Forevermissvanity - A UK Lifestyle Blogger : February 2015

Five Steps for Feeling Confident

Confidence is something that a lot of people naturally have or don't have, but just because confidence comes naturally to others it doesn't mean that you will never be a confident person. I have always struggled with confidence and in the past it has stopped me from so many amazing opportunities and has hindered both my professional and personal life. When I was at school I used to suffer from panic attacks when asked to do presentations or read out loud as I often felt judged and making friends was difficult. When I finished high school my confidence was so low that I didn't think I was good enough to go to university like all my friends and instead I did a hairdressing course when what I really wanted to study was journalism.

Luckily for me my hairdressing career wasn't a complete waste of time. I managed to qualify as a hairdresser and most importantly build enough confidence to enroll on a media course and pursue my dream career. Fast forward five years and I have a job that I love, my blog is getting bigger and better each day and I'm a lot more willing to take on things that are out of my comfort zone. Why did hairdressing give me confidence? It put me in situations where I had to challenge myself - people put a lot of trust in you when it comes to cutting hair and if you can survive that, a phone call or a mini presentation seems like a breeze, it also made me talk to people on a regular basis whether it be face to face or on the phone and finally, I was given a project where I had to design an informative leaflet for my salon and everyone loved it so much that it gave me confidence in my writing and design skills. I'm not the most confident person in the entire world, but nowadays I do have the confidence to successfully run a blog, pitch ideas to my work colleagues and be able to meet new people and hold a conversation.

During my journey to find my own inner confidence, I decided to abide by these five valuable life skills and they really helped changed my life.

1. Challenge Yourself

Part of being confident is going out of your comfort zone and learning how to deal with sticky situations. The more you realise that you have nothing to fear, the more your confidence grows. If you're scared of using the phone - challenge yourself to make one phone call a week to someone new, if you don't like travelling take a small bus ride somewhere on your own until you get enough confidence to go further. I have learnt that you cannot go from being shy to confident overnight, but if you take baby steps every single week you will eventually get close.

2. Be Proud of Yourself

Be proud of your achievements whether they are big or small and keep telling yourself how amazing you are doing. When I'm feeling anxious I sit in front of my mirror and say 'you can do this'. It may sound a little bit crazy, but thinking about all your previous achievements shows that you have accomplished so much so far, there's nothing stopping you from achieving more.

3. Don't be afraid of Failure

Unfortunately failure is a big part of life and sometimes failure is inevitable. The way to look at it is that lessons are learnt from failure and sometimes failure is life's way of trying to make you a stronger person and paving the way for something bigger and better in your life. I failed my driving test twice before passing and I thought it was the end of the world. However looking back I feel a much more confident driver than I would have been passing first time and because I've learnt from previous mistakes i'm much more cautious and in fact safer than I would have been.

4. Don't care what other people think

This is probably one of the hardest lessons you will ever learn and no matter how hard we tell ourselves not to think about other peoples opinions, it is human nature to care. However one of the best things to do to boost your confidence is not to care what other people think. If you're in an interview situation tell yourself that you might not even see this person again and if you do, it's probably because they actually like you and if you're on the phone - who cares, they cannot even seen you. In life there will be lovers and haters and you cannot please everyone, just be yourself and the people that want to be around you are the people you should be spending time caring about.

5. Be Yourself

Be passionate about things you care about, don't change yourself for anyone and love yourself just the way you are.

Have you ever struggled with your confidence?

It has been awhile since I have done a 'brand in focus' blog post but when I was introduced to Bespoke Aroma, I thought this would be best way to show how amazing their work is and highlight some of their fantastic products.

Bespoke Aroma are a small brand based in the Lake District set up by the lovely Jo Evans. Having noticed that I been really poorly lately, Jo sent me a lovely Bespoke Aroma package filled with natural skin care products to help me get back on the mend. The package contained: Two types of aromatherapy hand cream, bath infusion tea bags, pulse point oils and a facial skin tonic.

The Bespoke Aroma range of teas, skin creams and oils were created by aroma massage therapist Jo Evans, who realised there was a gap in the market for more hypoallergenic skin care when her clients confided in her about their skin care concerns. Many of these concerns were related to common dermatology problems, but one of her clients had undergone treatment for breast cancer and her skin was very sensitive.

Alongside her current job the former spa manager started manufacturing a bespoke range of skin care by testing these against the needs of her clients. This has resulted in an extensive range of luxurious bath and beauty products that have been hand-blended in the beautiful and natural surroundings of the Lake District.

One of the products that I have been eager to try for awhile now has been the Bespoke Aroma bath teas. As someone that suffers ongoing joint problems due to arthritis, baths are a godsend. They help ease my pain and give me a few minutes of the day to relax and forget about my problems. The tea I had tried had a mixture of: Inger - a herb with an analgesic effect which helps relieve muscle spasms and cramps as well as having anti-inflammatory properties, Star Anise which helps reduce the sensation of pain, Nettle Leaves which have been used for hundreds of years to treat joint problems, Oatmeal and various essential oils to lubricate and soften the skin. When I dropped the tea bag into my bathtub, there was an explosion of beautiful scents that filled the air. The aroma reminded me of a recent spa trip and as I sunk into the hot, relaxing water I felt like I was taken back there. To a place that relaxed me and my body felt at ease. I could feel the hot water and the mix of herbs, spices and oils gently kneading my achy bones and when I came out of the bath, I noticed that a few of my many aches and pains had been swept away.

After drying myself and applying my moisturiser before bed, I applied the Bespoke Aroma Aromatherapy hand cream, the Bergamot & Lavender Pulse Point Oil and finally the Skin Tonic Facial Oil. I found the Bespoke Aroma hand cream a delight to use. It's not often that I buy a hand cream and use it more than five times, but I haven't stopped using the Bespoke Aroma hand cream since it arrived. Unlike most hand creams, this one dissolves into the skin with very little effort and does not leave the hands feeling greasy. The beautiful scent seems to linger all day and my hands feel noticeably softer.

The Lavender Pulse Point Oil is something that I also love. I lead a very hectic lifestyle and I've always had trouble switching off. I have found that applying the lavender oil just before bed helps me de-stress and unwind. I have used Lavender oils many times in the past when I've had university stress, college stress and even when I have a short spell on insomnia at school. I have always found them helpful.

The last product that I tried was the Skin Tonic Facial oil and admittedly it wasn't for me. I have combination skin that goes from oily to dry and this makes me very hesitant when it comes to oily face products. After applying the product to my hand I found the facial oil to be rather gentle and not as oily as I imagined, but my general fear of facial oils got to me before I was able to fully assess the product on my actual face.

With many skin and body care companies out there these days, it's often difficult to find brands that stand out from the crowd, but Bespoke Aroma has gone above and beyond my expectations. Their products are gentle, soothing, relaxing and all natural which makes them perfect for everyone.

Have you tried any of the Bespoke Aroma range?

It's almost shocking to think that this time next month we will be hanging up our winter jackets and according to astronomical calendar we will be stepping into spring. If you love florals, rose gold and almost anything in pastel colours you will love what the high street has to offer this upcoming spring and summer and from what I have seen so far, we seem to be in for a treat.

Spring has to be one of my favourite seasons as the fashion screams femininity and the light, softer colour of the fabrics give my much needed pale, winter skin a healthy glow. For me, spring is the season of happiness. The brighter mornings instantly put me in a good mood, dresses are more acceptable on a daily basis due to the warmer weather and we have more time to enjoy ourselves on an evening because the light enables us to spend more time outdoors rather than rush to the comfort and heat of our beds.

One of the best things about Spring for every fashion lover is the chance to update their wardrobe with new and exciting clothing. Out goes the heavy faux fur jackets, dark jeans and winter UGG boots and in comes beautiful peplum tops, soft waterfall pastel jackets, lighter jeans and sandals.

If you're looking to add florals to your wardrobe, this floral V Neck peplum from Jane Norman is a great place to start. This top features a deep v neck, keyhole back and a flattering peplum shape - perfect for hiding all those winter lumps and bumps until you get back in the gym again. This can be teamed up with almost anything and is perfect for going from smart to casual and vice-versa. To add a pop of colour to your outfit and keep warm when the weather still isn't that hot, I'd recommend a jacket like this Pastel Leather Biker from Karen Millen. Although this jacket comes with a rather hefty price tag, it is versatile and well made, meaning it will last you from season to season. I have teamed both these items up with a classic pair of ripped jeans and these gorgeous white leather block heel slingbacks both from River Island. Finally, to accessorise the outfit I have chosen a classic Marc Jacobs watch.

What are you looking forward to the most about spring?

When there are so many types of perfume on the high street, choosing the right one for you can often be difficult. We are spoilt for choice with all the different types of scents out there and sometimes it is trial and error until you find the one that most suits you. Above is my current collection of perfumes and as you can see, I'm a little bit of a hoarder. I have always been fascinated by the different scents out there and how similar notes mixed together can deliver different outcomes. I'm also a big fan of collecting perfume bottles as there are so many different styles. As someone who has experimented with quite a lot of perfumes, I've decided to give you a rundown of my best advice when it comes to buying perfume.

Leave the perfume to develop

It's always tempting to buy a perfume there and then when you walk into your local beauty counter. Often there are people giving you samples of the newest launches and there's an endless supply of perfume for you to try at your own leisure. One of the biggest mistakes you can do when buying perfume is to buy it on the spot unless you have tried it before. Some perfumes develop straight away and the scent you smell on your wrist is almost exactly as it would smell in a few hours time, however some perfumes take a while to develop. Whilst perfume is settling on the wrist different notes are unleashed and it's not until at least ten minutes later that you will truly discover what the perfume actually smells like. My advice is to test the perfume then go for a little walk and come back in half an hour. By this time you will have allowed the perfume to settle and have given yourself time to make an informed decision on whether you should buy it.

Check the fragrance notes

Fragrance is made up of 'notes' that release scents at different times. The 'top notes' are the ones that you will instantly notice and grab your attention, the heart notes are those that linger in the back of the perfume and the base notes are the ones that add depth to the scent. The base notes can actually take up to 30 minutes to develop once you apply your perfume. There are so many different scents out there that is it important to check the notes on your perfume as it will help with your decision. If you have had floral perfumes before, identifying the floral notes in your new perfume might influence your decision. Similarly if you pick a perfume with a note you haven't heard before, you could be put off. Although many of us don't realise, we're often drawn to perfumes that have at least one note in common so it's worth identifying this for the future to make your perfume buying much easier.

Don't be swayed by labels

We have all been there. Gucci/Chanel/ Marc Jacobs/Jimmy Choo (fill in the appropriate brand here) releases a brand new perfume and because it's a designer brand we line up to buy it. I'm just as guilty, over half of my collection are big brand names and have cost me a fortune. Don't get me wrong, the reason these products sell so much are because they do release great perfumes, but our budget does not always allow for such extravagance. There are so many amazing perfumes out there from smaller brands and it's important when buying a perfume not to be swayed by the labels - after all, it is all about the scent. Yves Rocher are one of my favourite perfume brands and not many people know about them.

Read reviews

If you have concerns over buying a particular perfume or you're looking for some honest guidance, reading reviews can really help. There are so many bloggers these days reviewing the latest fragrances to hit the stores and most perfume shops have their own review section. I find reviews particularly useful as I like to know how many times people need to reapply their perfumes and how long the scent lasts once applied. These are questions that most people are unable to answer unless they have tried the perfume for at least a few days.

How often do you buy perfume?

I've never been a massive fan of pretzels as they can often be dry, too salty and lack flavour. The only time of year I ever seem to eat them is when they come in those variety packs at Christmas. However, after my recent discovery of the new brand Pressels, I'd have to say they are fast becoming one of my favourite snacks.

Pressels are a brand that have taken the US by storm and in December finally hit the UK Waitrose stores. They come in three different yummy flavours and feel much healthier and lighter than any pretzel I have ever tasted. The 'Everything' flavour is a New York Deli style with black garlic, black caraway, sesame and onion, giving the pressels a full, lasting flavour. The other two flavours are Sesame and Original both bursting with flavour but it's a little bit more subtle.

Pressels* have up to 80% less fat than any other potato crisp, they have no trans fats, GMOS or artificial additives and they are also vegetarian. As someone that loves to snack, but also keep my weight at bay this snacks are a godsend and unlike most healthy products, they have all the flavour and if not more than the full fat alternatives. If you're looking for a guilt free, flavoursome snack this weekend you need to look no further.

Have you tried Pressels before?

If you told me five years ago that my blog would reach five years old and during that time would have given me so many amazing opportunities, I probably would have laughed in your face. Before my blog I wouldn't commit to anything. I started Ballet at five years old and gave it up after a few lessons, I went to Brownies for several months before I got bored, I started guitar at 10 and very rarely pick it up and I also started sailing but very quickly got bored again. My parents always wanted me to have a hobby. One side of my family are really sporty and the other half are musical. Although I've drifted between the two categories, I never quite fitted in. I'm far from sporty and although I can sing and play guitar a bit, I wouldn't say that music rules my life. Writing was the only thing that I loved growing up. I used to write stories all day, everyday. In fact if I couldn't sleep, I'd always pick up a pen and paper. It was no surprise to my parents that at 17 years ago I decided hairdressing wasn't for me and pursued my first and only love writing, embarking on a media production course at my local college and that's when my blog began. We were often encouraged to start a portfolio of work whether it be a radio, video or written portfolio. I had read about bloggers and had seen many rising vloggers at time and thought I should give that a try. The rest is pretty much history.

In the five years that my blog has been running I have written 689 posts, dedicated at least five hours to my blog every week with very little time off and I have been given a wide range of opportunities that never would have happened if I wasn't a blogger.

Highlights

Some of my blogging highlights include attending London Fashion Week almost every year, going to Parklife as press, appearing in national and regional press as well as on television. I've been able to review items that had yet to go on the market and I have had the privilege of attending lots of blogger events where I have met lifelong friends. One of my highlights includes interviewing and spending time with Amy Childs four years ago.

How the industry has changed

The blogging industry has changed considerably since I started blogging. When 'Forever Miss Vanity' was originally created there were far less bloggers than there are now and when you told people that you were a blogger, no-one really understood. Brands worked with bloggers far less too. It wasn't impossible to work with brands, but it was a lot harder as the influence of bloggers hadn't yet reached its peak. Bloggers were dedicated to their writing more than anything else. I know that is still true for the majority of bloggers, but the past few years has paved way for the 'blagger bloggers' that blog simply for the 'free items' and ruin it for the majority. Although it happened years ago, it wasn't as obvious as it is now.

What I have learnt from being a blogger

Being a blogger has taught me so much about myself and my writing. Before I began my blog, I was really shy and rarely left the house. I didn't have many friends and I had very little confidence. Fast forward five years and my blog has given me the chance to love myself through the positive comments from my lovely followers, to being given the chance to network and meet new people. My blog even helped pave the way to my career.

The future of Forever Miss Vanity

No-one knows what the future will bring and I don't want to be keeping promises that I cannot keep, but i'm hoping that my blog continues to grow and that my followers stay loyal and as supportive as they have always been. I'm blessed by all your generosity and kindness.

What would you like to see more of on Forever Miss Vanity?

We all have our own insecurities and often we're looking of ways to improve the things that get us down. One of my biggest insecurities beside my weight has always been my eyelashes. I don't know when it began or why, but I've always been really conscious of my very small eyelashes and despite trying dozens of mascaras - some of which have had amazing reviews, none of them have worked for me. Nights out would be my biggest bugbear. I have friends with naturally long, beautiful eyelashes where one stroke of mascara transforms their eyes to have doll like features. Mine struggle to stand out even with the best mascaras and I hate the paranoia of wearing fake eyelashes that might fall off when you have one too many.

Chanel are probably one of the only eye mascara brands that I hadn't tried previously and recently whilst shopping in House in Fraser this mascara caught my eye. I decided to throw caution to the wind and give this mascara ago. I had already set myself up for disappointment before I got home and kept telling myself that this probably isn't going to work.

A few hours later my husband and I decided to go for a drink and I began to freshen myself up and re-apply my makeup. Instead of using my normal mascara, I decided to give my Chanel Le Volume de Chanel mascara a trial run and after one application I was really impressed. For the first time in months I had flirty, voluminous eyelashes and for once, my eyes really stood out. Admittedly it did go a little bit 'clumpy' at first - probably because the bottle had been sat around, but after a few uses the product applied very easily and looked fantastic. Using this product has made me feel just as confident as when I used to have semi-permanent lashes and it is almost a third of the cost at £25.00. For most people Chanel is a rather pricey brand, but sometimes it pays to go higher end. This investment really paid off and for now, my eyelashes have been given the boost they have needed.

Have you tried the Le Volume de Chanel eye mascara?

I'm usually quite a busy person and getting the time to relax is often difficult. Sundays are usually the only day of the week that I can do my own thing and wind down - even though the majority of my Sundays are taken up by blogging. My partner and I love watching a movie on Sunday evenings to take away the stress of going back to work the next day and to enjoy the last few hours of our weekend. These nights often include snacks. I'm really strict with my diet at least five days out of the seven so I try make the most of my 'calorie free' weekends.

Although I don't mind snacking on a weekend, I usually pick healthier snacks over those full of fat and nasties. Recently the guys over at Ten Acre sent me a handful of their healthy vegan and gluten free popcorn and crisps to try.

Ten Acre snacks tick all the right boxes when it comes to picking a healthy yet delicious snack. They are gluten free, dairy free, MSG free, Vegan, Vegetarian, Halal and Kosher - making them suitable for the whole family. One of the most enjoyable parts of tucking into a bag of Ten Acre crisps or popcorn has to be their product names. Rather than the usual 'salt and vinegar' and 'cheese and onion' the bags of crisps have rather comical names such as 'The Amazing Adventures of Salt and Vinegar' and 'When the Cheese met the Onion.'

I have tried Ten Acre before this review, but it was only one flavour and that one came in my first ever Degusta Box. I remember trying 'When Bombay Got Spicy' and falling in love with the taste. It was like tucking into a bag of bombay mix but in crisp form and tasted delicious. This bag made me want to try all the flavours and now that I have, I can say with confidence that each bag are as good as the rest.

Have you tried any of the Ten Acre range?

Valentine's Day is all about showing the one you love how much you care and making an impression. Dressing up on Valentine's Day is one of the best ways to give yourself a confidence boost and also making your partner feel like they are the luckiest person alive. It doesn't matter whether you're having a meal in or going out or even having a ladies night in for all you single girls, Valentine's Day is the perfect excuse to get your glad rags on and embrace the evening.

This year will be my first Valentine's Day as a married woman and I intend to wow my husband by wearing one of my new favourite dresses from one of my favourite Manchester Independent stores, Didi's Boutique.* This Didi's Shift dress is fully lined with embellished sequins following an Aztec style pattern and is beautifully made with a very high standard of quality. Unlike most sequin dresses I own, this hasn't shed one sequin whilst I have worn it and it feels incredibly comfortable and not itchy. This dress is a must have for any woman's wardrobe as the deep red colour evokes a sense of seductivity and the sequins help grab admirers attention.

I have teamed this dress up with my classic Vivienne Westwood clutch, my rose gold Michael Kors watch and the Vivienne Westwood necklace my husband bought me for Christmas. To finish off the outfit I have applied an eye catching red lipstick and I have used my favourite Chanel mascara to give me flirty looking eyelashes.

What will you be wearing this Valentine's Day?

Last week I announced that I would be starting a 'Foodie Friday' section on my blog and as promised, even if it is a day later here is my first Foodie Friday entry.

I have always loved cooking and from a very young age my mother and grandma taught me how to cook. In fact, I'm often surprised by the amount of women my age who cannot put together a few simple ingredients. Cooking has always been important in my family and despite having the odd cheat days, I have grown up with a rather healthy diet. It was when I started college the weight dramatically appeared. Fast food felt more convenient and I was always tempted by chocolate on the way home. Two years later I decided to go on a diet that would evitably changed my life, but also made aware of what I should be eating to stay healthy. I began cooking again, exploring new ingredients and decided to vary my diet a little bit more so that I'm getting most of the food groups I can.

Being vegetarian I'm often asked 'what do you eat?' My answer is usually 'a lot more than you think I can.' My husband always tells me I have such a varied diet and even he is shocked by the amount of amazing vegetarian meals out there. In fact, he eats a lot more vegetarian meals than before he met me.

Last week I came across this recipe for a Butternut and Chickpea Curry and thought I'd have a go a t making it. It was surprisingly really quick and easy to make and tasted so yummy. The recipe is low fat, vegetarian and has a lot of hearty ingredients making you fuller for longer. When I posted this image of my Instagram and Facebook page I had a lot of people asking me to how to make it. I then thought it would make a great introductory post to my Foodie Friday's and I thought I would share the recipe with you.

Recipe taken from Waitrose Website

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time: 25 minutes

Total time: 45 minutes

Serves 6

Ingredients - Curry

Sunflower Oil Spray

1 Onion Diced

3cm piece root ginger, chopped

1 Butternut squash, seeded and cubed

2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes

2 x 400g cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed

2 tbsp curry paste

300g chopped spinach

Tortilla wraps or Chapattis

For the salad:

1 cucumber portion, seeded and diced

1 red onion finely chopped

150g low fat natural yogurt

2 tbsp chopped mint

1 tsp toasted cumin seeds

Squeeze of lemon juice

Method

1. Spray a large pan with sunflower oil and cook the onion, ginger and squash for 5 minutes until the onion is tender.

2. Add the tomatoes, chick peas and curry paste and simmer gently for 15 minutes until the squash is tender.

3. Add the spinach and simmer for a further 5 minutes and turn in a large serving bowl.

4. Stir together the cucumber, red onion, yogurt, mint and cumin seeds. Add a squeeze of lemon juice to taste, then spoon into a serving bowl.

5. Warm the tortilla wraps or chapattis according to the packet instructions and serve with the curry and yogurt salad.

This is one of the best meals I have cooked in a while and I really urge you to try it for yourself.

Have you been doing any cooking lately?

*This post is not sponsored, I just really like the recipe.

Over the last weeks my mind, body and soul have each taken a battering thanks to an array of illnesses and misfortunes. All I have wanted more than anything has been the chance to spend some time with my wonderful husband and forget about the world, even if it was just for a few hours. Last night my wishes were granted as I was given the chance to review the Twilight Experience at one of the UK's top spa destinations, Titanic Spa. Titanic Spa is the UK's first eco spa and is situated on the edge of the Pennines in West Yorkshire. The spa boasts a wide selection of treatments and facilities including the Heat and Ice experience, a beautiful mood-lit 15m salt regulated pool, an Egyptian Mud Chamber, hydrozone, steam and sauna rooms as well as a small gym.

The Twilight experience starts at £45pp and includes a welcome glass of bubbly, canapes from locally sourced ingredients and use of all the facilities between the hours of 6 and 9pm, which is great for those looking for a small evening retreat or a unique way to spend time with friends, family or partners. Upon entering the spa you are given a bathrobe and slippers to make you feel at home and a wristband for your locker where you can hide away your belongings for the duration of the treatment.

James and I arrived promptly at 6pm for our spa visit and were given a tour by one of the lovely reception staff. As soon as we passed through the doors of Titanic Spa we both felt like a weight had been lifted from our shoulders, it's funny how the beautiful scents of the Neom candles and diffusers instantly relax you.

After getting into our swimming costumes and robes, we speedily made our way to the pool. As the spa facility has a residential area we expected the pool to be busy or at least a few people there, but to our surprise we had the entire pool to ourselves and thoroughly enjoyed it. The pool is shallow enough to relax and not have to worry about treading water for those that struggle swimming and it also has a jacuzzi right next to the stairs. As 'Twilight' hits Titanic Spa, mood lighting appears around the pool alternating the settings from tranquil blues to sparkling green tones.

After spending just over an hour enjoying the pool and poolside saunas, James and I headed to the star attraction at Titanic Spa, the 'Heat and Ice Experience'. According to the website, the heat and ice experience is 'based on the ritual of bathing where the body is heated and then cooled by a series of experiences.' These experiences are said to detox, cleanse and stimulate the mind and body. The heat experience includes: A Crystal Steam Room also known as Turkish or Roman bath. This particular experience is said to be good for the respiratory system and with the help of essential oils can aid relaxation. A Herbal Infusion Room which provides the warmth of traditional steam bath whilst using natural herbs and essential oils to aid breathing and detox the spirit. An Aromatherapy Room based on a 2000 year old Roman tradition. This is built similarly to a sauna but encompasses 'aromatic vapours' to cleanse away stress. A Saunarium which is a timber cabin similar to a sauna yet again but at a milder temperature. A sauna and to finish a trio of foot baths which offer a relaxing massage to soothe aching feet.

The Crystal Steam Room and Herbal Infusion Rooms were both my favourite from the heat experience. Both rooms had such a wonderful scent from all the essential oils and were at the perfect temperature where you could easily relax. The sauna was a little bit too hot for me, but I've never been able to handle the heat that well.

The cooling experiences includes: An Ice Room where you are able to apply fresh crushed ice to the body to help cool you down after one of the heat experiences, a plunge pool which gives you an instant refresh and experience showers that not only cools down the body, but gives you the illusion of showering in soft tropical rain. My favourite of these had to be the ice room. It's not everyday that I find crushed ice applied to my body relaxing, but straight after the heat experiences, the ice room is a great way to cool down and refresh the body. It's like an instant pick me up and feels fantastic.

Our final stop for the evening was the 'Relaxation Lounge' which was a large, spacious room consisting of bean bags and loungers with ambient music playing in the background and an array of books on the shelf which you are encouraged to read at your own leisure. After a long, hard day I sank into the beanbags and could have easily drifted off to sleep. The room is perfect for winding down after a spa day and preparing for probably one of the best nights sleep you will have. It was the perfect end, to the best three hours I have had in a long time.

Have you been to Titanic Spa before?

Sometimes a burst of fresh air can make you feel instantly better and fresh air has been one thing I have craved whilst being ill. I'm usually such an active person and the last three weeks I've almost been bed bound with illness. I have been craving a nice long walk in the countryside for so long and as I was feeling so much better today, I leaped at the chance. Digley Reservoir is one of my favourite places to visit when I'm in need of a relaxing walk. In the cold frosty weather it reminds me of a distant country rather than my hometown in Yorkshire and the scenery is picturesque. Everywhere you look there's a picture perfect moment and as the walk isn't too strenuous, it can be a relaxing place to visit. Today was the first time I drove to the reservoir in my new car - new roads were explored and I even stopped at a little village on the way for shopping. It was great to get behind the wheel again and be in my element.

Despite being on a 'spending ban' I couldn't help but buy both of these beautiful items in this post. Today marks exactly a year since my husband and I moved in together and we decided to celebrate by buying something small for the house. We bought these two rabbit ornaments as they remind us of our pet bunny Flopsy and our love of rabbits. These rabbits have given our tired looking mantelpiece some character and fit in well with the rest of our interior. These have to be two of my favourite ornaments in the entire house.

The second item I bought was this gorgeous Royal Staffordshire bone china tea set. I wasn't going out of my way to buy a tea set, but I did say to my husband that I would love to look in the local charity shops to see if they had any. I've always had an obsession with vintage tea cups, but I've never been able to fit any that really suit my personality. I don't like the ones that look too frumpy and I was looking for something that looked timeless and elegant. When I saw this set hidden in the corner of the room, I was instantly drawn to them. I love the simple floral design with the golden trim. It was the design that I had been dreaming of finding and not only that,it was a complete set which is very rare to find in antique tableware. I spent more than I planned on this set, but when I got home and Googled these, I saw that they were worth so much more. I was really happy with my purchase and even happier that I could give a small donation to charity.

It might not seem like the most thrilling of days, but this has been the best day I have had in weeks and I just wanted to share with you a glimpse into my Sunday and the wonderful things I have bought.

What have you been up to this Sunday?

Tomorrow night at 5pm marks the start of the 68th British Academy Film Awards, one of the world's most prestigious award ceremonies. And as well as being a big night for celebrities, it is a really big night for one of the UK's most loved beauty brands. Lancome are celebrating 15 years of being the official beauty partner of the awards.

To celebrate the occasion and help you get ready for the red carpet, Lancome are giving away a clutch bag and a handful of their bestsellers worth over £35 if you buy two or more items in store.

Although I've been telling myself to cut down on my spending this month, I thought the Lancome Bafta Goodie bag was too good to miss. I love the chic black clutch and my Lancome makeup remover was running low. The Lancome red lipstick is one of the best lipsticks I own and even though I don't use much of their skincare, it is worth it if I'm already in need of two Lancome items.

As mentioned previously in my Foodie Friday post, I haven't been very well lately and I wanted something to cheer me up. When I saw the new Blush Subtil Palette in shade 2, I knew it would be the perfect way to inject a little bit of colour back into my cheeks. This contouring kit is really easy to use and the colours blend effortlessly to give a natural, shimmering look. I previously thought that the blusher would be a little bit too vibrant on my skin, but it blends so well and gives me healthy looking skin. At £29 it is rather affordable compared to a lot of premium makeup palettes on the market and for those looking for an everyday, easy contouring kit it is worth the money, it's just such a shame that I smudged the corner of my palette before I took this photo.

When I went shopping this morning, I did not intend on buying a new lipstick, but the offer was too tempting to turn down. I bought the L'Absolu Rouge in shade rose as I had been looking for a natural, everyday looking lipstick and if i bought this product, I was able to get the bag. The L'Absolu rouge matches my lip skin tone almost perfectly and added a much needed splash of colour to my lips this morning. The lipstick is also moisturising and hydrating which is great for my currently chapped lips.

After saying I was giving up shopping this month, I walked away with over £90 worth of makeup (£50 of which I spent myself). At least when I'm next at a red carpet (one can dream) I'll be ready for the cameras and looking good with my Lancome BAFTA makeover.

Have you been shopping at Lancome lately?

As you may or may not know, I've recently just come out of hospital. It wasn't anything major - just a slightly inflamed stomach, but it did give me a wake up call. I have the worst immune system in history and far too many illnesses to list on one hand, I feel like I have a curse I cannot shift. After hearing this you will probably be thinking that I'm an overweight, heavy drinker or smoker that doesn't exercise, but you would be far from wrong. I'm normal weight and average height, I'm vegetarian, I'm very rarely drink alcohol and I definitely don't smoke. I exercise as often as I can and I'm rather strict with my diet. When I was in hospital I was thinking - maybe this is a chance for me to re-boot my system and try again. I need to stop being so strict on my diet, but still be healthy and I need to experiment more with food to try find things that give me a boost and make my body feel better. I then thought why not launch a section on my blog dedicated to this and that's what is happening today.

As of today I will be launching 'Foodie Friday's which will be dedicated to restaurant reviews, recipes, snack reviews and everything about food from a vegetarians perspective. This section is dedicated to trying new food and also showing you some of the fun places to eat if you're a vegetarian like me.

So make sure you follow my new Instagram (theveggieblogger) and check back on the blog when you can. My first official foodie post will start next week.

What would you like to see on the FMV food section?

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