Saturday 27 September 2014

Meet KIT KAT!

Hey there internet world.

I have a new little friend that I'd like to introduce to you!

Meet Kitkat!



Yup, I got a kitten! Isn't she a total cutie?

I have wanted a kitten for the longest time. We've always had dogs as pets and I adore them, but there was just a part of me that longed for a cat. SO two weeks ago, I couldn't wait any longer, so I bit the bullet and went to pick up little Kitkat. She is 9 weeks old and is completely insane. I LOVE her!!

She's absolutely hilarious and full of energy. She's so loving and is just my favourite wee thing.

I'm sure I'll be giving you plenty of kitty updates, but for now here's a few more pictures.. I am definitely on my way to becoming a crazy cat lady!











Big love, Rachael x




Monday 28 July 2014

The curse of the "20-something"?






Recently, when I've been online all I've been seeing is articles about "20-somethings", how hard is it to be this age, how tough life is, how doomed we are and the mistakes we're all making.  Some tell us that our twenties are the best years of our lives, they're a time for finding yourself, creating a life and doing a whole lot of partying. Then there are others giving us advice, telling us how to be happy and of course the endless articles in list form; "20 things 20-somethings love", "12 ways to be a happy 20-something" or even "7 things all 20-somethings are guilty of doing". It seems like everybody has an opinion of how we in our twenties should be going about life. 


When I read these articles, I'm not sure how to feel. 


On one hand I'm excited at the possibilities the future brings, I feel like these are my prime years and I should be living life to the full, enjoying the freedom of being 22. On the other though, I feel a bit lost and like I haven't achieved anything. I think there's an immense amount of pressure on myself to BE something, to make something of my life. It seems as though the clock is running out and I have a limited amount of time to create happiness.


Sometimes reading an article online comforts me, helps me realise I'm not the only one who isn't sure whats happening in life. Other times I feel disheartened and worried that I won't "make it".


I suppose what I need to remember is that we're all only human.


Not everyone has a plan for the future, even those who do don't know if they'll end up where they hoped. Your plans can change in a day. In an hour even.

There is no timeline for success, and so called "success" in a certain area in your life doesn't guarantee happiness. Maybe you think your best friend has the perfect job, the perfect relationship, everything. They don't, I promise. We don't all have the same journey and this should be celebrated. We aren't all the same and that's what makes us interesting and beautiful. 

If I'm feeling unsure of myself, I try to remember this quote


"Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't." - Mary Schmich


I'm not entirely sure where my life is going, I don't know what career I'll end up in, I don't know if I'll get married or have children or even where I'll end up living. I don't know exactly what I want right now. All I know is that I'll be okay. I'm going to say yes to the opportunities I get, enjoy the little things in life and treasure my friends and family.
We're all in this together after all!

Rachael x








Sunday 22 June 2014

THE WEEKEND | Spring/Summer OOTN.

Afternoon all!

Thought I'd pop up a quick little outfit post.
It's been seriously sunny and hot all week in Belfast, so I was so happy to get to break out the Summery clothes last night.

We just went for a few drinks so I didn't want anything too dressy so I opted for these little patterned shorts and this cami style top, both from River Island.
I used to work for River Island and I bought so much from there at the time with my discount that I can't usually stand to go in now, but I was actually pleasantly surprised with the nice things they have in at the minute.      
My heels are my trusty Zara babies. I got them last Summer and have lived in them since. I like my heels to be super high so generally comfort goes out the window, but these really aren't too bad! No pain no gain eh?
I'm really loving the clashing prints trend thats floating about currently, so I opted for this monochrome black and white striped clutch from Primark to mix it up a little.                                                                                    




I had to sneak in a few entertaining photo's from the night too!


Yup, that's a peg.. on my nose..



I wish I knew what was so funny?!




This seems to be my new go-to pose!


Thanks for reading!
What did you get up to this weekend?

Rachael x

                   

Monday 16 June 2014

Motivational Monday | Week Four

Happy Monday guys!

Time for your weekly dose of motivation!


I like this little quote and I think its definitely something we can all relate to.
We're all encouraged to moan about things and to "let it all out", but we're rarely encouraged to tell people about the good things in our lives.
I'm going to set myself a challenge this week to try to focus more on the good things in my life and less on the negatives. Hopefully you guys will join in too!
A positive mindset is definitely the way forward!

Have a great week everyone!

Tell me something that you're thankful for in the comments :-)

Rachael x



Monday 9 June 2014

Motivational Monday | Week Three

Morning lovelies!!

Todays post is about when things go wrong. We all have, to some extent, a plan for our lives. Some of know exactly what our end goal is, how we want to achieve it and how long it will take to happen. Some of us, myself included, aren't so sure. Our plans aren't set in stone, but we have an inkling of how we'd like it all to go.

Unfortunately we don't always get our way. Things change, people change, we change. It's easy to become disheartened and to beat yourself up about things when they don't go as planned, but that won't help. It will only make us feel worse.

My friend Matthew sent me this picture last week when I was having a bit of a hard time. It's something he's been trying to live by, and I think it's brilliant.


It's funny, it's simple and it works.

Life is an adventure, change is good and difficulties make us stronger. 

From now on, when something doesn't go my way, I'm going to do as this little quote says.
I'm going to scream "PLOT TWIST" and I'm going to move on. Our energy is far better spent improving ourselves and our lives than thinking about what could of been and living in the past.

I hope you all have a wonderful Monday and enjoy the rest of your week!

What helps you guys cope with Mondays?

Rachael x

Saturday 7 June 2014

The sky isn't always blue. The sun doesn't always shine. It's okay to fall apart sometimes.




I've had a bit of a tough week. 
The worst week in a very long time.
I'm not too good at talking about my emotions, I like to keep everything inside and deal with it in my own way. 
Normally my "dealing" with my emotions involves listening to my sad Spotify playlist and crying in my bed!

I'm lucky enough however to have wonderful family and friends.
People who allow and encourage me to cry/scream/vent with them.
I'm also lucky that I don't take anything too seriously and I enjoy the little things in life.

I love spontaneity and trying different things constantly.

On Thursday night at around 9.30, my friend Matthew and I were driving back to Belfast after having visited our ginger friend Stewart in Derry/Londonderry.


(Yes, that does say "Muff". Its a place in County Donegal in Ireland! Hahaha, we're very mature!) 

We were blasting a Mika CD we bought in Poundland (old school, I know) and singing at the top of our voices when we decided we wanted to go somewhere to watch the sunset.

We decided to climb to the top of Cavehill in Belfast.
We took the "scenic" route, which consisted of mud, mud and more mud.



We made it to the top hot, sweaty and with a few minutes to spare.
The view was beautiful and so worth the trek up the hills.

Apologies for the photo quality guys, the spontaneous decision meant I had to take the photos with my iPhone.








Of course we had to take some Selfies!









Scary drop!


 What isn't pictured is me falling into a nettle bush. It was dark and I was scared we would be murdered so clumsy old me decided to run and naturally I tripped. It resulted in nettle stings all over my body, three splinters and a big gash on my right knee. Ouch!




Sometimes when you're having a hard time you need to do something that makes you feel human. Something that makes you feel alive. Something that allows you to remember how small your problems are in the grand scheme of things. Everything is temporary. Including the hard times, which is something we often forget. 

What I'm trying to say is, if you're having a hard time it's okay to let yourself be sad for a little while. It's okay to bawl your eyes out while watching chick flicks and eating Galaxy. Just make sure you remember that things get better, and you're never truly alone. 

Thanks for reading guys, sorry about the depressing post!
I'll be back on Monday with a cheery, inspiring Motivational Monday post!

Rachael x










Monday 2 June 2014

Motivational Monday | Week Two

Good Mooorrrnninngg everyone!!

It's Monday again already! Time for the second instalment of Motivational Mondays, wahoo!

Todays little quote is one I really like. It just tells it as it is, no bull, no excuses. 
We all have our little down days and days when we feel sorry for ourselves, but its important to remember to try and be positive. No matter how bad the situation is, a little positivity goes a long way!

If you don't like something in your life, change it. Change doesn't always come straight away, but if you work for it, it soon will!




Thanks for reading and I hope this post makes your Monday a little bit brighter. If you have any motivational quotes, please leave a comment with them so we can all have a little look!


Rachael x




Sunday 1 June 2014

What I've Been Loving This Month | May

How on earth is it June already? Crazy! Almost halfway through 2014, eek!
This months favourites post is quite make-up/skincare heavy. I've been changing things up a little bit now that the weather is getting nicer (she says as the rain runs down out the window).




Skincare wise I've been having a few breakouts recently which I think its due to the change in season, boo. Therefore I needed a few simple products to treat my spots without irritating my sensitive skin. With this in mind, I popped into Lush and picked up two of their Toner Waters.


I opted for the Eau Roma Water, which is a mix of Lavender and Rose water. It claims to soothe and hydrate without causing skin to overreact. Exactly what I was looking for! I've been using this morning and night after double cleansing. It really does calm the skin and leaves it feeling super soft, I'd definitely recommend it!

The second Toner Water I picked up was the Tea Tree Water. Tea tree is great for spot prone skin. Its antibacterial and antiseptic properties really help clear the skin, it dries up existing spots and stops the germs spreading across the face. I use this after the Eau Roma water, with a cotton pad. I really do think this has helped to clear up my skin recently and will be repurchasing soon.

Another spot treatment I've been using is the Origins Super Spot Remover.


I just dab a little of this onto any spots I have before I go to bed and it dries them up and minimises their size by morning time. It's a little pricier but really worth the money.

Lastly for skincare this month is an eye cream. I'll be honest I'd never really used an eye cream until now. I don't seem to get dark circles and my under eye skin isn't too much of an issue, but I thought since I'm twenty two I'd start using one. I wanted something organic, so I picked up the Boots Botanic Hydrating Eye Cream.


It's 80% organic and has nourishing rosehip. I've been using it morning and night and I have to say I've noticed that my under eye are feels more hydrated and looks fresher. Plus a little goes a long way, so I can see this lasting for a good while.

Now for make-up, there are four items that I've been loving throughout May and three of them are base products. I've been trying to achieve the much sought after dewy glow this month and the first product I've enlisted for this is a new foundation.


I've loved this Nars Sheer Glow for ages but when I ran out, I didn't get around to repurchasing it until now. Despite what the name suggests, this foundation isn't really all that sheer. You can easily build it up to a give a nice medium coverage, yet still keep the pretty glow. I have the shade Mont Blanc which is the perfect match for me when I'm not fake tanned. 



This stuff is gorgeous, I don't know why I hadn't tried it before! It gives really good coverage, is really creamy and its perfect for an under eye concealer because of the built in highlight. It's a beaut.

Lastly for base products is MAC Strobe Cream.


It's a bit of a multi task product. The description that MAC give explains it far better than I could! "The ultimate quick fix for the skin. Super-powered with potent botanicals; de-snoozes, de-stresses, moistens, freshens and boosts the look of dull, flat or tired-looking skin with a fully loaded vitamin zap and a mega dose of green tea. Brightens and clarifies with iridescent particles and antioxidants. Enhances the effects of light on all skin and in all lighting conditions from sunlight to spotlight" - phew!! I've been using it either under my foundation to give an all over glow, or over my foundation as a liquid highlight, on my cheekbones, brow bone etc. Its really creamy and pigmented and its great value for money.

The final two make-up products are from Benefit. I recently had my eyebrows done at the Benefit brow bar in Debenhams, Belfast (more on that in the next few weeks) and the girl used Brow Zings to fill in my brows.


I loved the look it gave and remembered that I had it at home. I've been using it every day since and can't remember why I ever stopped using it now! There's a brow shadow to fill in your brows and a wax to set them. It also comes with two little brushes to use and tweezers. Its seriously fool proof and its a tiny little product with a mirror inside so its handy to take around with you.

The other product is a new Benefit launch. The Posie Balm. 


It comes after the Posie tint which I already love, so I knew I had to have this. Its a gorgeous poppy pink colour, is really moisturising and lasts quite well for a balm. I've taken to applying the tint first, then applying this over it. The two work perfectly together and I've been rocking this lip look most days since I bought it. Plus the packaging is to die for!

Last, but by no means least are my Nike Rosherun trainers.


I bought these a few months back when ASOS had 20% off and I honestly haven't worn much else. They are so comfy, they're so cute and they go with everything! I've been wearing them to work out as well as with skinny jeans for a casual day out. They're definitely worth the money and I am officially in love. I'm already looking for my next pair!

Thanks so much for reading guys! What have you been loving during May?

Rachael x




Monday 26 May 2014

Motivational Monday | Week One

Hi everyone, long time no speak! Apologies for the absence, I've been stuck in a bit of a rut and haven't really felt inspired to write anything lately. I think I'm over that now though so should be back with more regular posts!

To ease myself back in I though I'd post something a little different today, not the standard beauty/lifestyle post. 


I've decided to start a little feature on the blog called Motivational Monday. Since I've started working regular 9-5 hours I've noticed more and more that people hate Mondays. I mean really hate them. They use Monday as a reason to be miserable. Which in turn sets them up to have a terrible day. Now, I am as guilty as anybody of having the so called Monday blues but recently I've been taking a slightly different approach and have been trying to start my week off really positively. 

I'm beginning to see Monday as a new start, a day full of possibility. A day where we should be setting ourselves up for success and to have a wonderful week! 

From now on I'm going to schedule a Motivational Monday post to go up at 9am every Monday morning. It will just be a short post, something funny or maybe a nice quote, just something to remind us all to have a great Monday.

I hope you guys like this idea and maybe you'll join it too! If you want to join in I'll leave links to my social media below and hopefully we can spread the positivity!



Thanks for reading, have a great week and an awesome Monday!

Rachael x


Twitter: rmchaffs
Instagram: rachaelmchaffie

Monday 12 May 2014

Everybody loves pancakes, right?

Pancakes are my favourite. I like them for breakfast, I like them for lunch.. I reckon I could even eat them for dinner. In short, I love pancakes.

What I don't love however is how unhealthy they can be. 

Thats why I decided to try to make my own healthier alternative.

I looked online, checking out different recipes, taking bits and pieces from recipes I liked and I managed to come up with a recipe I'm pretty happy with. plus they tasted really good! 





Banana and raspberry pancakes
Makes around 6-8 small pancakes

Ingredients

1 banana (Make sure it's ripe)
100g raspberries fresh/frozen (You could also use blueberries, strawberries etc or even leave this part out and make plain pancakes)
200ml unsweetened almond milk
200g multipurpose flour (You could also use gluten free flour if you prefer)
1 teaspoon vanilla/maple syrup (This is optional, if you haven't got any in it won't make a huge difference)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt

Instructions

If you have a food processor/blender, puree the banana, almond milk and vanilla/maple syrup. If you haven't got a food processor/blender you can mash it together by hand, its just a little more work. You want the mixture to be pretty runny.

In a bowl mix all of the dry ingredients together, then pour your liquid mixture in and mix together until its combined. At this point you'll want to stir your berries in.

Heat your frying pan/pancake maker/griddle to a medium heat and pour some oil (coconut is best) or spread some butter over to avoid the pancakes sticking. 

Pour the mixture onto your heated pan, its up to you big you want your pancakes to be so you can decide how much mixture you pour on. 

Once bubbles have started to form in the batter, flip your pancake. Let the second side cook for between 45 to 60 seconds and remove from the heat. I normally check my first pancake to see that it properly cooked the whole way through. If it is, perfect. If not, lower the heat slightly and cook for a while longer.

While I'm making the rest of my pancakes I normally leave the already cooked one's in the oven at about 80C°, so that when you're ready to eat them they're still nice and warm.

Toppings

When it comes to toppings you don't want to ruin your hard work and choose really unhealthy options, so I usually choose one or a combination of the healthier options below.

Raspberries
Blueberries
Strawberries
Greek yogurt
Lemon juice
Flaked almonds
Cacao nibs
Nut butters
Cinnamon
Honey 

So there we have it guys, yummy pancakes that aren't TOO bad for you!
Let me know if any of you try the recipe, or if you have any good tips/healthy recipes I can try!

Rachael x







Sunday 4 May 2014

What I've Been Loving This Month | April

I can't believe it's May already?! This year is going by so quickly! I'm looking forward to the next few months and hopefully the better weather though!

This months favourites is quite varied, there's a few rediscoveries in there as I didn't buy too many new things during April because I've been trying to use up things I already have to clear a bit of space in my bedroom! 






I only have one make up item this month and it's a foundation that I always seem to go back to, no matter what. Of course it's Estee Lauder Double Wear.

Shade 1N2 Ecru.

This foundation and I go way back, we have a bit of a love/hate relationship. I wear it for weeks, loving the fuller coverage it gives then suddenly one morning I apply it and it just looks flat. So I move on to a new foundation, then one day I'll be having a bad skin day, and I go back to it and its love again! That's definitely a girl thing haha! Double Wear is a great foundation, it gives quite a full coverage, but you can buff it in to create a really flawless base. Estee Lauder have a great shade range and at £28.50 it's definitely worth trying. I find that people with oilier skin seem to get on with it better, but I have dry skin and as long as I blend it in really well I have no problems with it. I wouldn't recommend it for a night out, solely because it has an SPF in and if you're taking photo's, you can get quite bad ghost-face because of the flashback. Apart from that though its definitely a brilliant foundation.


 L-R Sugar Apple, Blueberry, Grapefruit.

How gorgeous are these Barry M Gelly polishes?! I loved the Gelly polishes last year when they came out, they have a brilliant range of shades, they apply really well and they last ages on my nails. Naturally when the new Spring/Summer shades came out I was running straight to Boots! They're an absolute bargain at £3.99 each and I honestly can't rave about them enough.



My next favourite is a new discovery, I've been using it since around February time now and it has been a godsend. I have the driest hands around, like seriously they're like old peoples hands, it's horrible! Therefore a good hand cream is an absolute necessity for me and this offering from L'Occitane is perfect. It's their Shea Butter hand cream and it is so so nice. It's really rich and moisturising without leaving your hands really greasy and meaning you can't touch anything for ten minutes. It smells super fresh and lovely too. This is definitely a winner!



Next up is the Charles Worthington Volume and Bounce Texturising Spray. I have long hair, lots of long hair. I like volume, but I also like my hair to look a bit messy and bed-heady. I'm asking a lot, I know, but this baby was definitely made for me. It's exactly what I need! After I straighten my hair I spray this all over, let it settle for a few seconds, then ruffle through my hair with my fingers (such a technical explanation hahaha). It gives it texture and makes it look a bit undone which is exactly what I want! I've heard that this is even better than the Oribe Dry Texturising Spray which I'm very pleased about! Now I don't have to fork out all that money to try it!



My next favourite of the month kind of contradicts what I've just said about my hair... (woops). Stay with me here, I'll try and explain! As well as liking my hair to look messy and undone, I like it to look smooth and in good condition... Naahh... I've lost you now haven't I? If you know what I mean then you'll like ths product. It's the Percy & Reed Wonder Balm. This stuff is seriously holy grail. It can be used on wet/dry hair, and it claims to "give moisture, shine, smoothness, definition, softness, light hold, high humidity protection and manageability". Phew, that's a lot... but I honestly think it does all of those things. I run it through my hair when it's dry and it works wonders. It retails at £18.00 which is a tad pricey for a hair product, but it's so worth it!



 A water bottle? Really?

Yup. This water bottle has been getting so much use this month! I drink a lot of water, usually about 3 litres a day and I've been reading a lot about bottled water recently. It's said that lots of chemicals from the plastic aren't very good for you, especially if you're refilling the bottle and using it for a few days, which is exactly what I normally do. I saw this in Tesco though a few weeks ago, its a Bobble bottle, it has a filter as part of the lid, so you can refill it and drink nice filtered water. Also the bottle is safe to drink from. It costs about £10 and you need to replace the filter every two months. The filters are sold separately and only cost £6 so although it sounds pricey, it's far cheaper than buying bottled water constantly.




Finally, another random favourite is this tea. It's from Dr Stuart and its the Detox tea. I picked this up in Holland and Barrett at the start of the month and I've finished this box now and will be purchasing another next time I'm in. Its a naturally decaffeinated tea and is supposed to be good for your insides. It's a herbal infusion with dandelion and burdock, peppermint and spearmint. I try to avoid dairy products in my diet which means I don't drink normal tea or coffee, so I really like herbal teas. This one tastes great and I've been having it most mornings in work. I'm not too sure about the detoxing properties but if anybody else has tried it and noticed a detoxing effect please let me know! I have my eye on the other teas in the range, especially the Skin Purify one so I think I'll get some different ones to try!


So thats everything I've loved throughout April! I've already done quite a bit of shopping this month, so I'll be posting a Haul within the next week or so! 

What have your favourites been this month?

Rachael x










  

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