Fall make up beauty update - guest blogger Samples Queen

Guest blogger, Eli from Samples Queen

Fashion and beauty trends are great source of inspiration but when it comes to real life, well most of them are quite impractical. 

Flipping through fashion magazines I could not help myself but notice the overwhelming and prominent feature of burgundy and deep red colors. 

Tips on how to incorporate the new shades of color vary from adding something small like a burgundy lip, or going for things that are a bit more extreme like head to toe fashion look. 

Willing to try something new and “appear” more fashion forward I started my quest for something burgundy. On my recent trip to the drugstore I picked up a few season appropriate lipsticks and eye shadows that I thought will help me transition into the new fashion season.

Why working on happiness is like working at your job

When it comes to our work, we know that there are times when it’s going to be tough. As they say (and I truly believe) anything worth having doesn’t comes easy. We know there’ll be ups and downs, but most importantly we know that success comes through determination and working at it. It takes sweat. 

Well I believe that happiness is a lot like aiming towards success at work. It takes mindful effort!

Sometimes hard work, and a lot of mindfulness and conscious.

picture from http://picsportray.com/30-cool-quote-about-happiness/

A delicious and healthy cumin and tahini dressing

This is a short and sweet blog post today but I had to share with you my new favourite dressing! On fish, chicken, vegetable dishes and salads, this dressing is going on everything!!! 

It's simple to make and you can make a batch to last you the week so you always have a tasty dressing at hand. I get it, salad doesn't always get the tastebuds going. I have done it myself - made a huge nutritious salad but not had the appetite for it as it was just so bland!!! 

Eyelash extensions… are they worth it???

With two short European breaks coming up in the space of two weeks, I thought it was the perfect time to try eye lash extensions. False eye lashes are not new territory for me, I pretty much wear them every day. But never had proper extensions.

I like the idea of waking up on holiday having to make minimal fuss to my face before a days sightseeing or chilling in the sun, especially when I’m with the boy who’s quick getting ready time means I can feel his waiting presence with every minute longer I take faffing around with beauty contraptions he doesn’t understand are necessities.

Rome (part 2) - Eating out, where to stay and getting around

Italy is famous for a lot of things - football, the Roman Empire, looking like a boot - but one of their greatest feats has to be their food right?!

So of course, a good proportion of our time in Rome was spent eating! We did do the cultural things too, promise, so for things to see and do in Rome, see part one here. 

Eating out

Here are some of my suggestions where we were eating and drinking...

Vacanze Romane, Piazza Navona
We ate here on the first night, opting for the calamari (a holiday standard for me) and pizza. The food was good, the rose not over sweet and the atmosphere was bubbly, probably helped by the waiter who went around signing and dancing to the music being played by the buskers in the square. This was quite a pricey place thanks to its prime tourist spot.

"Carrot cake" protein balls - raw, vegan and 100% natural

For those of you that follow me on instagram, you might have seen me post a few pictures of my favourite protein ball recipes. This one tastes like carrot cake and is one of my favourites so far!

my new favourite protein balls 

They require no baking and is a simple "bung in a food processor and mix together" recipes so score a "0" on the fuss scale. A tasty blend of protein, nuts, spices and of course, carrots, these protein balls are delicious, moist and fruity. 

naked, before they've been rolled in the coconut 

Rome (part 1) - Things to see and do

When I got my promotion back in December, I told The Boy that I would treat him to a trip away. Fast forward 8 months and we’re taking a five day break in the magnificent capital of Italy – Rome. 

I have actually been to Rome twice before, but once when I was 18 months and the second on a school trip (as part of our classical civilizations GCSE). But seeing as the first time I was barely out of nappies and the second time I was an annoying teenager, I didn’t really have that many memories of Rome and its offerings.

Being somewhere The Boy has always wanted to go and a place hyped up by friends, this trip had a lot of live up too…. And it did. It’s a beautiful city; full of history and culture, bustling side streets, glorious food and random ancient roman ruins.

The must see

There is no shortage of things to see and marvel at in Rome. 

Chia seed pots - a great on-the-go breakfast or pudding

We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so this is not a blog post lecturing about this. But even though we all know that, some of us don't manage it in the morning thanks to our on the go lifestyle. 

Trying to eat healthy on the go (especially breakfast) is always hard, but these chia seed pots are perfect!!! 

chia seed pots 

The great thing about these is that you can make them up the night before, pop them in the fridge and grab then and go in the morning. I even managed to eat one of these on a bus. No problem! Although I try my best to not eat at the desk, this is also perfect when you have too! 

A completely fuss-free but 100% healthy breakfast on the go...

Clarins BB skin perfecting cream with SPF 25: review

The BB cream. 

It is has been around for a wee while now but I am still loving them. It is safe to say they are firm fixture in my make up bag.

If you are new to the BB cream, let me share with you the wonders of this 5 in 1 cream.

Unlike a foundation, the BB cream offers a gentle coverage to your skin but at the same times, acts like a moisturiser so if you have dry skin like me, when you are looking for a helping hand in achieving an even skin tine and a little glow, BB creams are perfect!!

great coverage, colour and texture 

This week I have been in Rome and with the sun shining (and therefore drying out my skin) this BB cream from Clarins was my savior - it is thick enough to cover my skin evenly covering any skin imperfections but light enough to not look cakey. I didn't even need bronzer as it is such a lovely colour. 

Keeping a work journal - what are the benefits to your career and uses?

I know what it is like ladies. We live hectically with the mottos "work hard, play hard" and we want it all - we want to climb the career ladder but in stilettos and looking good doing it. 

One of my latest tools at work in my work journal. Sure, a "work journal or diary" might sound a bit new-age management or airy fairy, but read the article before you conclude this!

It was my dad that first nagged advised me to keep a work journal when I took those first tentative steps on the wobbly career ladder nearly 5 years ago. 

is advice, being passed on from a manager of his, was that we should all be keeping a work journal of some sort, that captures a lesson learnt each day in the office.

picture from http://stylecaster.com/career-quotes/

I must admit, I was skeptic and it is only in the last 6 months that I have finally taken his advice (sorry dad but better late than never right?) when I took a promotion as a manager. 
Reflecting on my decision to start one though, I am pleased I have been capturing my work activities, achievements and lessons learnt and I want to share with you today the benefits I have found of keeping a work journal.