Benefits of Lemon Water

As you may or may not have heard, lemon water is extremely good for you! Adding lemon to warm water in the morning has really positive effects on your body, so I have been trying to incorporate it into my morning routine. Here are just a few of the wonderful benefits:

1. It aids in digestion and helps to flush you out
2. Rich in Vitamin C, which boosts your immune system
3. Helps to detoxify your liver
4. Great for your skin

So give it a try! Even try replacing your morning coffee with a cup of lemon water and an apple. Did you know that lemon water and apples are supposed to help you wake up in the morning too?!

Stay sassy :)

Holidays :)

It's finally holidays!! But I am exhausted. I always work my butt off throughout the term, and then at the end, my body is super tired. At the end of this term, I got laryngitis :( (Which is very frustrating, because I can't sing along to Ed Sheeran's new album. Best album ever. Highly recommend it.) Anyway, today I am going to talk about ways to look after yourself these holidays, so you can rejuvenate and feel great :)

1. don't sit around all day, every day
Although holidays are extremely perfect to do exactly that, I wouldn't suggest doing it everyday. It seems like a way to rest your body in a way to make you feel more rested I suppose? (Well, at least that's how I saw it) But it's not. At the end of the day, it just makes you feel sluggish. And since you have been resting basically all day, you won't fall asleep fast that night, and you'll be tired again the next day. It's a vicious cycle. So, make sure you try to get out and do something each day.

2. exercise
Of course, this is optional, but this holidays I'm trying to get really healthy - eating healthily and exercising. Eating healthy isn't really a problem for me, I already do, but I match all my healthy eating with an equal amount of chocolate and ice cream. I have a massive sweet tooth. Anyway, exercising! Try to get out for at least 30 minutes, 6 days a week. Just going for a walk is actually really good for you! Also, you can try running for 60 seconds, walking for 90, etc. This holidays, I'm also going to look into doing yoga, and routine exercises :)

3. healthy eating
Like I was saying before, I also want to eat really healthy these holidays. Since there is no routine of morning, school and afternoons in the holidays, it's easy to eat irregularly, and with no pre-packed lunches, eat whatever suits your fancy at the time. So aim to plan your meals. Have 3 meals and 2 snacks, and try to eat every 2 hours to keep your metabolism up. Start your day with hot water and lemon, as it has lots of benefits, and drink plenty of water throughout the day.

4. regular sleeping patterns
As you probably know, we need 7 - 9 hours of sleep every night. This might seem hard, but if you make sure you can get to bed by a certain time, your body will thank you. I like staying up late and getting up late, but then it's difficult to completely switch a sleeping routine the night before school the next day, and then start the term off tired. Just one night of less sleep can actually slow your metabolism, and sleep deprivation also causes your body to release extra hormones that cause you to put on weight. So make sure you get a good amount of shut-eye! No wonder they call it beauty sleep.

5. pamper yourself!
Of course I will say this one! You now have heaps of extra days to pamper yourself! So take plenty of baths with some lush bath bombs, facials, hair masks and nails! At the moment, I'm using the lush facial, BB Seaweed, which is so lovely.

Also, my poor tresses have been very dry lately, due to the fact that I cut my hair to short, so it just puffs up, and I need to straighten it everyday. So, I decided to try a coconut hair mask, and there has been a noticeable

difference! My hair feels softer, looks shinier, and is stronger already! I cant wait to do it again next week.

All you do is:
1. Taking small amounts of coconut oil at a time, coat your hair in it
2. Brush a hair brush or a large tooth comb through your hair, and then tie it up
3. Wrap a warm towel around your hair, and then (if you have one) put a shower cap over the top
4. You can sit under a hairdryer to keep the towel on for 15-20 mins, or just leave it in for 30-40 mins without one. I always do it without because I'm lazy ;)
5. Shampoo and condition your hair, but I would suggest shampooing twice, to make sure you get all of the oil out.

6. chill time
What I mean by chill time is not in front of a screen, but doing something else. Whether it's reading a magazine or a book, listening to music with your eyes shut or drawing, it feels good to do something different for a change. Trust me :)

7. treat yourself
I like to buy myself special things every now and then to reward myself for working hard. So if there's a dress you've been wanting for ages, a lush product, or your favorite flowers, I say you've earned it! It's okay to spoil yourself sometimes.

8. find a hobby
Sometimes it's nice to try something new, and holidays are a perfect time to do it. For example, I'm going to try out yoga, try to (finally) get a job, and maybe start a youtube account :)

9. catch up with friends
I'm really bad at doing this in the holidays. I'm usually the organiser, but in the holidays, I just never get around to it. But the thing is, in the term, no one really has time on the weekends to go out. So try to plan a shopping trip, a coffee catch up or a movie night with some friends this holidays.

So there you go :) If you're on holidays, I hope you have a great one!
Stay sassy

Homemade Facials

Today I have my two favourite facials I do on a regular basis. The first one is great for exfoliation, and for glowing skin, and the second one is good for getting soft skin. The second one is my favourite at the moment.

Make sure to start with a clean face

Honey and Sugar Facial

(pretty self explanitory)

1 teaspoon of honey

1 teaspoon of white sugar

It should be thick enough not to drip of your face. As you apply, rub it on in small circular motions to exfoliate.

 Nutmeg Facial

 2 teaspoons of honey

2 teaspoons of nutmeg

 1/2 teaspoon of milk

It should be a thin mixture. Apply all of it on your face and leave it for 15 minutes.

P.S. I took so many photos of honey, and they all ended up out of focus :( but I hope these ones are okay.

Hope you all have a lovely week, and enjoy easter!

Looking Out For You

Although people constantly say to put others before yourself, sometimes you just have to take the time out for YOU. During work or school or getting caught up generally in life, it is quite easy to forget about looking out for you, which can cause you to feel more run down, tired or sad:( So here are some ideas of how you can recharge your battery:

//alone time//

Sometimes having the day to yourself, or going into your room for a few hours, or whatever you can do to get alone can really help. It helps you to have some thinking time, away from distractions. Also, constantly being at school or work can be tiring because you can't be chilled out and do whatever - you have to act in a certain way. Everyone has a facade, and it's exhasting having it up, but just as difficult not too. So having some time where you can do whatever you want can really help.

//dance session//

You might want to be alone for this one to;) As much fun as dancing is, it actually helps relieve stress. Make a boppy playlist, or just rock out to the one and only Taylor Swift, and go crazy.

//pamper yourself//

Whether it's just a facial and washing your hair or the full deal pamper evening, pampering yourself is definately a favourite. I'll do a post on two of my favourite facials next (and there will be some rather fabulous selfies)

//reading or watching a movie//

Immersing yourself in something else like a good movie like Harry Potter or a John Green book is a great distraction, and gets the feels going about Hazel and Augustus instead of the stupid Chemistry assesment coming up.

//music//

Lying down with a relaxing playlist on and your eyes closed helps to calm down and breath instead of focusing on everything else.

//get outside//

Just going for a walk in the park or lying in the pool or shooting some hoops can help to clear your head, get some Vitamin B, give you more energy and get your body moving. 

//shopping//

A bit of retail therapy never hurt anyone, right? Just be careful on how much you spend;) The sadder you are does not equal more money spent. I may have learnt the hard way and now have to get a job...

//lunch with some friends//

Doesn't have to be lunch, but organising somthing with your friends outside of school is heaps of fun. Plus it's an instagram photo opportunity to make you look more social that you really are. Amirite?

//do some baking//

Making some brownies or muffins makes everyone happy, really, and continues the happiness for a few days, depending on how many you eat;)

//dress up//

Going out or not, it's really fun to put on your nice clothes and do your makeup, plus it makes you feel pretty and gives you a bit of a boost:)

//youtube//

Do I need to write anything for this?

//chocolate//

Wether you're trying to be healthy or not, a bit or chocolate (or icecream...or both) never hurt anyone. The whole point of this post is ways to treat yourself, so what better way to actually give yourself a great for all your hard work?

So I hope you all have a wonderful rest of the week and make yourselves feel wonderful.

Stay sassy x

Beauty Favourites

In my opinion, anything to do with beauty, fashion, or pampering yourself is the best. But today I thought I'd share some of my beauty favourites. These are products I use basically everyday.

P.S. Sorry in advance about the red dot on the tip of my finger. I may or may not have been painting my toes red this avo…;)

1. night cream

This Lancôme night cream is quite exy at $85, but I can promise you, it's totally worth it. It balances out your skin whether it's oily or dry, and it is super moisturising. One thing I hate about creams is when they are greasy and aren't take forever to be absorbed by your skin, but this cream sinks in straight away. Ever since I've started using it, it has made my skin 110% better. Highly recommend it.

2. lip balm

I bought this when I was on a shopping spree with one of my friends, and usually I don't buy much because I don't want to spend too much, but she told me to splurge just this once. I wasn't sure about buying this since it was $9.95 (how good can a lip balm be?) but it smelt so amazing and it was a splurge day for me, so I got it. And I haven't regretted it one bit because it has been my most favourite lip balm in the world. I put it on every night, and I'm not afraid to say that now, I have lovely luscious lips thanks to this.

3. face cream

I've never really put much on my face other than mineral powder, but I found this and I thought I'd give it a try. It has SPF 15+, and has a matte finish, so your face doesn't look oily during the day. Most people have an oily T-zone (like me), so I thought it was a good idea. And the few times I've used it, its been really good. It needs about 5 mins to dry, but I just do my hair while I wait :)

4. mineral powder

If you're anything like me, makeup is fine unless it's not slathered all over your face, which is where I draw the line. Whenever I wear foundation, my face feels coated, so I like to stick with mineral powder and let it work it's magic. It's light and natural but still covers imperfections you may have in your skin.

5. concealer

I love watching beauty channels on youtube (some of my favourites being Zoella, Sprinkle of Glitter and Tanya Burr) and this has been recommended. I've wanted to buy a concealer for a while, so when I saw this was on special, I bought it. I haven't tried it out but I'm looking forward to doing so :)

6. eyeshadow

I where natural eyeshadows like 99% of the time, and these are my favourites. The top one I have had for ages (obviously this is a new one because you wouldn't have wanted to see a photo of my other one if you know what I mean) It just looks really lovely on. The second one is a newer purchase, and is a lot more shimmery which I'm still getting used to, but it looks just as nice on:)

7. an eyelash curler

Never underestimate one of these babys. You don't notice the difference until you've been using it for a while and then stop. I haven't used it for ages, but pulled it out the other day when I was doing my makeup, and it made me decide not to put on mascara. Now let me tell you, that is a big thing for me. If I could only wear one makeup produce for the rest of my life, it would be mascara. I feel like I have no eyes without it. But eyelash curlers make your eyelashes stand out more on their own, and I like feeling nice without mascara on :)

8. mascara

I'm not one to fall for advertisements, but they made Maybelline's One by One mascara look so irresistible, so I bought it. And it's been great. It's non-clumping, and can look natural or as dramatic as desired.

9. lipsticks

I've never really been a lipstick girl because I like the natural look, but I decided to be bold and start a collection (Don't worry, I don't consider four lipsticks as a collection. I do have some others;)) These four are my sports girl lipsticks which are really nice and are only $10. I've got a bit of everything: Orange for my really bold days (it was a spur of the moment decision because it looked good with my navy blue and white dress, but I have loved this colour so much!) A pale nude pink, a coral pink and a hot pink. And this is just the start...

10. lipgloss

Of course, another Body Shop product. These lip glosses are so nice because they moisturise, smell great, and slightly colour your lips.

11. brushes

I have no clue where to start with brushes, so I just use these two which do the trick. My nude one is super soft and is great for blush too, and my eyeshadow brush makes everything go on so nicely.

12. body butter

I have been buying body butters from The Body Shop for as long as I can remember. I've been through heaps of scents, but at the moment, the Shea body butter is my favourite. This keeps your skin super moisturised and leaves you smelling like…well what ever it smells like;)

13. lush bath bombs

I cannot begin to describe my appreciation for whoever invented baths. And then I discovered bath bombs. Didn't think baths could get any better, but they did. I had heard about lush, but never actually looked at the shop. And when I did, my eyes were opened to what I had been missing out on. One of my goals this year is to try out every bath bomb. Rose Queen is my favourite so far.

14. candles

And what better to go along with baths, or anything, is candles. Glasshouse candles are so nice and last for quite a while. My favourite ones are these two, Rio De Janeiro (Passion Fruit & Lime) and Amalfi Coast (Sea Mist), and Coney Island (Burnt Sugar and Fig) which will be going on my birthday list ;)

Hope my beauty favourites help you all to stay beautyful. (I'm sorry. I had too.)

Here is a list of things I talked about in this post:

Lancôme Night Cream (David Jones) - $85

Dragon fruit lip butter (The Body Shop) - $9.95

Seaweed Face Cream (The Body Shop) - $29.95

Nude Mineral Powder (Drug Stores) - $39.95

Rimmel 'Wake Me Up' Concealer (Drug Stores) - $12.95

Rimmel Eyeshadow (Drugstores) - $14.95

Eyeshadow Duo (The Body Shop) - $29.95

Eyecurler (Drugstores) - $7.95

Maybelline Mascara (Drug Stores) - $19.95

Lipsticks (Sportsgirl) - $9.95 each

Strawberry Lipgloss (The Body Shop) - $7.95

Nude Brush (Drug Stores) - $14.95

Eye Brush (The Body Shop) - $29.95

Body Butter (The Body Shop) - $27.95

Rose Queen Bath Bomb (Lush) - $4.95

Glasshouse Candles (David Jones) - Big: $39.95, Small: $18.95

Back to School

Three little words. That everyone doesn't want to hear. 'Back to school.' Merely three days left of holidays until I, and everyone else, must return to the dreaded jail of education. While there are many attributes of the holidays that will be sorely missed; such as sleeping in, eating whenever, no work and constant movie watching (only to name a few), there are definitely some perks of going back to school.

numberONE

It can't be denied that a new year at school calls for new everything else. The first benefit of going back to school is all the cute new things that you now have an excuse to buy, such as stationary, makeup and clothes (you need some new clothes just in case of a free dress day. Am I right?) I have put together a list of the top 10 things I think are must haves for going back to school:

1. makeup

I'm not saying that you need makeup to look good. But I do know that when you're having a bad day and need a pick-me-up, and you have to go to school instead of shop, makeup definitely helps. I know that most schools (including mine) don't allow makeup, which is why I went out and bought some natural makeup just for a bit of a confidence boost when needed.

2. a diary

Kikki.K diaries are my favourite; well anything that I can plan or write lists in are. Organisation is definitely a necessity at school, and (cute) diaries are great for planning in advance for tests and for everyday homework.

3. pencil case

I can't help myself when it comes to pencil cases. They're my weakness. Sportsgirl ones are my faves.

4. a water bottle

Staying hydrated throughout the day is super duper important. And doing so in style is quite simple, as there are so many cute water bottles everywhere. I got this one from Rubi Shoes.

4. lip balm

Having moisturised lips is definitely underrated. Everyone knows there is nothing worse than having dry lips in class. So a lipgloss is definitely a must.

6. a watch

A bad habit of mine is definitely being late…especially to classes that I don't want to go to. But when there is a scary teacher who gives out detentions just for smiling, being late is the last thing I want to do. But this super cute watch from Lovisa helps me be on time, and is a cute accessory with my boring uniform.

7. perfume

Smelling nice throughout the day is always a mood booster, especially when you're having a bad one. This is my perfume I put on when I'm feeling down, because it gets me compliments throughout the day :) A good idea is to have a body spray or perfume samples if you want to reapply.

8. candles

Candles are one of my favourite things in the world, and they definitely help when it comes to homework. I like to do little nice things for myself to get me through homework or assignments. So little things like candles, maybe a chocolate, or a nicely covered book and a new pen can make all the difference. I covered my book in Harry Styles to help me get through maths ;)

9. dry shampoo

I know there are plenty of people who wash their hair everyday because they need to, which can definitely become a chore! But washing you hair everyday is actually bad for your hair, because it strips it of its natural oils, causing it do dry out over time. So dry shampoo is a life saver for in between washes, or just when you slept in on the day you were supposed to wash your hair!

10. a positive attitude

Cliche, I know, but you won't get anywhere with a negative attitude. Let me tell you.

numberTWO

Even though it sounds boring, it is always good to get into a routine, and school definitely 

makes this easy (or some of you might say hard) to do. Thinking about waking up early every morning and doing homework every night and then going to bed at a "reasonable time" (staying up late and reading books, anyone?) just so you can repeat, sounds utterly dreary, when you could be on holidays doing whatever you want. But when you think about it, I bet there are plenty of people (including myself) who stayed at home for quite a bit of the holidays wasting time on iPads and computers and xboxes. Yes? And after two months, although I hate to say it, it does get a bit boring. So, since school forces you into a routine, it makes it slightly easier to do things that you don't want to do. Basically all holidays I have wanted to get fitter, but when your sitting on the couch watching tv and eating pizza, it takes every bit of you to do so. So during my holidays, i went on about 4 walks. In two months. Yay for disciplining myself. But I'm looking forward to having a routine, because I have to get up early anyway, so I might as well get up a bit earlier and go for a walk.

numberTHREE

When I don't have a routine, I do whatever, whenever. And eating is one of these things. If I'm feeling hungry, I'll eat whatever I find, healthy or unhealthy. But since I have to pack my lunch for school, I have more time to think about healthy options. I'm not going to be able to snack on chocolate in the middle of maths (although, that should be an option, because it would help everyone along a bit) or eat ice-cream if someone annoys me, which is good…in a way… So this year I am going to try and eat as healthy as I can so it will pay off in the long run.

numberFOUR

Although a lot of you think about at school is how you wish you could escape, I'm sure for many, school is an escape. Having work to focus on or friends to distract you from things that may be going on at home is definitely an upside, instead of having to sit at home with what ever is going on staring you in the face. And whether or not there is anything going on at home, having work helps you focus on a goal which is a great skill to have.

numberFIVE

At the beginning of the holidays, I always have a whole list of things in my mind that I'm going to do with my friends. Whether it's going shopping, having a picnic, or seeing a movie. But basically 99% of the things I plan to do never happen, and I ended up not seeing heaps of friends for two months. Getting to see your friends every day, and having a distraction in class from the teacher who is drooling on about the importance of fungi, makes the social side of school the best thing about going.

So fingers crossed that 2014 is a good year for everyone!

Stay sassy.