2 years later, in the summer of 2014. The application process was lengthy due to the overwhelming amount of applicants interested in making their contributions to a very unique and exciting opportunity. I remember receiving an email saying that volunteer applicants had broken previous games records with over 50,000 people applying from countries all over the world. This notion excited me but also made me nervous as I knew there were so many people wishing for the same opportunity as me but they could not give it to everyone!

When I received the good news email to say that I was one of the lucky 15,000 applicants to have been chosen for a voluntary position in the games, I was absolutely thrilled! Throughout the process my desire to be involved in a once in a lifetime event grew and so too did my worry that I would not be given the chance. However, I was proved wrong and after receiving the email, I went straight to work, researching the different voluntary positions throughout the games and what kind of tasks I would be involved in. I began my journey in May 2014, working in the famous and historical Kelvinhall in Glasgow. This is a landmark building in Glasgow, previously known as an events venue hosting boxing and travelling circuses during the 1960's and 70's. My position would be working in the Accreditation department, also known as the heart of the games where contractors, volunteers, athletes, games force staff, security and chief executives would pass through to receive their access passes allowing them into games venues. This was an interesting and intricate process which involved a lot of face to face interaction, patience and attention to detail whilst cross checking passports and identity documentation required to receive an accreditation pass. After a couple of months, I then moved to work at the Royal Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh (my home city) to carry out these tasks in a games specific venue. This was a very exciting time as I had a very nice supervisor who managed to get us tickets for the diving each day, allowing us to watch some live sport and meet Tom Daley in real life!

A few ladies from the team at Kelvinhall, Glasgow.

The fellow volunteers I met were exceptionally friendly and each and every one of them was grateful for the once in a life time opportunity we had been granted. I truly believe that Glasgow pulled off what was a mammoth task and one that many people doubted Glasgow could do. The games have left a positive legacy, inspiring a wealth of people from all age groups to engage in more sporting activities and take up voluntary work positions. I would encourage taking on voluntary work if the opportunity ever arises because from my experience, fellow volunteers shared a positive and motivational mindset that we were all there because we wanted to be, not as an obligatory process to make money. 

In 2015 the Pan American games will be held in Canada and in 2016, the Olympics will arrive in Rio! Both events excite me greatly and although they are much further away destinations, I am still considering applying for a voluntary position to gain experience in a much different environment.

My experience of volunteering at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games was exceptionally positive and rewarding and if I had the chance, I would do it all over again in a heart beat.

 

  A visit from Clyde, the games mascot. 

     

       Tom Daley and friends, training for the syncro dive finals.

Goodbye University!

After what was an enjoyable but VERY intense 4 years, I finally graduated with a degree in Psychology and Sociology from Queen Margaret University this summer (hence the lack of blog posts as the work load got heavy). I thoroughly valued my experience at QMU and I could not praise the lecturing staff any more for their passion and dediation to the course. The university overall is generally small in size and I consider this to be one of the key reasons to my success as the teaching was often available on a one-to-one and subjective basis, allowing students to direct the course of actions we took in terms of subject choices and career options.

Throughout my degree I studied modules related to business and social psychology in which I gained a wealth of knowledge about human interaction and consumer behaviour, ultimately triggering a passion to work in the field of Marketing, Communcations and PR. I consider myself as an observant and insightful individual who has a great interest in interaction and therefore by applying the knowledge I have obtained through university and life experiences, I hope to make invaluable contributions to the business sector.

Prison Break & Netflix Addictions

Since buying Netflix last month, my laptop has been on more than ever before! First I was into Breaking Bad, then it was onto Orange is the New Black and now it's Prison Break. It's got me hooked on another level, not just because the cast are extremely good looking but the plot keeps me glued. It's an unpredictable story line which doesn't always pan out the way once anticipated. I am half way through Season 3 now and have decided to limit my episode viewings as I just don't want it to end! Although this series ended in 2008, don't let that put you off as it is unmissable TV. I imagine I'll be going straight back to the first episode once I have finished season 4!