(Vest - Primark, Suede Leggings, Knee High Boots, Bag & Jumper - ZARA)

What is it that is so exciting (& stressful) about last minute Christmas Shopping? I think that it takes people a while to get into the Christmas spirit and to realise, shit.. it's Christmas in a couple of days. Me for one it only hit me this weekend, being away from home & not having decorations up where I live it's taken a while to kick in that it's Christmas in FIVE DAYS. It could also be due to the fact that Christmas also means manic work days ahead and a part of me is hoping for it to be over sooner rather than later. (Despite, loving Christmas). I realised that this weekend was my only chance left to get all my presents sorted before Christmas Eve on Saturday which is the time that I properly celebrate Christmas and exchange gifts, it has been that way ever since I was young and I intend to keep that tradition going no matter how far  away I am from home. 

Anyone who knows me will immediately tell you that I am a very classic black and white kinda gal. My whole wardrobe is not very colourful - I leave it to my personality to bring out the colours. (HA) It's almost mandatory when you spread the love and buy gifts for others, to self love and buy a gift for yourself in the process. (anything to make myself feel better for splurging money) I have added a few new additions to my wardrobe lately simply to add to my black and white collection or lets just call this my entire wardrobe. First off, I love leggings or yoga pants they're a signature look of mine which I find myself wearing not only for comfort but the way they style various outfits and simply work and go with everything. It was well overdue to invest in a fancier version of suede leggings which just dressed up a look instantly - can I just say how super comfy they are which is an added bonus! Secondly, I've been on the hunt for knee-high boots for a good couple of years and somehow they never quite fit right, I finally came across a pair whilst at work and you know what they say if the shoe fits...

Match the suede knee-high boots with the suede leggings and it's as if I'm wearing two in one! This look of black on black might not be for everybody but I just love the combination and the never ending effect that it gives.

It was this Sunday that I was dressed like this for the day that entailed going around shops & heading down to the Christmas Market, but I also was dressed up for the pub later that evening, where we met some friends for a drink or two. I love outfits that fit the part and hit two birds with one stone. With work I don't get to enjoy the clothes that I buy often due to always being in a uniform - I'm not complaining for having a uniform as i can imagine it would be so stressful spending hours deciding what to wear every morning... (& having an extra reason for being late to work) but I wish I had more occasions to wear my clothes more - I think extra leave just seems to be the right answer here. (ahhhh a girl can dream) 

Have you guys finished with your Christmas Shopping? & Whats your favourite colour? 

X

We love italian food & had been meaning to try this restaurant due to all the good reviews. The ambiance was unexpectedly a very romantic vibe, especially due to the dim lighting, I even liked the concept of this restaurant where you get to order, and pick it up yourself - it's almost fast-food with good -food which is perfect for when you're short on time, yet it is still enjoyable and allows you to take in the lunch/dinner experience.


We ordered a funghi pizza as a starter to share, considering it's one of our favourite foods - we needed to have pizza at some point & followed up by a pasta dish as a main. I went for the campagnelle pasta with a mushroom sauce (Yum) & for Tom  the mushroom risotto. (Erm?! Can you tell we're a little mushroom obsessed ha!) It was a super veggie friendly lunch yet so delicious, you can even tear off herbs from infront of you to add to your dish which really was a nice touch. 

After lunch we decided to take a stroll & head towards Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park to get on the ice rink and skate a little,  I have to admit I suck completely when it comes to ice skating. I always start getting better once the time is up  and then wait a whole other year to skate again, to start from scratch all over again. I really should take it up more often if I want to improve! Tom on the other hand, seems to be a natural - he managed to drag me along with him which really made it more of an enjoyable experience for me. It starts getting dark super fast here in London by 4pm to be precise, which in a way worked out well. The hour we decided to go on the rink, it was raining slightly which means there weren't as many people skating which made it more of a special moment for us, with the live music that was also playing, I could have stayed frozen in that particular moment. 

It was finally time! This was the one event that we were mainly looking forward to. No surprise the west end never ceases to amaze me! I'm not usually one for musicals, but live shows are an exception. The performance was played so well and the songs were amazing and very catchy, I even have one of the songs stuck in my head on repeat - and it isn't even a good phrase to stay saying countless times during the day! I'm glad that we watched this show, although it was a little pricy it was worth the experience and to get a good laugh or two out of it. Both Tom and I love South Park and due to the Book of Mormon being written by the creators of South Park we knew this play wouldn't disappoint.

I can't believe that my holiday has come to an end. Malta is obviously home. So when it comes to looking at it as a holiday we don't quite do the same things as we usually would do in another foreign country. However, due to having a friend come over from England we got to play more tour guides and explore the Maltese Islands with him, which made it a nice balance of home and holiday. it's true that if it was summer we would have had even more things to do to make the most of the Mediterranean sea but we still managed to do various things, such as Go - Karting, Horse Riding and visiting some key areas, that just makes you fall in love with the country all over again.

I have to admit - I was nervous at the beginning, I haven't ridden a horse since .. well never. I used to ride a white pony named Arabesque back in Paris when I was younger but this didn't quite measure out to be the same. Her name is Delilah, yes I stayed singing the 'Hey there Delilah' song all throughout and quite frankly she grew a liking towards it & that's how we bonded - Thanks Plain White T's.

You know what they say when in doubt follow the sun

Another true beauty is Dingli Cliffs. I have to admit out of the whole two weeks that day was the coldest - the wind had really picked up.  In the horizon, the first and only thing you get to see is filfla  - the tiny rock in the middle of nowhere that no one is allowed to step foot upon however, it's more the sea, and beyond that catches my eye. a true vision - the reflection of the sun was almost silver reflecting upon the sea which almost made it heaven like. You don't have to spend hours here to take it all in , it affects you instantly. 

I'm just going to come straight out and say it - Mdina wasn't so much for the heritage that we went but more for Fontanella coffee shop and the iconic chocolate cake that we knew was waiting for us. Ofcourse, we did a good stroll around - but our coffee break took the cake! (Literally)

We did manage to catch the view which you can see whilst sitting down and I was completely amazed how I got to see half of the island in the shade and the rest in pure sunshine, it's something I had never seen before and I am so glad that I got to catch it in the moment, it was way more striking off camera though - as are most things!

When I'm back home, there's always so much food involved, from grandparents cooking, to home cooked meals to going out meeting and catching up with friends, this time I went for a late brunch at U-Bistro for a catch up with a friend -  safe to say we did not eat all of this food! The omelette was amazing, and perhaps was our favourite part from this brunch (& the healthiest too) We both got super excited when we saw pancakes & waffles on the menu and couldn't make up our mind as to which to get; it was like Sophie's choice. We compromised by deciding to get both! We both managed to take a pancake each but struggled immensely with the waffles -  the coffee on another note was fantastic.

I went to one of my favourite restaurants which happens to be Gululu, it's Maltese cuisine - and I go for the same thing every time, the L-Gharbija Ftajjar Pizza. I crave this when I'm in London and never bother to change my order. It's made with traditional Maltese dough, hummus, lamb & topped off with feta cheese ; any one drooling yet? Half is enough, My friend took the fresh calamari with gluten free pasta, and I have to say after tasting it, it was absolutely divine - get a glass of wine - sit outside with the blankets like we did, stay by the sea and take in the breeze and the night is absolutely complete. We walked off our dinner by walking on the sea front, which we do often here and is an amazing way of helping digest, I love how easily accessible my little town is.

My spine right now is so bruised .. I wonder why. I have to say I'm an exceptional driver and I am questioning why it is I hadn't gotten my license the first time round! In a matter of fifteen minutes I managed to over cross the tyres to end up on the other side of the track, did a complete 360 twice whilst turning, and going full speed without taking my foot of the pedal - I am quite the adrenaline junkie , I love these things although I didn't quite follow the proper technique I had loads of fun. I could have come close to first,( that is of course, if I didn't get stuck in a pot hole for two minutes had to be rescued!) I haven't done Go- Karting in so many years & unlike horse riding, you are in control. Definitely, keeps you buzzing for a while after! It cost 25 euros for half an hour. In the UK its double that price at £50 so was definitely worth it doing in Malta!

One of my good friends Claudia took part in an exhibition, where she worked closely with the photographer & Stylist  - this art exhibition was inspired by a number of fairy tale stories such as beauty and the beast, little mermaid , sleeping beauty et cetera and twisted the story line with current social issues - bringing social commentary and awareness to problems such as abuse, arranged marriage, portrayal of beauty in the media, abortion, sexuality, malnutrition and so on. The was a description for each photo in Maltese but quite frankly the photos spoke strongly for themselves. I was very impressed with this exhibition, I love photography, and appreciate a good art piece, this was well put together and  looking forward for future works.

that's a small preview of my week, I was constantly on the go trying to make the most of my time, and with that naturally I saw the time pass much faster.  It's funny how I woke up in one country, and ending the day in another - I enjoyed being back home and being able to spend quality time with both my family & friends, however, I'm slightly content being back in the UK simply to get back into a routine. I am currently in my onesie, sipping on a hot yogi tea & adjusting back to the cold -  Tom and I decided to order some chinese for the evening & we're ready to knock out straight after. I better quickly recuperate because I start work again tomorrow, back to reality ... Next up is our seven year anniversary coming up today week! 

Packing can be rather strenuous, especially depending on the length of your holiday. This time I went down to Malta for two whole weeks with only x1 luggage, with all the events I knew were already planned and the spontaneous outings that usually occur I had to make sure to be presentable and ready for such occasions. What I have tried to do is alternate between various clothing to relate to the activity, whilst also trying to mix and match certain items which I can assure you can be quite a challenge at always making it work! Here is an outlook of my first week in Malta and what I wore, The majority of my outfits have been planned to be super relaxed as it enables me to do lots of running around which undoubtedly was the case.

OUTFIT ONE:
Hello from Malta! I am finally here & to greet me the sun came out, which results in me finally getting to wear my fave sunnies after a few months of not fulfilling it's purpose in London!  My first few days in Malta are always manic - I usually go do the rounds of saying hello to some friends and family, whilst also catching up on certain appointments. Today, I had my hairdresser booked in whilst also, having a lunch at my grandparents straight after, to then have a back to back appointment for an impromptu dentist visit (the horror of the wisdom teeth), I straight after run further errands with my mum and only allowed me to have an hour or two to relax, before having to meet a good friend of mine for a well deserved glass of wine in the evening whilst having a good old catch up. My outfit of course changed for the evening, but for the duration of the day this is how I was dressed. My look is very minimal which the majority of the time during the day, describes my style in a nutshell. 

These trousers are amazing - they recently went on special price here in the UK so they were only a tenner, I bought these in both blue & black and they are definitely going to end up a wardrobe staple of mine! The weather is beautiful here in Malta, around 20 degrees warm, so a jacket wasn't necessary. I decided to just wear a little sweater and it sufficed, I then completed this look with my Stan Smith shoes to stay comfortable throughout my busy day. 

OUTFIT TWO:

I got my hair did! I'm sure you can tell the difference from the above pic and this one. I've had my hair short before so it's not really a big change, but the past few months my hair has grown so much and has lost it's style which in turn wasn't making me feel like myself so you can just imagine how much happier I feel! I wanted to dress up slightly especially to compliment my 'new' look. I just have a black blouse along with my slightly ripped navy jeans and my booty heels. This long cardy I had gotten it once reduced it was an amazing bargain and I just love it, especially for a weather like today. What's also not evident is that I styled this look with a choker & my apple watch, very minimal accessory but one that complimented this outfit quite nicely with the colour coordination. No doubt most of my outfit images are going to be with my sunnies - they are a huge part of my look, which I count as an accessory rather than a necessity and I'm trying to take advantage of it whilst it lasts. (Lets be honest I've even tried the whole shades on winter days in London and I looked plain ridiculous)

OUTFIT THREE:

-

What are you thankful for?

You know the expression "if it isn't broken, don't fix it", well I seem to follow that saying religiously when it comes to my makeup routine. I have gone through a lot of trial and error, and always switched up makeup products, which in result has left a lot of expensive products to expire in my makeup bag until I found the right ones. I have been several months now where I have been very content with my products and I haven't felt like something was missing, of course there are days I want a brighter lip but other than that my look is pretty much consistent. My products are a combination of both high-end and drugstore, there was a time where I was saving up to solely buy higher-end products and to my dismay, I was very disappointed. Some products have worked on me and others haven't, this is when I came to realise not only was I wasting money & that I could have possibly bought x4 mascaras for the price of one but also that it doesn't necessarily mean you're going to pay for the product but rather the brand - you know what they say same product different packaging.   

Below is a step-by-step guide to how I do my look pretty much everyday, I have also gone ahead to link my products. Keep in mind everyone's complexion and taste is different. What works for me might not personally work for you, but doesn't mean you can't get an insight on a product or two. 

FIRST STEP : FOUNDATION & CONCEALER

The base is very important. First off you will need to make sure that you have a clean face just like an artist needs a white canvas. I like a foundation with SPF which is why I use Vichy Derma Blend during the summer months, loyal to it's name this foundation blends in super nicely and leaves my face with a nice dewy finish at a price of £13.50. As of late, (when a heavy SPF isn't really necessary) I opt for my other favourite, Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua. It is super light on the face and has a slightly less coverage, this is definitely a little pricier at £33 but in my opinion, a little goes a long way and is worth the extra ££. I then add a little YSL Touche Eclat Radiant Touch under my eyes and penetrate it into the skin with my index finger. This brightens my eye area and makes my dark circles 'almost' disappear.

SECOND STEP: POWDER, 

My face seems to be where I alternate between both high-end and low-end products. I vary between the Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder for only £3.99 (How is it so good & so affordable?!) and the Chanel Vitalumiere Compact Doucer which is more costly at £42.50, this is almost like a foundation powder which I use mainly when I need more of a coverage touch up. However, they both work fantastic at removing shine and preventing that oily T-zone throughout the day.

THIRD STEP: BLUSH & HIGHLIGHTER

Once your face and powder has set it's time to bring some colour back on the face. I have quite high cheek bones and quite frankly when it comes to bronzer it never quite does it for me. I sometimes do add but very rarely - my blush and highlighter do the trick just fine. I have been using Melba - Powder Blush by Mac which is a peachy colour which I believe could work fantastic on any skin tone & I polish off with Mineralize Skinfinish Soft & Gentle at £24 this highlighter is so luminous & gorgeous, it brightens my face instantly.

FOURTH STEP: APPLY BROW PENCIL,  EYELINER AND EYESHADOW

This is an important part that can make or break your look, the definition of the eyebrows. I use Veluxe Brow Liner also by Mac in the shade: Deep Dark Brunette. I usually just elongate my eyebrows slightly however if I'm feeling a thicker brow this will definitely bolden my entire look.

I got offered the Complete Eye Palette in shade mocha 2 after finishing my work experience at Burberry last year and I have been using it ever since this is perfect on me for an every day neutral smokey eye. This really compliments my winged eyeliner quite nicely, these shadows last all day on my eyelids & as far as price goes £40 seems about right considering this product has lasted me all this time.

The winged liner can be super tricky, there are days I managed to get it done under two minutes and other times, where it can be the whole reason why I'm running late. I use the L'Oreal Paris Superliner Black 'n' Sculpt eye liner to achieve this look which only costs £6.99 and helps me greatly at succeeding that perfect winged look.. on most days. (my winged eyeliner seems to have a personality of it's own)

FIFTH STEP: MASCARA 

I was thinking if I had to be stranded & I could only choose one item. It would have to be Mascara, there is something about mascara that without it a look is NOT complete. I love to use the waterproof kind. It's easier to remove which in turn, will help to lessen wrinkles with age as one won't have to thug the fragile skin around the eyes to remove the remains. I use Maybelline Mascara Volume Express this is super affordable at £4.99 and gives me that bold look, I usually can't do without. 

SIXTH STEP: LIPS

'Eye' for one love a heavy look, (see what I did there?) so I try to keep it balanced by going nude on my lips. This has been the one that I struggled loads with, there were times where I used to put foundation to get the desired nude look, as my lips are naturally quite pigmented. However, I have finally found Creme de nude by Mac and my life is now complete. this is only £15.50, this is in between drugstore and high end price. They are extremely smooth and work perfect on me, I add this on right after my Naked Liner lip pencil which is £13 (also by Mac) which helps to keep the colour on for longer.

My two weeks leave has officially begun. I decided to start my day with an energising breakfast and I have to say that it was berry-tasty. I tried an acai bowl for the first time, not surprised that it was super good. Quite frankly, you can't really go wrong when it comes to smoothie bowls, the toppings are endless and pretty much delicious as a single ingredient, let alone when you combine them together. I decided to top mine with granola and a berry medley, mixed with 100gr acai sachet, x1 frozen banana plus mango and apple juice. Note to self: next time you make a smoothie bowl make sure to have a decent sized bowl, it might not show on the picture but this was actually smaller in size to the normal standard cereal bowls and well despite it looking cuter, it surely was messier. (Yep, you guessed right I spilled quite a bit on my lace table cloth.)

I'm on stop leave in the coming month and that results in me having to celebrate Christmas with my family early, next Friday kinda early. As on Monday I fly to Malta - I only have the weekend to get some 'typical last minute' Christmas Shopping done and to just kick back and relax slightly before I'm on island time. I decided to meet Tom on his work lunch before I stroll the shops. This is what I decided to wear to sport an effortless look yet still look remotely chic.

I told you this wouldn't be the last of my beanie hat, due to its seasonal patterns I am excused to wear it all throughout the Christmas festivities. If I'm honest this is my boyfriend's, I have a tendency to nick his clothes. Also, working at ZARA I own a lot of ZARA clothing so I'm not sponsoring them, I just genuinely give them back quarter of my salary each month. I will link the items that are still available below. (Excuse my tired face I am ready for an afternoon nap so it seems!)

(Beanie - Topman, Shirt Dress,Skinny Jeans & Long Coat  - ZARA , Shoes - Adidas )

We decided to try the Cheeky Pea Hummus Bar for lunch, and my was it good, I took their falafel wrap & it was so lovely and crispy, I'm drooling at the thought of it. I included some lemon & coriander hummus to mine and this just made the dish even more delicious, it costs £5.50 which comparing to other market places there is not much difference, this is very filling and keeps you going, so in a way the £5 can contribute towards a satisfying meal! I'm not vegan - I just seem to eat like one most days.  I just like to eat healthy and enjoy what's on my plate & I genuinely just enjoy most vegetarian dishes, if you do too then I highly recommend you try this place based in Kingston. I followed lunch with a warm soya cappuccino from Pret a Manger, I don't even know why they ask me if I want chocolate sprinkles on top .. of course I do - who doesn't?

The rest of my day is going to be pretty basic - I need to clear up a few things whilst I start packing slowly. I don't know about you but I prefer to pack than unpack a suitcase!

I hope you all have a lovely weekend and see you in Malta!

As you might start to gather, the recipes I post lately are hassle free, so easy & requires minimal preparation time! With my work schedule it's almost impossible to spend much time in the kitchen which I miss. I find cooking to be a sense of therapy, I love the feeling it gives me where I slowly start to relax and fall in my element allowing me to forget about my day and just de-stress. A lot of people get tense when they cook which in turn makes it a not so enjoyable process -  but if you just go along and follow your instincts its more enjoyable than you think -- don't get me wrong, I've had stressful occasions when I'm cooking breakfast for instance, preparing lunch ahead of time, kettle has just boiled and coffee needs to be made, oil in the pan is cooking fast and not all my ingredients are prepped & chopped. We've all had those days and by the time the food is done we're not hungry anymore. Who am I kidding? There's never a time where I won't be hungry to eat what I've prepared, especially if it's these taco babies. 

This is a meat-friendly dish which is surprisingly light and the consistency of the mushrooms makes this quite a meaty alternative. I don't wait for Tuesday to come around, I enjoy tacos far too much. I just love the taste of cilantro (aka: coriander) and I think that is where my love for mexican lies. I've naturally been brought up eating Italian & French food so it will always have a close place to my heart, but Mexican food is a love that I came to find for myself - give me guacamole with cilantro anytime! Nothing beats the homemade kind.  Right less jibber jabber lets get this taco party started. 

*You could heat your taco shells slightly to have them warm but this step is not necessary.

Time to fill the tortillas. Start by adding some avocado as your base, followed by the mushroom and spinach mixture, and x1tsp of sour cream per tortilla then garnish with crumbles of  goat cheese as well, as a nice handful of cilantro. 

Et voila, simple yet delicious. 

Note! You are going to want more than one so prepare a few extra in advance. Not hungry? Have leftovers? Great! Lunch for tomorrow is sorted, better safe than sorry wouldn't you say?

Bon Appetit!

x

HEALTH BENEFITS OF CILANTRO

A natural home remedy to help aid digestion, this herb is good for various cases such as nausea , stomach pains and upset stomachs. Just brew yourself a tea made fresh from the leaves and should have a prompt relief. Cilantro also helps with inflammation.