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:

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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.

I wear it to work before an early start, when I have to leave the house whilst it's still dark and damp outside or when I have a closing shift and whilst i'm travelling home late hours waiting for my bus to arrive, this coat is the only thing that makes my journey home tolerable.

Pair it with a Christmas beanie and my winter outfit is complete so it seems! I have to admit I am not usually one to buy coats for the sole purpose of keeping me warm but rather to look good. This faux fur biker jacket is the perfect combination of both. 

What is your go to item this winter?? 

That is how I will be starting my Sunday morning tomorrow - - How about you? 

Millie x

I can't believe that my old man is turning 18years old today! Meet Max -- he's a Maltese not just by nationality but also by breed.

Today was the first Sunday in a long time where both Tom and myself had no work and could enjoy eachothers company the plus side was that it happened to be a nice sunny day and we got to enjoy the Sunday vibe/rush in the town centre. The original plan was to go for brunch but ended up at a pub for a Sunday roast instead. 

Here's a little motto for the week: 

Hope everyone is having a fab Sunday & getting ready for the new week ahead! 

What have you guys been up to today?

M X

Today is basically a post about what I ate today. I always love seeing these on Instagram and youtube as they always inspire me with new ideas and recipes and decided to share my own daily food intake. Been working a little rough hours as of late, so diet wise hasn't been the best having today as a day off has really helped to get back on track with starting to go buy groceries and fill up my fridge with yummy ingredients!

For breakfast it was my personal favourite you can find the recipe here, I don't always get the chance to make smoothie bowls but when I do they make my day! I decided to make a banana rich bowl for breakfast it's so fast and so good it's the perfect start.

I love when I get a chance just to enjoy my food outside in the fresh air, I am the first to admit that most of the time I eat whilst with technology on be it the TV or going through social media on my phone which I have to realise for myself that it is so bad because we don't fully acknowledge the food that we intake, but also distracts us from knowing when our brain is giving us the signal of being full which in turn will make us eat more than we need too and put on more unnecessary weight which I quite frankly don't want.

This is such a comfort dish and suprisingly good for the health despite being good for the soul. Tom came home early today so we had the pleasure of cooking together. We decided to make a sweet jacket potato with cauliflower rice which hit the spot quite nicely -- you can find the recipe here

I usually would have snacked throughout the afternoon but lunch kept us going  - which was amazing! for dinner I was thinking of making something quite low key. Scrambled eggs in a tortilla w/ Spinach & Avocado! Simple yet still delicious -- Add some Cholula ontop and it's a date!