Hi Guys and Happy Wednesday! The weekend is so close so don't let Wednesday aka Hump day get the better of you! As you guys know, I am absolutely obsessed with baths and a good pamper session, however not only do I love a good bubble bath, for me having some "Me Time" is absolutely key to a happy and healthy me regarding my mental health! These days we are so busy, we are constantly on the go, it seems to me that we will put everything and everyone first before giving ourselves a bit of time to relax and just breathe from what can be a very overwhelming life, especially at this festive time of year. It doesn't matter what you do once you give yourself some time to do something you enjoy and (hold your breathe) switch off from your phone and social media - I know, what a terrible thought! Trust me, even 30 minutes to yourself and away from the Snapchat filters will do your mind the world of good! My "Me - time" activity of choice is of course a good bubble bath and a bit of a pamper session! Just a month ago, myself and Mark went to Kildare Village to start the Christmas shopping and to just have a wander, however I had no idea that there was a brand new store, Rituals, had just opened in the shopping outlet. I hadn't heard much about Rituals, only from one or two bloggers who briefly mentioned one or two products, so I went into the shop to see what it was like and wow was I impressed. As I hadn't heard much about the range, there was quite a lot going on so it can be quite overwhelming, so I highly recommend going onto their website: https://www.rituals.com/eng-ie/collection-story-dao.html , so that you can look at the range and pick which one is best suited for you instead of panic buying or even just feeling so overwhelmed that you just run out of the shop ( that happened to Mark!). If you don't know anything about the range, there are various different collections within the Rituals brand, I think there is about 8 collections, all of which do different things and will suit different people. When I was in the shop, I spotted The Ritual of Dao range, mainly because the packaging was so beautiful and luxurious looking, that I just ran over to it, little did I know however, that it would be the perfect range for me. The Ritual of Dao is based on an ancient Chinese Philosophy which is centred on finding that perfect balance and harmony between Yin and Yang. This range focuses on allowing you to calm you down and to find your inner peace, sounds amazing right? Does it actually work and how? Well here is a video from Rituals explaining The Ritual of Dao: The only problem I had however was picking which products I wanted!! So I went home with these four products:
As I have had these products for a month now, I have been able to really use them and to see if they really do what they say they will do. First impressions of them is that they all smell amazing yet it isn't overpowering, and a month later the scent is still amazing! The two key ingredients in these products are White Lotus and Yi Yi Ren, the lotus providing the calm and peace properties and scent, with the Yi Yi Ren providing the soothing and anti- inflammatory properties. To be honest I absolutely love all four products however I use The 'Go with the Flow Bath Foam' and The 'Balancing Foaming Shower Gel' the most. I have used the bath foam at least 6 times in the last months and I haven't even used half of the bottle, it is just over the half mark still, and trust me I like lots of bubbles so that is pretty impressive. However the product I use almost very single day is the shower gel and it is unbelievable! The feel of the gel is so luxurious and calming and you only need a small drop as it spreads once you apply a bit of water. The bottle is almost empty, however as I said, I use it nearly every day. I love using this both to start my day and to finish it as it really balances me out so I am ready for the day, and on the other hand it also calms me down before bed, so that I have a great night's sleep. Although I don't use the other two products every day, they definitely still get a thumbs up from me. The scrub is quite soft, although of course it is a scrub so it has to have certain properties, it isn't tough on the skin which many other scrubs can be for me. It leaves my skin extremely hydrated and smooth. The Relaxing Serum goes everywhere with me, and is a product that will last the longest as it is extremely effective so you don't need to use it too much to feel the benefits of it. When I bought these there was an extra 30% discount as it was the opening of the store, so below is the ordinary prices of each of the four products I bought:
You can buy these products both in store in Kildare village and online, where they have gift sets on offer also. Although some of these products in this range are on the medium to high price range than some other products on offer on the high street, they are honestly worth it and the benefits which I have gotten especially from the bath foam and the shower gel are incredible! They are honestly worth every penny, trust me you will enjoy them and have them for a long time, depending on how often you use them of course! There are many more products in this range which I personally cannot wait to get my hands on! This blog post is not sponsored by Rituals nor is it paid, it is a genuine post on products which I have purchased, enjoyed and have also helped me hugely! So if you have trying to find a product which will help you to really enjoy your " Me Time", pop over to www.rituals.com and trust me you won't be disappointed! Enjoy everyone! Love as always, Em XX
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Hi Guys, It's been a while since I posted some of my favourite songs that always put me in a good mood, so here are my top ten tunes that are helping me in the mornings and throughout the day when I hit a bit of a slump! Sometimes it takes a bit more than an americano to perk yourself up, nothing beats a good beat! These songs aren't exactly the most best selling records of all time, however they are some of my go to songs when I need a mood boost. Some are old, some are new but it doesn't matter, as long as they perk me up that's all that matters! Maybe some of these might brighten up your day today! My top 10 Mood Boosting tunes ( Not in any order - as each mood requires a different type of song! ) 1. Fiyah - Will.i.am - My confidence booster! 2. Heros (We Could be ) - Alesso (when I need reassurance that I've got this!) 3. Love like this - Kodaline ( makes me smile everything) 4. Black Betty - Ram Jam (ultimate shake away the stress song!) 5. It's All About you - Mcfly (because sometimes I need reminding that it is ok to be about me sometimes!!) 6. Perm - Bruno Mars (makes me dance every time and allows me to act a little bit crazy!) 7. Valerie - Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse (because if I was in a movie this would be my theme tune!) 8. I've been waiting for a girl like you - Foreigner (It reminds me of good times which make me smile) 9.Foundation - Kate Nash ( because it reminds me no matter how tough things are, somehow it will all be ok) 10. Half the World Away - Aurora ( this is my comfort song, I haven't a clue why, it just always makes me feel better) So guys whether you're doing a workout in the gym, on your way to work or even on your way to a stressful situation like an interview, having a go - to mood boosting playlist will help perk your mood up in any situation, even if it's just a little bit! Enjoy making your playlist! Love as always, Em xx Sometimes we need a really really big laugh or a big cry to help lift our mood! Here our my top 5 film's that instantly lift my mood! Some are quite girly, lads you have been warned!! So get the packet of tissues ready, put in the popcorn and turn off your phone to spend some quality time with yourself!
1. Dirty Dancing It may have been made in 1987, but this classic definitely picks up my mood no matter what is going on for me. Maybe it is because I know every single word to every song or maybe it is the fact that "Nobody puts baby in the corner!", whatever the reason I absolutely love this film and it definitely helps turn a frown upside down! 2. Finding Nemo Yes I am turning 23 tomorrow and yes I am technically and adult BUT You can't deny the fact that this is the best film EVER! Not only do you learn how to speak whale but it is definitely one I will be watching for forever. This one is a funny one in the sense that if I am feeling down I actually have been known to shed a tear or two but by the end of it I am ten times happier then I was When I started watching it! This is definitely one to pick up anyone, lads or lasses aged from 3 to 99! 3. Grease Vs Mamma Mia Technically these are two separate films, but I know any lads reading this would freak out if I had them both listed separately taking up valuable "non- girly" film space! Between the cringy dancing and Danny Travolta's amazing voice vs Pierce Brosnan's dodgy yet courageous attempt to sing an ABBA classic, you can't help but laugh and smile during both of these classics! 4. The Wedding Singer It may be a ROM Com, but my dad and Mark have been known to Laugh uncontrollably during this film and for that reason alone it is definitely a pick me up favourite of mine! 5. Christmas With the Kranks Yes I know it is August, and yes I know you all hate me right now BUT This film is absolutely hilarious and is my must see every Christmas ( and even during the year) My Nana has always said, if you are down and want to watch a Christmas Film why not?!? If it makes you happy that's all that matters, and let's face it Christmas brings a smile to most of our faces!! So I will never be a film expert nor do I want to be, but these are my top 5 (technically 6) films that no matter how I am feeling always ALWAYS bring a smile to my face!!! SO why not try watch one of these or even one of your own favourites and laugh or cry as much as you need or want to! 7 Love as always Em Since I was a little girl, I was never big into films. Don't get me wrong I love going to the cinema but I rarely go, I say at a push I go 5 times a year. I think it's that I never like missing out on anything, so sitting watching a film for two hours, not checking my phone or talking for that length of time never really appealed to me. However, the past few weeks I have been looking at a few of my close friends who absolutely love films or watching tv as a way to chill and relax before bed, by themselves. They have a routine, something that I have never ever had! I used to mock my sister for running off to her "lair", i.e her bedroom. Once she comes in from work, college or dancing she sneaks off upstairs and we won't see her unless she is raiding the fridge for snacks or diet coke! She always has some sort of film on and although most of the time she is multi- tasking doing her nails or a face mask, she does sometimes just switch off from the world watching a film from start to finish while in her own little bubble. I always slag her over this, calling her anti- social however last night I decided to try it for myself. I didn't know what to do with myself, but I knew I just wanted to be alone. I wasn't feeling down or anything I just wanted to be on my own, enjoy my own company, something that I rarely want to do. So I cleared away my ironing etc., put on a candle and searched for a film. I rarely use my TV, I usually just put something on Netflix, but for some reason last night I just wanted to separate myself from both my phone and laptop. So I went through the various DVD's but nothing seemed to catch my eye until I saw The Grinch. Yes I know it is August and yes I know you are all screaming at the screen now BUT for some reason I just wanted to watch it. It wasn't the fact that it was a Christmas film that appealed to me, it was more so that I knew it was a good lighthearted, easy to follow film with some humour mixed in there. It is by no means the best film ever or my favourite film, as a kid I actually hated the film, but for some reason last night I was drawn to it. So I put it on, got out a face mask and for the first time in a long time I watched the film from start to finish while not moving about or cleaning my room. Afterwards I went to bed having the best and longest sleep I have had in a very very long time. I really really enjoyed it and I woke up in such a nice, relaxed and calm mood this morning feeling refreshed and ready for the day. It seems so simple and silly to say, but I never really mastered the art of learning how to relax or how to have a routine at bed time. Don't get me wrong, I used to slag my sister over it but now I really want to do the same tonight, relax by about 9/ half 9 and chill by myself. I know you can't always do that, but after seeing how much it made a difference to take some time to myself last night, I really want to try and make a habit out of it. Maybe not watching a film every night, as I know from reading The Calm book by Michael Action Smith, that using phones or watching TV too close to bed time can sometimes keep you awake, more so learning how to get into a routine. I suppose there is a reason why when we were kids our parent's seemed to be 'evil' sending us to bed at the same time every night, but it was what was best for us, so why should it be different now that we are older? In fact we need for energy to deal with everything that is going on including our thoughts and emotions. So give yourself a fighting chance at being able to cope with day to day life by learning how to switch off early and forming some sort of a routine that suits you. Don't force it, just let it happen. The first few times you try it you may find it difficult to relax and go to sleep but just take out your notebook that we talked about last week, write down what is going through your head and then try again! A good night's sleep and some me time before it will definitely help you to relax, be happy and your mind will be able to cope with a lot more. In fact, for me I find when I have a good night's sleep I am able to practice mindfulness or meditate a lot easier the next day! So try a few things this week, test a few ways to relax before bed that suit you and your day. Over the next few days I will keep you up to date with the things I am trying and how I am getting on. I would love to hear how you guys relax before bed so comment underneath or message be on Facebook or Twitter! Love as always, Em X Ever feel like you are a hamster running around on that same bloody wheel day in day out? Yes, that is what is called the harsh realities of life, wake up, shower, eat, work, sleep repeat! However, if my journey has thought me anything it is that every day is a blessing, because unfortunately life is too short. Yes we have to work to survive but I think we also need to enjoy every minute of it too in order to survive! However, as easy as it is to say 'enjoy every minute', doing the same thing day in day out can drag down our moods and really create more problems for us than if we had of just shaken ourselves and done something to break up this pattern! So my solution?? We need to treat ourselves at least once a day in order to lift our moods. Whether it is treating ourselves to lunch once a week, buying ourselves a coffee another day, going for a swim before work, going to the cinema one evening after work etc., whatever your love doing, do it because treating yourself like that can really break up the day, as you are giving yourself something to look forward to! On the other hand, however, it doesn't have to cost a penny, ( well technically everything does but you will see what I mean!). So these are my favourite ways to treat myself and perk up my mood because let's face it, if we don't who will! 1. Bubbles Bubbles and MORE Bubbles...... I am sure it is no surprise that first on my list is my favourite way to chill out, a bath! Unfortunately I don't have as much time as I used to to run a bath, but when I do now I'm in heaven! It feels like such a treat now. The best thing about a bath is that it is something for me, by me and with no one else!! No talking, no listening and no thinking involved, just me and my skin wrinkling! My family laugh at me because when I really need a pick me up I run a bath, put as many bubbles as possible in it, lights a few candles and put on some relaxing music!! Afterwards I like to dry my hair, straightening it, pluck my eyebrows, pamper myself with a make and do manicure! I guarantee you the next day you will wake up feeling nice, relaxed and fresh! 2. Change your bed clothes! Now I know what you are thinking, how can doing a bit of house work and changing your bed covers be a treat but if you carry out step one you will feel like a queen/ king hoping into fresh clean pjs, bed sheets, with a nice vanilla candles and a cuppa cha waiting for you! It is little things like this that make you look forward to winding down, relaxing and make you have a nice long sleep filled with dreams of clouds, bubbles and tea! 3. Fajita's it is!!! Sometimes, after a long day at work, the thoughts of going home and cooking the usual dinner just seems like too much of an effort. Due to busy lifestyles, we often have to plan out our meals but that kind of takes the fun out of cooking sometimes. As silly as it sounds, but cooking something that you really enjoy eating or something that maybe has slightly more calories than your usual can really boost your mood and leave you feeling like you have had a nice treat! 4. Make a mood boosting playlist! This is something that is a great idea to do when you are in a good mood because when you are feeling down, it is there ready and waiting to turn that frown upside down and get you feeling happy again! It may be 15, 30, or 100 songs, no matter how many it is, once you out it together when you are in a good mood and if it makes you smile even more, you know it will help reduce anxiety or pick you up when you need it! I love to put on this playlist and go for a walk around the block, taking everything in while listening, not judging, the lyrics and the beat, letting it work it's magic and help improve my mood!! 5. Pretty colours ..... If you follow me on Facebook and Snapchat, you will see that one of my favourite ways to relax and treat myself is by picking up a new mindfulness colouring book, making a cup of cha and colouring for hours and hours on end. Whether I finish one, two or three picture, it just calms me down so much and boosts my mood immediately. I feel so calm and often no thoughts are running around my head while I am creating a masterpiece. I feel so relaxed and free that I wish I could do it all day every day! As you can see, it doesn't have to be expensive or out of the ordinary, but the idea is you tell yourself that you are doing this something for YOU. This is YOUR me time and YOUR time to relax and gather YOUR thoughts, so do something that YOU love doing! Let me know how you get on and I hope these ideas have helped you think of some yourself! Love as always, Em X For those of you who follow my Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat, you would know that I am completely obsessed with candles, they are so relaxing and really help me wind down after a long day. Lately, you would have seen that my obsession has gotten even worse as I have discovered the amazing Celtic Mist Candles. For those of you who don't know, Celtic Mist Candles are a new Irish Company, based in Dublin who make beautiful scented candles. An amazing and creative couple, their handcrafted candles are made at home in their kitchen using a wide range of essential oils including lavender, jasmine, citronella, orange oil, cinnamon, clove etc. What separates Celtic Mist Candles from the rest is that every single candle is different, different in shape, size, scent and to even make these candles more special you can have a personalised message or name put on the candle, no two candles are the same. As always, I never tell you guys about a product no matter what it is before trying it and the amazing Helena from Celtic Mist Candles, gave me this beautiful and quirky lavender scented candle to try. Not only is it pretty to look at especially with the unique design, the scent is not too over powering at all. These guys get the balance right and I have to say this candle has been lit almost every night before bed, really creating a nice, relaxing vibe leading to a great night's sleep. The best thing I love about these candles, is that you don't need to worry about a plate to go underneath it or a candle holder as these candles burn inwards, so there are no lumps of candle wax left over your table. So where can you get these amazing candles and most of all are they expensive? These non - expensive candles are made to order, which you can do by private messaging Celtic Mist Candles on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/oghamchandlers/about/. These guys also go to various markets within the Dublin area so follow their page to see where they are so you can check them out in action! I have a feeling these candles are going to be on many people's wish list for this coming winter! Customized orders can take just over a week to complete, depending on the amount of orders the guys have at the one time. So what is my take on these candles? 10 out of 10 for me, as they are simple yet beautifully made and the smell is to die for! This talented company are only starting their journey but I really do think they are going to do amazing! Definitely a must have for me when I am having a bad day, no better way to relax! Love as always, Em X Another week, another way to relax and what better way than to stuff your face with chocolate cupcakes - literally!! This week's Me Time buy will not only leave you feeling fresh, pampered and relaxed, it will also give you your chocolate fix! As you all know I am a fan of face masks and Lush cosmetics so it should come as no surprise that my new favourite mask is Lush's Cupcake Fresh Face Mask. I have had my eye on this product for weeks now and although €9.00 pay seem a bit pricey for a face mask you will not be disappointed!!
The cupcake face mask is definitely my favourite face mask by Lush. It smells exactly like a chocolate cake mix before its goes in the oven so keeping this mask on for 10 minutes is an easy chore as the smell is incredible! This mask lasts for up to three weeks and you have to keep it in the fridge. It is extremely smooth so it is easy to apply however it is very messy so I would recommend applying this mask before you are getting in the shower or while you are in the bath as it causes a bit of a mess taking it off. This mask is ideal for oily and teenage skin as it helps absorb excess and it also calms breakouts. I have used it twice and it definitely has helped clear up my skin and it has reduced the amount of breakouts I have. I usually use my Lush Dark Angels Cleanse and my Lush Tea Tree Toner Water afterwards for better results but once you just complete your usual skin care routine afterwards with your regular products you will definitely see results from this amazing face mask!! So head to any lush store and ask for the Cupcake Face mask, you won't be disappointed!! Enjoy, Em X. Hi guys and happy Monday!
Monday had never looked so good as today I am giving away Hold On the Pain ends first EVER giveaway! I am declaring Monday the official Pamper me day of the week! It is never easy waking up on a Monday morning whether you had an easy or party full weekend and I completely understand that! As you know I am a huge fan of bath and pamper nights so it is no surprise that the bog's first giveaway is to do with relaxing and having that all important me time! With some of my favourite things to help me relax after a stressful day, this box is just what you need to wind down and chill! I have one of these pamper box to give away, so if you want to be relaxing in a coconut bubble bath with your bathroom reminding you of an Island Breeze with this amazing scented candle while enjoying a big box of maltesers all to yourself all you have to do is head over to our Facebook page and follow these simple instructions: 1. Like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/holdonthepainends 2. Like the competition post 3. Comment under the post with how you like to relax and have some Me Time, what makes you happy if you are feeling down? Tag two friends in this post also. 4. Share this post. In these four simple steps you could be in a chance to win this fantastic prize! Competition will go on from today ( 17/08/2015) to 11 am Saturday ( 22/08/2015). The winner will be announced on Monday (24/08/2015). Good Luck Everyone!! Em X Hey guys, Here is just a small post about my favourite bubble bath. Those of you who follow me on instagram or snapchat know my love for baths. I have at least two baths a week ( that will all change when the water meter is set up!!), so it is no surprise that I am obsessing with this Marks & Spencer Creamy Coconut bubble bath. This bath foam is from the Nature Extracts collection and it is definitely a steal at the moment as it is reduced from €3.50 to €1.25!! I picked up this amazing buy a few weeks ago and I went back to stock up on more today! Unlike some bubble bath products, you just need a small drop of this into your bath for a ton of bubbles! This bubble bath is well worth this price as it feels so luxurious due to the added moisturiser in the mix. It is so relaxing with the gorgeous yet not over powering smell of coconut allowing you to relax and enjoy some me time. Your skin will feel so papered after a soak that you will become as obsessed with baths as I am! If coconut is not your thing, don't worry other bath foams are available such as Seamoss, Peach & Almond, Coco Butter etc. I am not 100% sure if Marks & Spencer are planning on restocking this product as it looks like they are reduced to clear. So If I was you, I would head down to your local store, pick out your favourite scent and stock up to enjoy a fabulous bath with a book!! Enjoy, Em, X Nothing better than at the end of the day sitting down with a nice cup of coffee and the amazing scent of a candle. I was having a really bad morning yesterday, so mam and Katie got me this amazing candle to cheer me up! It is such a simple thing but it really does help to have a few candles lit in a few different rooms. It definitely helps me to relax especially at night time, when I usually find it hard to relax as I usually get panicky at night time, the candles help a good bit. At this stage I have candles in every room!
It is just something small that helps me on days were I am really agitated, it is these little tricks that really help me to relax and get better each day! Em X |
The best medicine for when you are feeling low is some me time. Whether that is a nice long bath, a jog to burn some energy, some alone time playing an instrument, a facial, reading a book or painting, it is so important to have some relaxing me time. Sometimes we get so caught up in our crazy hectic lifestyles that we actually forget what makes us happy, what our interests are and what our hobbies are. As we get older, it is vital to discover yourself, your likes and your dislikes and even more important to make sure you don't lose yourself.
December 2017
It's all about me, me, me...Categories |