iPhone 6s+ review

I upgraded my phone a couple of months ago, so I thought I'd do a little review & what's on my iPhone post incase any of you are thinking about upgrading to the iPhone 6s+. 

I was undecided for a while whether to go for the 6s or  the 6s+ but I decided on the bigger one after thinking about what I use my phone for the most: photos, emails, social media. 

Pros

Large screen is great for photo editing, web browsing, social media, youtube and emails. 

Screen is a lot clearer than the previous 5s I had 

Speakers are improved

I love the rose gold colour I chose 

I went for the 64GB meaning I have loads more space

Cons 

The off/on button is on the side which is really irritating. I find I catch it all the time especially when altering the volume which is on the opposite side. (I think this is the same for the 6s) 

It's too big to fit in most pockets 

It's a little awkward to use at the gym for music as its so big, so I did invest in a specific arm band thing from Amazon.

It's difficult to find nice cases that fit properly. I ordered a skinny-dip one which was lovely, but didn't quite fit properly over the buttons, so I just have a plain clear one on at the moment. 

Overall Thoughts 

I really love this phone, and once you get used to the larger size, it's so much nicer to use. I found it a little awkward at first, but now I find the normal size far too small!! 

Apps 

I don't have loads of apps, but I thought I'd share some of my favourites in this post

My Fitness Pal - I use this to track calories instead of my old fashioned writing it down in the notes and it's so much easier! I also track my exercise at the gym using this, and my weight. 

VSCO - This is what I use to edit my instagram pictures and apply my filter 'theme'. If you don't follow me on instagram, you can see my profile and theme here. I just like the look of an instagram theme, and it makes editing photos easier as you can just copy and paste the edits. 

Face tune - I don't use this to airbrush selfies, just make whites whiter and smooth any parts of the photo that don't look right. I tend to only use this for selfies, pics of my dog and things with a lot of white that I want to bring out. (Also, mine always has 18 notifications which I can't get rid of and are really irritating!!) 

Spotify 

I actually got Spotify premium in with my contract, which was great! I use this to listen to music as it takes up less space than iTunes, and you can also listen offline which is perfect for the gym. 

Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/Natwest/Paypal - pretty self explanatory!! 

Unidays - great for student discounts! 

Harvey Nichols Rewards, Starbucks Rewards - I love a good rewards program, and both are completely free and don't require you to do anything as you just set up an account and purchases/points are automatically added, or you can scan receipts. 

Netflix - I love netflix, I usually watch it on a bigger screen but have it on my phone as I use it sometimes. I had a trial of Now TV which was good for The Walking Dead, but I didn't sign up as there wasn't any other programmes on that I wanted to watch! 

Wordpress - good for checking blog stats and comments 

ASOS - for addictive browsing!

So that's a little overview of my phone - I hope some of you found it useful! If you'd be interested in a video to go through my apps, or a similar post with my iPad mini 4 then do let me know! 

Hope you all have a lovely weekend! 

New Year, New You with Boohoo!

January is the time when most of us go on some sort of health kick, whether that be a diet, exercise routine, eating better, or a combination of both. Boohoo have just launched their new FIT range which is an amazing collection of fun, affordable and stylish workout wear to make that health kick a little bit easier!  Today I'm sharing my health & fitness tips, and also showing you how to style the Victoria marble print asymmetric top* from the Boohoo plus FIT range (that's right, they've made items in all sizes from 4-24!)

I absolutely love this top - the colour is right up my street, and I love that the sleeves cover my upper arms as that's the part of my body that I absolutely hate! The asymmetric design makes it more interesting than a basic t-shirt, and also means you can wear it to work out or to go out, as I've shown by styling it in two ways. I'm wearing a size 16 and would say it fits true to size. 

Worn throughout - Boohoo top*, Miss Selfridge Leggings 

Outfit 1 - Vans slip on trainers, weights (from Argos) 

Outfit 2 - All Saints gilet, Miss Selfridge boots 

Outfit 1 is a sportswear outfit. I wouldn't wear these trousers/leggings to actually work out in - but this is more of a sporty outfit than workout wear (as I also wouldn't wear any makeup or my hair down!) and I like to keep my blog looking more polished! I've added my gold Vans (which were a TK Maxx bargain) to add a pop of shine, but for actual working out, I'd wear something like these leggings and these trainers (both from the new Boohoo fit range). It's important to work out in specifically designed clothes as they are more stretchy and won't be restricting. 

Outfit 2 is a more everyday fashion look, and is something I'd wear day to day (currently I'd need to add a jumper/coat/scarf!). I love that because the top is fashionable, it's easy to style it as a regular top and you'd never know it was fitness wear!  It also means that if you're going somewhere before or after the gym, it's easy to quickly take your outfit from gym wear to stylish. 

My health & fitness tips 

A few years ago, I was a miserable size 24 and was very ill. My weight was part of an unknown illness, and it's taken me a while to feel happy with the way I look. I'm still on my journey but here's how I went from a size 24 to a 14/16 and lost over 6 stone: 

1. I count every calorie, and aim to eat between 1500-1800 per day, with occasional treat days where I eat what I like. 

2. I aim to eat 70% healthy foods and 30% junk/treats/more unhealthy items. I'm vegetarian, so I'm a big fan of Deliciously Ella's recipes, and Millie Mackintosh's book has some recipes that are veggie (and also some meat ones if you're not!)

3. I exercise regularly. I hated PE at school, and it really made me hate exercise due to self confidence  issues. I also have learning difficulties which means I could never catch a ball and was always useless at sports. I've found the best way to exercise is at home as I can fit it in to my busy lifestyle as and when. I like to do a combination of yoga, pilates and weights for my arms, and usually use Youtube workout videos. At times I do it everyday (usually when I'm on holiday from work) but some weeks I only manage to do it twice or 3 times. I like going to the gym, and want to go back soon, but I struggle fitting it in as I'm so busy. My main tip for exercise is to find something you like that works for you, and to not beat yourself up if you struggle to fit it in, just do as much as you can, when you can. 

4. Exercise works best if you eat healthy. That means eating protein (something I personally struggle with), fruits & vegetables, good fats (like avocado) and less of the unhealthy and junk foods. 

5. Don't make life difficult for yourself. I always tell people I eat what I want, which is true. I know the consequences if I eat pizza for example, but restricting everything all of the time would just make me miserable. I've been loosing weight for around 3 years, and this is what works for me. I know that if I loose weight slowly it will stay off, and I can still enjoy treats. 

6. Keep going. It's hard to stay motivated when you don't see instant results, but over time you can really tell. I remember the days when all I could wear was an oversized t-shirt and leggings and wider fitting shoes. I don't miss it, now I'm a fashion blogger who has a much bigger choice of what to wear, more confidence and feels a lot better. And I now wear that oversized t-shirt as a nighty! 

I hope that you liked the outfits, and that this post has given you some ideas/inspiration/tips. It's been a difficult one for me to write, so I hope that some of you have found it helpful! 

Good luck with whatever health kick your embarking on (if you are)! 

Check out the full Boohoo fit range here

*Not a sponsored post. Boohoo sent the top for me to feature in this post for free. 

Berry & Almond Butter smoothie

Here's another of my favourite smoothie recipes! 

I haven't posted any new recipes for a little while - but this is my current favourite for breakfast time. This one is better as soon as you've made it, as it does go a little thick if you don't drink it straight away. 

Ingredients (based on nutribullet cup - if using another blender, use the drinking glass as a measure) 

1/2 cup spinach

1 banana 

handful of frozen berries (mine are black forest) 

Desert spoon of chia seeds

Tablespoon of oats

Desert spoon of almond butter

Coconut milk 

& just blend together! 

Smoothies are so easy to make, and I usually have mine for breakfast as it's super quick and I can take it with me if I'm in a rush. It's also a great way to get loads of nutrients quickly, and keeps you full until lunch time (honestly!) 

Hope you enjoy the recipe if you decide to make it yourself! 

Everyday Breakfast Smoothie

I've been enjoying healthy eating recently, and I thought I'd share my favourite breakfast smoothie recipe. This is one I came up with myself, and I promise it tastes good (despite the weird brown colour!) I use the nutribullet and the small cup that comes with it, but any blender that's similar will work. 

Here's the recipe: 

1/2 cup spinach 

1 banana 

a handful of frozen berries (I'm currently using raspberries) 

A tablespoon of oats 

A spoonful of linseed ( I usually just tip a bit in) 

A tablespoon of chia seeds 

1 measure of teapigs Matcha powder 

Coconut milk to the max line 

Then I just screw on the blade, and blend! 

I usually have this on mornings when I'm going to work, as it keeps me full, and if I'm in a rush, I can attach a lid and take it with me! 

Let me know if you try this! x 

Raw, Vegan, Gluten-free brownies.

As part of my health kick, I've been cutting down on gluten, refined sugar and 'bad' foods, and although I haven't given anything up completely, I've been trying out some healthier options.

As part of my What I Eat in a Day video (going up tomorrow) I attempted to make Deliciously Ella's raw brownies. I love brownies, but they're very calorific and not very healthy, whereas these ones consist of good ingredients: raw cacao, maple syrup, dates and pecans. Also as they're raw, they don't require any cooking, just freezing for an hour.

The recipe is from the Deliciously Ella cookbook that I blogged about last week, so even though I've included them in a video, I thought I'd do a post as well, as I know some of you prefer my posts, and some of you prefer my videos! I'd really recommend Ella's blog and book as there's loads of amazing recipes there!

The brownies were easy to make (even for me, and I'm possibly the worst cook) and they turned out really well. They are quite sticky though and need to be kept in the fridge, so probably not ideal for lunch boxes or anything, but are such a tasty snack! I've eaten quite a few of mine now, and I love that I don't need to worry about unhealthy ingredients, and that I can eat these guilt-free.

I'm really enjoying my healthy eating, and although I'd never give up any foods (even though I'm already vegetarian) I'm really feeling the benefits of eating an 80% super-healthy diet. I'm no nutritionist, but it seems to be working well for me, and I feel like 80% healthy is enough for me for now, and anyway,  life's too short to give up treats like pizza, chips and cake!

Deliciously Ella review.

I'd heard a few bloggers talking about Deliciously Ella, so as part of my health kick, I had a look at her website. Now, cooking is definitely not my thing, so why am I suddenly obsessed with a food blog? Ella's blog and book are all about healthy eating and a plant-based, gluten-free diet. The recipes looked really delicious, and so I bought the book. I think the difference with Ella is that her food is actually delicious, and isn't salad after salad or something with meat and fish, that I'd have to start finding replacements for. It's the only cookbook I've ever had that I can eat every ingredient in every recipe as everything is vegan and gluten-free.

The recipes are really easy to follow too - no fiddly complicated steps that I don't understand, and the raw recipes (and ones using pans) means people like me who can't work an oven very well are covered. I've tried a few of the smoothies already and they're absolutely delicious! I've also ordered a lot of other ingredients so that I can make some more of Ella's recipes - particularly the brownies and quinoa bowls! And I'm also determined to improve my cooking skills - and I think this might be the way I can do that!

I'm actually really enjoying healthy eating, and am feeling so much better for it! It's a little weird really, Ella started eating this way to cure an illness, which is why I started changing my diet and restricting calories almost 3 years ago. This may be a little too TMI, but I suffered from an unknown illness that doctors can't work out, where basically my metabolism doesn't work and I have severe IBS that can only be controlled by diet, as the tablets didn't work. In the last 3 weeks I've been eating like Ella, I've been almost pain free and lost more weight than usual, so as you can probably imagine, I'm thrilled!

Now, I haven't cut out all dairy, gluten and goodies, but I've cut them down to about 15-20% of my diet, which is working well for me. I might, in the future, cut them out completely, but I didn't want to do anything too drastic, as sometimes, that can set my illness off.

If you're thinking of trying healthy eating, or just fancy some tasty food without any guilt, I'd highly recommend Ella's book and blog. Even if you're not vegan (I'm vegetarian) I'm sure you'll enjoy these recipes!

I'll keep you posted on my healthy eating and cooking - and if any of my creations are photo-worthy, I'll share them with you! x

Healthy Eating Update.

Apologies that today's post is a little late! The last week has been pretty hectic and I'm currently suffering from a bad toothache. I thought I'd update you on my little health kick today. I've been trying to eat healthier and doing yoga for 25 days now, and I feel so much better for it. I haven't cut out any foods completely, I've just been trying to eat mainly healthy foods (about 80-90% healthy) with just a few treats here and there. 

I've replaced a lot of my 'unhealthy' snacks with smoothies, fruit and healthy snacks made with nutritious ingredients. The nutribullet has been amazing as it's so quick and easy to use. I usually have 2 smoothies a day - 1 mid morning and 1 after yoga in the evening. I vary the ingredients all the time, sometimes I follow a recipe and sometimes I make up my own. I always try to include 50% greens - spinach is my favourite as you can't taste it at all, but kale also works well too. I then fill the rest of the smoothie cup with a combination of fruits, seeds, nuts, cacao powder, linseed, matcha powder, almond butter, and either water, almond milk or coconut milk. One everything is in the cup I just screw on the blade, and blend! 

I take my morning smoothie to work with me, and to make it quicker in the morning, I make it up the night before, pop it in the fridge and just blend it in the morning! Frozen berries are great to add to smoothies as they make a very cold refreshing drink! 

Healthy eating has also meant my weight loss has sped up a bit, as I'm eating much more 'good foods' than I was! 

I've filmed a smoothie recipe video which will be up on my channel on Thursday, and also on Tuesday I'll be reviewing the Deliciously Ella cookbook! 

Hope you all have a lovely weekend! x 

Yoga

Some of you might already know I'm on a bit of a health kick at the moment. I don't really know why I decided to do it, just on a random Wednesday night a few weeks ago I decided it was time to up the healthy eating and try yoga. So I found a Yoga with Adriene beginners video, and haven't stopped since. 

I'm currently doing Adriene's 30 days of yoga (currently on day 20), which I am enjoying (shock horror - fitness that I enjoy). I've never been sporty, I do like the gym but I find it so hard to fit into my life and also expensive. I've been doing yoga in the evenings before I start getting ready for bed as I find its a good time to stop working, and start relaxing. It's also half an hour a day where I don't do any work. 

I didn't think it would have much effect, but I'm feeling loads better for doing it, and have noticed that things are starting to get a little more toned. I've been losing weight now for about 3 years, and have come a long way since I started, and I feel like this is the next chapter for me. 

So, I'm keeping up with yoga, and am actually enjoying eating healthily - something that's really surprised me! I don't know how long it will last - but I'm hoping I can keep going and will hopefully feel better and better. 

If you're wondering where my yoga clothes and mat are from, then make sure to watch next Sunday's video which is going to be a haul! 

Have you tried any yoga? 

teapigs. Matcha kit review & tutorial.

teapigs. Modern Matcha kit *

I was recently invited to try Matcha May with teapigs. As you all know I'm a big fan of teapigs so I was excited to try matcha! I've heard lots of good things about it, and it's super healthy and good for you, so I decided to incorporate it into a little health kick I've been doing for the past week or so!

I've started doing Yoga (Yoga with Adriene's 30 days of yoga on YouTube) and have been making a conscious effort to eat and drink healthier. The matcha is great as it gives you loads of energy, 15 times the amount of green tea goodness (1 serving = 15 cups of green tea) and is packed with antioxidants and can also boost your metabolism (which for me would be amazing, as mine is almost stopped).

I've been experimenting with my matcha, and I've tried it the traditional way (whisked into hot water) and I've also been adding it to smoothies. Instead of me writing about them, I decided to film a video of them, so that you could easily follow the steps if you wanted to make them yourself! Plus, it's bank holiday, so I thought I'd do a one-off special extra blog post and video!



I'm really impressed with the matcha so far, and I am feeling a lot better for it. I've noticed that I've got a lot more energy, and feel a lot less bloated. I've also seen an improvement in my skin and my mood, which I think has been helped by the yoga too, and drinking lots of water. I'm also not a fan of traditional green tea, so being able to get 15 times the goodness in a few mouthfuls is amazing for me - means I can drink my sweet ginger tea or my everyday brew instead!

I'm really looking forward to seeing how I'll feel after doing the 30 days of matcha, but so far, I'm very impressed and on the way to being a lot healthier and happier!

*The kit was sent to me for review. This post and video is not sponsored.

January Birchbox

As January is the month of new year's resolutions, with the majority of them being health and fitness relate, Birchbox this month have teamed up with Women's health magazine, and this month's box is all health themes!

Of course, if you've been here for a while, you'll already know I love Birchbox. But if you're new (hey! so pleased to have you!) you might not already know this. This month has a great selection of products, including a Stila lip glaze, which is a product I already love, but thankfully didn't already have this particular shade! It also contains a Heal Gel, which is a fantastic little healing balm. I had a really sore abscess on my face over the weekend (tmi I know), but this gel really helped to soothe and heal it, so I'm already really impressed with that. It also contains Caudalie Vinoperfect serum, which I've tried before and really liked, Philip Kingsley Body building conditioner, which I'm excited to try, Activbod cooling finish body lotion, which I think I'll be using in summer, when hopefully I'll have time to get back to the gym, and a sample of matcha powder, which I've always wanted to try. I really want to get into eating a bit healthier, so am going to look for some smoothie recipes or something to use this in.

The box also came with a pilates band, which is useful for at home workouts, which I will probably test out when I'm not either working, blogging or exhausted!

Overall, I'm really impressed with this month's box, and it's a great theme for January, so well done Birchbox, another great month.

You can get the products here, or click the banner below.

In other good news, my wifi is back, which means that my blogging schedule is unaffected! yayy! :) x  

*This post is not sponsored but may contain Affiliate links.