tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79315837589052692292024-03-13T19:12:40.991+00:00Meg SaysMeg Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05020262044885103695noreply@blogger.comBlogger173125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931583758905269229.post-22178909806912308692024-03-07T14:51:00.019+00:002024-03-07T14:59:58.878+00:00Ten Years of Meg Says<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioxMhMqjqMJFd3fDVuUc3bFJ5nyDPm47KtwkcojTczwoUhF_3QnDz-jzk2UN8aNVk9jFokjo5OTPMCaGzhszzWoETKIwo9Gm5u9NY7rL3kJexqweLeyphPLglXYgxDhn9_qukoNNuOQtFcl8rPRHyg4yNhDcdQjOk3Glk2V7kwsXE87AuDqeETmQZjuH0/s4032/IMG_6351.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioxMhMqjqMJFd3fDVuUc3bFJ5nyDPm47KtwkcojTczwoUhF_3QnDz-jzk2UN8aNVk9jFokjo5OTPMCaGzhszzWoETKIwo9Gm5u9NY7rL3kJexqweLeyphPLglXYgxDhn9_qukoNNuOQtFcl8rPRHyg4yNhDcdQjOk3Glk2V7kwsXE87AuDqeETmQZjuH0/w640-h480/IMG_6351.heic" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Ten years, and for one of the first times in my life, possibly </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">ever</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, I’m not about to talk about how its gone in “the blink of an eye” or how it feels like “just yesterday” - no, in fact, it feels every inch like a full decade to the day since I started this very blog and my whole online journey (yep, we’re three lines in and the j-word has already made an appearance)...</span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I'm currently on the train from London to Norwich as I'm heading back for Mother's Day weekend, the train gods have blessed me with a table seat to myself and the capital's skyline is in the rearview as I rattle towards my home and family. I wanted to wait until the actual anniversary to write this, so I can capture exactly how I feel <i>right now</i>. I recently turned thirty so we’re in a new decade, and not even if there was a ‘Mystic’ before my first name could I have predicted how much was going to change; I’ve moved multiple times, gained people, lost people, travelled, struggled, thrived, grown from a girl to a woman and found out just how much </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">more</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> I have to find out.</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">What would I have been doing in March 2014?</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">I’d have moved back home to Norfolk from Sheffield after being diagnosed with a debilitating chronic illness and rendered bedbound, on official medical leave from my university degree with a prognosis of ‘you might get better, you might never’, so… ‘good luck’, essentially. Not what I’d expected or hoped for at nineteen years old, but we all play the hand we’re dealt and I coped with this extreme change of health and circumstance in the only way I knew how: by writing.</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">By the age of seven I’d taught myself to touch-type on the family computer (remember those?) by literally typing out whole books that I’d set up on my mum’s recipe book stand, and I was obsessed with writing. Letters, pretend magazine articles, in my diaries (with 90s sparkly gel pen, most likely) and even my own attempts at books. It’s something that stayed with me throughout my teens, loving English Literature at college, and my twenties too with this whole online job that started initially with blog posts, before YouTube came along and I dove headfirst into creating video content.</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">I wrote those blog posts whilst bedridden and severely unwell, often unable to type more than a sentence or two at a time, so you can imagine how long it took to get enough ready to actually ‘start a blog’ - but start a blog I did! And there's no way I would've believed you if you'd said I'd one day go full-time with it, or that I'd go into presenting or any of the opportunities that came from taking that leap. The below is an excerpt from the first post that I ever hit publish on, and it’s so interesting to me to read it back a decade later to the day, as my hopes for my blog are evident:</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGgd2wQXxtEyPZbxyx_39TbchSWy3TI0InljnmJuX-p7tG2oIegQ9Nbf0H5bgYuAqoTXlx6Sa16AxJklrAZWaLsnLuoS9mLCeM0-4C5jmx9bCWRJQ1D7K5p709U_JZeushoWei6S41u1uGl5Xjq5vfFZjGrY3RyFRowRmbnWkAzx4fca6d86SrmZtm7M/s1504/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-07%20at%2011.09.31.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1162" data-original-width="1504" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGgd2wQXxtEyPZbxyx_39TbchSWy3TI0InljnmJuX-p7tG2oIegQ9Nbf0H5bgYuAqoTXlx6Sa16AxJklrAZWaLsnLuoS9mLCeM0-4C5jmx9bCWRJQ1D7K5p709U_JZeushoWei6S41u1uGl5Xjq5vfFZjGrY3RyFRowRmbnWkAzx4fca6d86SrmZtm7M/w640-h494/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-07%20at%2011.09.31.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In a way I wish I could go back and tell my younger self that Meg Says reaches literally millions of people, and show her some of the messages she’ll receive from other chronic illness sufferers. I could say that she won’t be stuck in bed forever and will even travel the world with a backpack for almost a whole year… but on the other hand, I’m so glad that she got to grow and discover all of those experiences for herself.</span></span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">In my introduction in early March 2014, I wrote: <i>“writing my first blog post feels equal parts daunting and exciting” </i>and ten years on, let’s look at those two adjectives and how they pertain to my life and job now:</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration-line: underline;">Daunting</span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">, is it still daunting? Of course, especially when you consider that last year I made the huge decision to share a mental illness that I never could’ve imagined I’d have in 2014, which is my struggle with addiction. I’ve always been vulnerable online in talking about my health, but that took ‘sharing’ to another level and it wasn’t lost on me that I’d be opening myself up to judgement, criticism, speculation, the whole roster. So daunting, yes - I know all about that but hey, feel the fear and do it anyway.</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration-line: underline;">Exciting</span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">, is it still exciting? That’s one thing it has never <i>stopped</i> being. For example a</span></span>s we speak, my videos are going semi-viral on TikTok, no day is the same! <span>Blogging has taken me to some incredible places, like Tom Daley’s dressing room as I prepared to interview him (alongside the one and only Claudia Winkleman) and making a wee appearance on an episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians, and on ‘pinch me’ press trips with brands that I could only have dreamed of working with once upon a time. </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">There have been ups and downs, fast-paced months where I’ve had more sponsored content deadlines than I could shake a stick at and many months where nothing came in at all and I wondered whether it was time to give up on the dream, say “well, it was fun whilst it lasted” and get a ‘normal’ job. The clock never struck on that time and I’ve managed to keep the lights on during the quiet times, and have the adventure of a lifetime during the heyday!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Throughout it all, you as an audience have been my constant and I say it a lot but probably still not enough, so please know how deeply thankful I am. Whilst my health has improved, it’s still a daily struggle and I’m always conscious that traditional employment would be difficult or even impossible for me, so I am <i>forever </i>grateful for the flexibility that this brings - it quite literally would not be possible without you <3</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">What started as a lifeline during medical leave, a little side project to keep my mind occupied whilst my body was failing, has ended up being one of the biggest joys of my life and whenever I tell someone how I got started, the phrase ‘silver lining’ often comes up from the other party and that’s exactly what it is. A ray of sunshine during the greyest of days, the first daffodil after the longest winter… all of the analogies that essentially tell you that you, and this, makes me so incredibly happy and I hope that I’m fortunate enough to do it for another ten years, for as long you’ll have me, really.</span></span></p></div>Meg Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05020262044885103695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931583758905269229.post-4777980753378091312019-11-26T16:00:00.000+00:002019-11-26T16:00:00.624+00:00The Product I'm Dubbing 'My Perfect Foundation'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zpgAAlT3SU8/XC8E60fjv1I/AAAAAAAAOMU/e5eyUWHddoIHswk3H71C-_4hE-V3qMh4ACLcBGAs/s1600/Meg_19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zpgAAlT3SU8/XC8E60fjv1I/AAAAAAAAOMU/e5eyUWHddoIHswk3H71C-_4hE-V3qMh4ACLcBGAs/s640/Meg_19.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://rstyle.me/n/dd8mv5b3g2f" target="_blank">Benefit Hello Happy Soft Blur Foundation</a><br />
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<u>Described as</u><br />
"<i>a smooth, flawless makeup base [with] light to medium coverage</i>"<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Meg says...</u><br />
A foundation drop from one of my favourite beauty brands promising to be my "daily mood boost bottled" along with lightweight coverage? Yes, yes, triple yes. I'm constantly on the lookout for my perfect foundation and whilst I think I've found it in the <a href="https://rstyle.me/n/dd8mtab3g2f" target="_blank">Yves Saint Laurent Teint Touche Éclat</a>, there's no harm in continuing that good old holy grail makeup base journey - so bring it on, Benefit!<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Packaging</u><br />
Just downright adorable. Who gave Benefit permission to be this cute? The warm copper rose gold lid and nude base would've been enough on their own, but they've only gone and put an actual smiling face with loveheart eyes on it... it's almost too much. Continuing with the extremely cute theme it's small and dinky, but you get an average 30ml of product and it's the ideal smash and leak-proof bottle for travelling. The nozzle applicator means you can squeeze out just the right amount of product, and I do this directly to my face in little dots.<br />
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<u>Texture/consistency</u><br />
This has a beautiful soft gel formula that sits bang in the middle between thin and thick, as it won't run down your face but it holds its own! Give the bottle a little shimmy and a little shake before applying to ensure the product hasn't separated.<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Application</u><br />
I couldn't find this more easy to apply and find it blends perfectly with a buffing brush like the <a href="https://rstyle.me/n/dd8mxpb3g2f" target="_blank">Look Good Feel Better Multi-Tasking</a>, something more traditional like the <a href="https://rstyle.me/n/dd8myeb3g2f" target="_blank">Brushworks Foundation Brush</a>, a sponge like the <a href="https://rstyle.me/n/dd8mypb3g2f" target="_blank">Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge</a> or fingers. All of these techniques work equally well and the coverage is buildable so you can add more where you need it without worrying about caking.<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Scent/fragrance</u><br />
I get a slight clean apricot fragrance from this that disappears once it's on the skin, but I've read quite a few reviews that say they notice no discernible scent.<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Shade/colour</u><br />
I use Shade 1 and find it <i>such </i>a perfect match - it's the kind of shade that practically disappears as soon as it touches my skin and I never have to worry about telltale 'tide marks'. This comes in twelve shades altogether however, so not the widest range.<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Results</u><br />
An evened-out complexion that looks fresh and healthy. This covers imperfections like dark circles or blemishes without eclipsing my freckles, making it one of the most natural-looking foundations I've ever tried. Even up close in a magnifying mirror it looks sheer and fairly undetectable and feels just as lightweight and breathable also. The finish is a radiant matte with impressive staying power, and I'd feel confident about applying this without a mirror which is the highest praise for a foundation in my opinion!<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Price</u><br />
£22<br />
<u><br /></u><u>The bottom line</u><br />
L-O-V-E. This is up there with my beloved YSL as a contender for my perfect foundation! I'm always so consistently happy (just like the fella on the packaging) with the way it makes my skin look and for that reason, it'll be in my everyday makeup bag for the foreseeable future.<br />
<u><br /></u>Photos by <a href="https://www.meganduffield.com/" target="_blank">Megan Duffield Photography</a>Meg Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05020262044885103695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931583758905269229.post-23864879343078288262019-11-08T16:00:00.000+00:002019-11-08T16:00:08.989+00:0010 Things You Should Know Before A Campervan Trip<style type="text/css">
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">1. You may as well have ‘TOURIST’ tattooed on your forehead. Nothing says ‘I’m on my gap year!’ more than a converted minivan in a hideous colour combo (Jucy - full review <a href="https://www.meg-says.com/2019/10/honest-jucy-campervan-review-plus.html" target="_blank">here</a> - I’m looking at you) and you’ll be longing to blend in with the locals in their lovely plain trucks that aren’t neon with a silly slogan like “do you believe in love at first sight, or should I drive by again?” on the side. The only upside maybe is driving past a fellow backpacker in a Wicked camper that has Scooby Doo smoking a joint painted on it and thinking ‘…thank god we’re not in <i>that</i>'.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">2. You know how you used to go to the beach and at the end of the day you’re just dying to get home and have a shower? Well, the beach <i>becomes </i>your shower, whether that’s a dip in the ocean or (if you’re lucky) in one of those free outdoor ones. You’ll remember running water that’s actually hot with fondness, have to sweep a ton of sand out of your bed every night and won’t think twice about whipping out your Gillette Venus to shave your legs in front of strangers.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">3. You don’t <i>have </i>to live off instant noodles. I love an instant noodle pot as much as the next person (really I do, I actually have a proper thing for them!) but you essentially have a mini-kitchen in the back of your car and it’s a real shame not to put it to good use. Not only is it the cheapest option (you can get four gas canisters at Cole’s for $5, then just search online for inexpensive one-pot recipes) but it’s really fun, too - my fondest memories of our east-coast road trip in Australia are cooking a hearty meal and then sharing it together.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">4. You kinda have to be okay with creepy crawlies. From a giant huntsman spider making its web on your left wing mirror to a huge monitor lizard roaming around your campsite, you’re likely to see a whole host of wildlife on your trip. When you’re sleeping outside things tend to go bump in the night, whether that’s a possum on your roof or a bush turkey (known by locals as “bin chickens”) ripping apart your rubbish bag. Whilst it’s annoying to have mosquitoes and moths all up in your grill, you do eventually stop jumping at every single rustling noise.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">5. Making friends requires a little more effort! When you’re staying in hostels meeting people is a given; it happens constantly and you’re bound to find someone that you click with. On a road trip however it’s just you driving from place to place, so you have to create opportunities for new friendships. We met our newfound mates mostly in social settings (in bars, playing pool etc) and also largely in campsites - never be afraid to say “we’re having a fire later if you fancy coming over for a drink”, as in our experience it always led to a really nice time!</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">6. Living on wheels means thinking about parking constantly. Obviously when you check into campsites (download <a href="https://www.wikicamps.co/" target="_blank">WikiCamps</a> ASAP) and are in rural areas or small towns then everything’s gravy, but cities can be a nightmare. Bear in mind that parking laws are likely to be different to your home country, too - we once got slapped with a $112 fine for parking front to curb rather than rear to curb. Totally legal spot in a cute little Aussie town centre, just popped into a shop to buy my dad a birthday card… $112 fine! Double check your parking signs, people.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">7. You won’t realise how big a country is until you drive the length of it. Some countries are absolutely gorgeous to drive - take New Zealand for example, every corner you turn looks like a screensaver desktop - and others are a heck of a lot of highways and nothingness. Ways to make driving less tedious and actually really enjoyable include: good music (I’m a big fan of the ‘Songs To Sing In The Car’ playlist on Spotify), good conversation (e.g. travel with someone who you get on ridiculously well with) and good podcasts (my current favourites are <a href="https://play.acast.com/s/tablemanners" target="_blank">Table Manners</a> and <a href="https://play.acast.com/s/julesandsarah" target="_blank">Jules & Sarah</a>).</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">8. You’ll become an expert at packing quickly. Overslept and wanted to be on the road by 8am? No problemo - the fiddly camper van bed-to-car routine that you couldn’t work out on Day 1 is now an absolute doddle, and Yesterday You did Future You a favour by washing up the plates and pans from dinner last night, yay! In the beginning it takes you twenty minutes to get the table and camping chairs out for your morning muesli, and by Day 5 you’re whipping breakfast together and having everything all packed up again before you can say “Scooby Doo smoking a joint”.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">9. Quarters are close. If you’re travelling solo then please feel free to skip to #10, but if you’re not - I’m here to warn you that things are about to get <i>intimate</i>. I’m sure the person you’re embarking on this road trip with is someone you know well anyway, but prepare to know them in more depth and detail that you ever thought possible. The phrase ’24/7’ springs to mind and it could be make or break in some situations, so make sure you’re ready for that level of closeness.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">10. Sometimes it all gets a little too much. Well done if you recognised that Shawn Mendes lyric there, you’re forgiven if not - sometimes camper van life <i>is</i> just a bit much. The weather can be a big factor: sometimes it’s unforgivably hot and you’re a sweaty mess who’s swatting mosquitoes and praying for cooler weather, then a cold snap arrives and you’re wearing so many layers that you look like Joey in that Friends episode where he wears all of Chandler’s clothes, shivering vigorously and praying for warmer weather. If you get sick of it, there’s no shame in booking an <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/" target="_blank">Airbnb</a> for a night or two!</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I know that reading this prior to your road trip might make it sound like a bit of a bummer, but remember that these are all of the things that I wish someone had told me and it’s therefore mostly stuff I would’ve avoided. What I can also tell you is that I’m happy for you just typing this, as travelling by camper van is such a flexible, convenient and downright amazing way to see a country and you’re about to have an unforgettable trip of a lifetime - bon voyage!</span></span></div>
Meg Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05020262044885103695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931583758905269229.post-13259699852542541552019-11-05T16:00:00.000+00:002019-11-05T16:00:05.680+00:00The Amazing-Sounding Cleanser That Left Me Super Underwhelmed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YE8XJmBWOZU/XC8yk2nlRmI/AAAAAAAAOM0/hzloSRBXB40Zx5Z0KNUq6ir9Zk7nQsBcwCLcBGAs/s1600/Meg_35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YE8XJmBWOZU/XC8yk2nlRmI/AAAAAAAAOM0/hzloSRBXB40Zx5Z0KNUq6ir9Zk7nQsBcwCLcBGAs/s640/Meg_35.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
<a href="https://rstyle.me/n/dd8qqjb3g2f" target="_blank">Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Cloud Cleanser</a><br />
<br />
<u>Described as</u><br />
"<i>a non-stripping, fragrance-free formula that gently removes makeup, excess oil and impurities whilst moisturising skin</i>"<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Meg says...</u><br />
I'm finally trying a Peter Thomas Roth product and boy, am I ready! Most of this eagerness and enthusiasm is fuelled by <a href="https://www.theannaedit.com/" target="_blank">The Anna Edit</a> and her rave reviews of the <a href="https://rstyle.me/n/dd8raab3g2f" target="_blank">Pumpkin Enzyme Mask</a>, plus the sound of this marshmallow-infused cleanser has me all riled up. In an 'incredibly excited about trying some a new skincare brand' way, of course.<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Packaging</u><br />
I'm such a big fan - it's simple and no-fuss but pretty at the same time. I love the pale blue and there's something about the cloud print that makes me think of Ariana Grande which, let's be honest, is never anything but a positive.<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Texture/consistency</u><br />
This has a creamy-gel consistency that reminds me a lot of the <a href="https://www.boots.com/cetaphil-gentle-skin-cleanser-236ml-10133461" target="_blank">Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser</a>, just considerably thicker. They both have the same 'shiny' texture - it's super hard to explain, check <a href="https://www.reallyree.com/" target="_blank">Really Ree</a>'s review <a href="https://www.reallyree.com/peter-thomas-roth-water-drench-cloud-cream-cleanser-review/" target="_blank">here</a> for a close-up photo - and have quite a liquid soap feel to them.<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Application</u><br />
Under no circumstances should you apply this to dry skin, as the soapy quality has a tendency to 'drag' and is much better suited to damp skin. It's more similar to a gel cleanser than a cream, foams when you massage it in and rinses off with water. I'm not keen on foaming products at all as I usually find them stripping, and unfortunately this is no exception. The description says it can be used to remove makeup but I had an awful 'oww, I'm basically rubbing soap into my eyes and it <i>really </i>stings' experience when I tried and see it as a basic face wash rather than a first/second cleanse or makeup remover.<br />
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<u>Scent/fragrance</u><br />
Another gripe for me, sadly. This is fragrance-free, which will be amazing for sensitive skin types, but has a strong soapy chemical scent that I personally find really unpleasant.<br />
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<u>Results</u><br />
Skin that feels clean, but uncomfortably so - after I've used this my face feels tight and 'squeaky' and I can't apply serum, oil or anything that moisturises to compensate for the tightness quickly enough. Whilst I don't feel like this would be a great option for anyone whose skin leans more oily or more dry, if you're firmly in the 'normal' category then you may really enjoy this as a morning or post-gym wash.<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Price</u><br />
£23<br />
<u><br /></u><u>The bottom line</u><br />
Bad reviews make me a sad reviewer, but honesty is key: I've given this a fair chance but find it doesn't do anything for my skin, and will therefore be passing it on to a friend (who may love it!) It's a shame as the description sounds so<i> </i>up my street - I'm a huge fan of anything with hyaluronic acid and the description that says it has "<i>pure water vapour drawn from the clouds</i>" had me weak at the knees. My skin was left dry and a little irritated and I'm much more inclined to use my trusty <a href="https://rstyle.me/n/dd8rsgb3g2f" target="_blank">Fresh Soy Face Cleanser</a>, but I can't wait to try more from PTR as I have a feeling this is a one-off thing!<br />
<u><br /></u>Photos by <a href="https://www.meganduffield.com/" target="_blank">Megan Duffield Photography</a>Meg Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05020262044885103695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931583758905269229.post-6733996790066441642019-10-29T16:00:00.001+00:002019-10-29T16:00:09.495+00:00Honest JUCY Campervan Review (Plus Helpful Tips & Advice)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hNd-TqKX5xg/XZXtRC4jmZI/AAAAAAAAOoE/8C8krQrgLnQno8KnB4eVL5ELmUOwanZvgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSCF9321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hNd-TqKX5xg/XZXtRC4jmZI/AAAAAAAAOoE/8C8krQrgLnQno8KnB4eVL5ELmUOwanZvgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/DSCF9321.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><br />A month in a campervan travelling 3000km down the east coast of Australia, what an adventure hey? See this post for an in-depth itinerary of where to stay, what to do etc - and keep reading this one for a review of <a href="https://www.jucy.com.au/?_ga=2.21938555.1524922721.1555114987-856957078.1555114987" target="_blank">JUCY</a>, one of the most popular rental companies for tourists travelling in the USA, Australia and New Zealand.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The idea is that you pick up the vehicle of your choice at one JUCY depot, have the journey of a lifetime and then drop it off at another. It's super simple but there are some real horror-story reviews out there, so I hope this sheds some light on things (from someone who wasn't entirely sure they were up for a month of camping, but ended up <i>loving </i>it!) </span><br />
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Toying with the idea of buying a camper instead? We were too, but unless you've got the luxury of time to re-sell it, save the stress and go for a well-known rental instead. It's far more straightforward, insurance is covered and you won't spend the end of your trip asking for "serious offers only, please!" on Gumtree.<br />
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<b>Choose</b></div>
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JUCY have various vehicles available - we went for the <a href="https://www.jucy.com.au/our-vehicles/jucy-campas/jucy-crib/" target="_blank">JUCY Crib</a>, which is also referred to as the JUCY Cabana. It costed $45 per day, has 4x seats in the back that convert into a double bed that sleeps two, and (aside from the hideous green and purple exterior that screams 'I'm a tourist!'), we have absolutely no complaints. The JUCY team themselves were extremely friendly and helpful throughout the entire trip.<br />
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The <a href="https://www.jucy.com.au/our-vehicles/jucy-campas/jucy-crib/" target="_blank">JUCY Crib</a> served our every need - the bed was surprisingly comfortable and quick to make once you got the hang of it, it was smooth to drive, really easy to keep clean and the 'kitchen' comes fully equipped with everything you need to cook your own meals.<br />
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<b>Check</b></div>
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When you pick your JUCY up from the depot, thoroughly check the vehicle for any damage to avoid getting hit with 'there's a scratch on the door here, there's a chip on the windscreen there' fines that were actually the previous owner's fault, and not yours.</div>
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Make sure you know what to do in the unlikely event that you break down or get pulled over, and don't be embarrassed to ask any questions - neither of us had driven an automatic before so it was good to know what kind of gas it took, the fact that it used a footbrake rather than a handbrake and so on.</div>
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The only problem we encountered with our JUCY Crib was that halfway through our trip our fridge stopped working due to the cable being loose. We lost about $30 worth of food which was a shame, but JUCY resolved the issue really quickly by booking us into a nearby garage. We dropped Sheila off, went in search of a pie shop and by the time we came back, the fridge was repaired and JUCY had picked up the bill. </div>
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<b>Rent</b></div>
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JUCY offer additional items that you can rent and then return at the end of your trip along with your vehicle, and the ones that you absolutely need are camping chairs and a table - you'll use them every single day. JUCY state that you get a 'table', but this is located underneath the mattress and isn't suitable for outdoor use.</div>
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Another helpful thing we bought from JUCY was a car charging port so we could charge our phones and portable batteries on the go. Use the maps on your smartphone to navigate.</div>
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<b>Pack</b></div>
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There's not a huge amount of storage space in the JUCY Crib - at first you might struggle to find a place for your things but after a few days you'll have figured out a system. In the evening we stood our big backpacks on the driver and passenger seats, shifted the seats forward then lifted the double mattress into place and pulled the sheet over. In the morning we put the end of the bed down, moved the seats back and put our backpacks on the mattress. In the beginning you think you'll convert the bed back into seats every day, but in reality there's really no point!</div>
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We kept our camping chairs under the bed, left our camping table outside at night and found places for all of our things (e.g. laptops in the pockets behind the seats, books in the compartments next to our pillows etc). Make use of storage in the front of the camper - we kept our small backpacks in the footwells and our cameras in the glove compartment.</div>
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Items that weren't included and came in really handy were: torch, mosquito net, battery-powered desk fan (a lifesaver on hot, stuffy evenings), camping power cable (this meant we could pay a bit extra for a powered site and charge our laptops).</div>
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<b>Cook</b></div>
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Cooking is super easy in a JUCY, and it's also the cheapest option. Head to a supermarket and get yourself the basics: bread, butter, pasta, pesto, olive oil, salt and pepper, cereal, coffee, milk, eggs, washing up liquid, tea towels etc. Go for things that won't go off (tins of baked beans, soup) and will be quick to heat up when you're tired after a long day of exploring. The fridge is a decent size but bear in mind that you've got limited space and things might not stay upright, so you may want to go veggie (if you aren't already).</div>
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Will and I are proper foodies, we <i>love </i>cooking and it was a big part of our campervan trip - we made tons of meals from scratch like sausage and butterbean stew, pumpkin and sage risotto, Spanish omelette, halloumi burgers... the works! We became experts at one-pot meals, so let me know if you'd like some recipes.</div>
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Handy tip if you drink alcohol: boxed wine is mega cheap and perfect for camping!</div>
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<b>Stay</b></div>
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The best thing to do is download the <a href="https://www.wikicamps.co/" target="_blank">WikiCamps app</a> and pay for the premium version - it's a huge database of campgrounds, caravan parks, hostels etc and fellow travellers leave helpful reviews and tips. It gives all the information you need (cost per night, facilities on site) and even works offline! It's the perfect way of finding somewhere to stay for the night and you can narrow down the search (free, must have hot showers). Always double check signs to avoid parking fines or illegal freedom camping.</div>
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It was 95% fun but admittedly, there were times when camping got a bit old. Heavy rain, being too hot/too cold, craving a proper shower and bed - they all contribute towards fatigue and a feeling of 'screw it, let's just book an Airbnb'. The great thing is, you can! Just park up, rest up and then return to the campervan life all refreshed.</div>
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Have an amazing time, and let me know if you have any questions in the comments! You know, for a girl who would've immediately dismissed the idea of camping a couple of years ago, I sure am missing good old Sheila already...</div>
Meg Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05020262044885103695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931583758905269229.post-77175427387015833042019-10-18T16:00:00.000+01:002019-10-18T16:00:00.326+01:00The Ultimate Nude Liquid Lipstick - That's Also Glossy!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mbG5JFk1h2M/XCs8Qzf_2GI/AAAAAAAAOJI/_Hh2srcX_V0plvbgGUFLMVS_T6kd85gPwCLcBGAs/s1600/Meg_77.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mbG5JFk1h2M/XCs8Qzf_2GI/AAAAAAAAOJI/_Hh2srcX_V0plvbgGUFLMVS_T6kd85gPwCLcBGAs/s640/Meg_77.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GCUeZKWl6L0/XCs8Q2yrdyI/AAAAAAAAOJM/aS0RzkONnxEwz36JiCfVluCWoHBCxzL1wCLcBGAs/s1600/Meg_78.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GCUeZKWl6L0/XCs8Q2yrdyI/AAAAAAAAOJM/aS0RzkONnxEwz36JiCfVluCWoHBCxzL1wCLcBGAs/s640/Meg_78.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
<a href="https://rstyle.me/n/c5x74cb3g2f" target="_blank">bareMinerals GEN NUDE Patent Lip Lacquer High Shine Liquid Lipstick</a><br />
<u><br /></u><u>Described as</u><br />
"<i>nude liquid lipstick with a moisturising formula, full-coverage colour and a high shine finish</i>"<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Meg says...</u><br />
Whenever I ask my boyfriend "do you like my lipstick?" he replies, 99% of the time, with "yes, it's a... pinky nude". Pinky nudes are LIFE. So the fact that bareMinerals have brought out an entire range of pinky nude lip products? LIFE MADE.<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Packaging</u><br />
Simple, sleek and slim in a long thin tube - perfect for chucking in your handbag (or, y'know, any other receptacle). My only gripe is that after a few months of use the product has kind of overflowed and gone all over the lid, but to be fair I don't think I've ever used a lipgloss on a daily basis that didn't require some kind of wipe/tissue clean-up at some point.<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Texture/consistency</u><br />
These have a fairly thick consistency, but in all of the best ways - balmy and cushiony and gorgeous - and are the kind of gloss you'd happily use instead if you forgot a lip balm, as they contain a moisturising mineral complex. Thin glosses aren't the one for me as they wear off far too quickly and don't have that lovely 'bouncy' feeling that these do. I can imagine that if you're used to thin glosses or only wear lipsticks then you might describe these as sticky, but in my opinion a little tackiness is what makes a glossy liquid lipstick perfect - you need that tack for the colour payoff and ultimate staying power!<br />
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<u>Application</u><br />
Smooth af. Seriously, the application is <i>so </i>satisfying! The soft applicator is dual-sided (one side being one more flat and the other with a little hollow to hold more product) and both are the perfect shape for starting on the outside of your lip and then the cupid's bow.<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Scent/fragrance</u><br />
Think freshly baked gooey double chocolate chip cookies straight out of the oven. Oh, yeah.<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Shade/colour</u><br />
I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if you find it really hard to choose a shade in this range, especially if you're shopping online, so that's where I come in to help. Get the shade 'Everything'. It is, in fact, everything. A warm, deep pink nude with the right amounts of mauve and brown, it's a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that'll compliment every skin tone and is a product that I'll shout from the rooftops about until my throat's sore.<br />
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I also love 'Can't Even' which is a lighter baby pink nude and 'Dahling', which is fairly similar to 'Everything'. I kind of want (read: am convincing myself I need) every single shade!<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Results</u><br />
An impressively glossy, full-coverage nude pink lip that feels ridiculously comfortable to wear. There's no need to dip back into the tube for more product or apply a traditional lipstick underneath as they're so highly pigmented, and they wear off beautifully with no white lines. bareMinerals call these "<i>the ultimate marriage of shine and coverage</i>", and it's so true! If you love the look of nude liquid lipsticks but find yourself applying gloss or balm over the top halfway through the night as they just feel <i>so </i>dry, these are the solution.<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Price</u><br />
£17<br />
<u><br /></u><u>The bottom line</u><br />
This is going to be the easiest and quickest 'bottom line' I've ever written. You need at LEAST one in your life. Meg out!<br />
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Photos by <a href="https://www.meganduffield.com/" target="_blank">Megan Duffield Photography</a>Meg Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05020262044885103695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931583758905269229.post-45347446225832316252019-10-16T17:00:00.000+01:002019-10-16T17:00:32.613+01:00How I (Honestly) Feel About Coming Home After Travelling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MyJ19aoInUg/Xac92yGAbuI/AAAAAAAAOqY/-rTJ7NowCg8rnYNWvnmfdXeCfIyXa7G-QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Facetune_11-10-2019-17-35-31.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MyJ19aoInUg/Xac92yGAbuI/AAAAAAAAOqY/-rTJ7NowCg8rnYNWvnmfdXeCfIyXa7G-QCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Facetune_11-10-2019-17-35-31.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yesterday, the 15th October, marked one year since Will and I left the UK for 9 months. If you were to hop in Dr. Emmett Brown's DeLorean and travel 365 days to the past, you'd find us: weary with jetlag but delirious with excitement, in a noodle bar in the Tsim Sha Tsui district of Hong Kong, talking about how "the trip has finally begun!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Get Doc (and Marty, if you're lucky - what an 80s <i>dish </i>he was) to bring you back to present day, and you'll find me: in my old office in sleepy Norfolk, house/cat-sitting for my parents whilst they're in Crete, thinking about how "the trip has been over for ages."</span><br />
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This post has been an idea that has sat, drumming its fingers in my mind, waiting for something to set it in motion and get written. That some<i>thing</i> turned out to be some<i>one -</i> <a href="http://bethsandland.co.uk/" target="_blank">Beth Sandland</a>, one of my favourite travel bloggers. In her most recent <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bethsandland/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> story she talked about heading home next month after 11 months of backpacking, how "it's really, really hard to accept that it's coming to an end" and being unsure whether to post a blog post about those feelings for fear of looking ungrateful. I haven't read Beth's post yet as I didn't want this one to end up a carbon copy, but I know it's likely that when I do (this afternoon with a cup of tea, naturally!) I'll find it just as relatable as today's stories.<br />
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We flew home at the end of June, just in time for Will's brother's wedding, and the idiom 'in limbo' sums up how I've been feeling ever since. Life, in the 2 hours and 50 minutes it took to fly from Reykjavík airport to London Heathrow, changed <i>dramatically</i>. In incredibly good ways, mostly - I got to hug my family and friends who I missed sometimes so much it hurt, everything familiar that I longed for was right where I left it and I've always thought about how fortunate we are to have a life that we couldn't wait to come back to.<br />
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In other ways however, it was bittersweet. There's a Kacey Musgraves song where she sings "happy and sad at the same time, you got me smiling with tears in my eyes"... that.<br />
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Everyone always asks "where was your favourite place?" and automatically every time, I launch into "some islands in the Philippines are completely untouched", "we ended up living in one spot in northern Thailand for a month", "I've never been anywhere as breathtaking as New Zealand." It was only a question, asked in a pub garden by my best friend Josh, that prompted a answer that was just as truthful but much more personal.<br />
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"You must miss travelling so much, mustn't you?"<br />
"I've actually been really depressed."<br />
"I could tell."<br />
"How could you tell, we haven't spoken about it!"<br />
"I could just tell."<br />
<br />
Before we went backpacking, I felt <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1GOdUEIsS0&t=125s" target="_blank">like this</a> pretty much every day. At the time of filming that video there was only a few weeks left before we'd be getting on the first of many planes, so it was easy to think: 'I'm not happy right now, but when we're away I will be.'<br />
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And I was! It's easy to be carefree when all that's on the daily agenda is which beach in Bali to visit or how many kangaroos you can spot from your camper in Australia. It was the coming back to reality and realising that travelling didn't solve my problems (like I secretly, naïvely hoped it might) that didn't sting, but <i>ached</i>.<br />
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It's at this point in the post where I've been letting thoughts spill out with reckless abandon - love that I've just used the phrase 'reckless abandon' as I'm sat here in the Norfolk countryside in my fluffy slippers with my cup of English Breakfast - that I pause.<br />
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I pause because I've started to fret that everything I've written so far is too negative. Why can't you just look back on the trip with fond memories and leave it at that? Lots of people would love to go away for that length of time and they probably wouldn't be feeling sad right now. They'll think you thankless, unappreciative, spoilt, just stop <i>moaning</i>. Hit 'delete', or 'close', anything that means 'do not save'. Delete to protect yourself from judgement, or to erase the feeling so that it never even happened.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As you can probably see, it isn't long before my frustratingly overthinking mind spirals and before I know it, I'm in a weird headspace where I'm thinking less about how amazing the trip was and more about the empty, hollow feeling its end created within me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm sure I'm not the only one who struggles to challenge their negative thoughts, and whilst it's daunting to share - here are some that have been threatening to dull the shine of the trip and a few words from my more rational, less worrisome self.<br /></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">"<i>I can't even edit our travelling vlogs as it reminds me of how little I'm doing with my days now.</i>" Of course snorkelling off a tiny tropical island with wild sea turtles was better than doing your taxes with drizzle at the window today. But that doesn't make it bad or boring, you just got used to having an adventure literally every single day for months, and magic exists in 'normal life' too. Instead of wishing for that time back, appreciate the little things you missed that you've now got again. Mainly a proper cup of tea. Remember that (slightly overused) "she designed a life she loved" quote and know that life can still be an adventure even if you know where you'll be sleeping every night. Oh, and Meg? Edit the damn vlogs.<br /><br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">"<i>You could've put deposits on three different houses with the amount of money you spent</i>." Yeah, this one eats you up a bit, doesn't it? You spent a fortune. But that was your choice, and what were you saying before you went away? 'I've saved up way more than I think I'll need because I want to stay in nice hotels if I don't like hostels', 'I'm taking this much as I want to be able to say <i>yes </i>to anything', 'it's a safety net for my chronic illness.' For the most part, you weren't really backpacking; you were on holiday for 9 months. And that sh*t's <i>expensive</i>. You gave yourself the chance to say 'we might never come here again, let's just splash out and book it.' You're pretty broke at the moment (you say 'f*ck me' more times than JaackMaate did in the new Sidemen roast video whenever you look at your bank statements) but you're earning the money back again and are rich in other ways now.<br /><br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">"<i>It's tough being away from Will after spending 24 hours a day together for 9 months.</i>" Well yeah, of course it is - it's a huge change to go from waking up to the same lovely face for that long to going to sleep alone sometimes. You've cried in his arms at the kitchen table as you don't want to say goodbye and get on the train and you've wondered 'do I need to google what separation anxiety is?' You both miss each other, naturally, but it's never more than a few days before you're stuck at the hip again and the time will come when you're settled in a new flat or you've decided to go on another trip - you never know and that's thrilling in itself!<br /><br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">"<i>I haven't uploaded properly for the best part of a year and the industry has moved on so much</i>." But you've still got the most wonderful audience in the world, haven't you - who've stuck by you and not minded when you've taken time off? In fact, you just hit the 85k subscriber milestone on YouTube despite giving yourself the Most Inconsistent award and beating yourself up about it. Although it's a fast-moving industry, you're still working and the passion you've got for it all never went away. I know you're worrying that you didn't get enough ~content~ whilst you were away (with extra worry due to how expensive it was) but that's pishykaka. Nobody says 'I wish I'd uploaded more Instagram stories' on their deathbed.<br /></span></li>
</ul>
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<br />4 worries down, 8450 to go. Only joking (kind of). I've established that my brain is an anxious one and if yours is too, try what I've just done for yourself - write down something you're worrying about then put on your Rational Pants and tell yourself what you'd tell a friend. I've had these thoughts swirling around my brain for months and it's a relief to break them down and realise that they're not <i>as </i>terrifying as they seem.</div>
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So, that's how I honestly feel about coming home after travelling. Grateful to have experienced it, scared about the things I've got to work through in order to feel as free as I did when we were away. Happy and sad at the same time, smiling with tears in my eyes.<br />
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I think it's normal to mourn the end of something that was pure magic. It was the adventure of a lifetime with my best friend and the happiest time of my life. How lucky we are to have experienced something so good that we'd do every second of it again in a heartbeat. <3</div>
Meg Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05020262044885103695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931583758905269229.post-82235882796434495982019-10-15T16:00:00.000+01:002019-10-15T16:00:08.089+01:00Charlotte Tilbury Youth Glow Primer: Yay or Nay?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NPKmxzNxQ4c/XCiacsqMobI/AAAAAAAAOII/rcRGRWFhehspuTRcHbsT6hFY0VpXOReewCLcBGAs/s1600/Meg_47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NPKmxzNxQ4c/XCiacsqMobI/AAAAAAAAOII/rcRGRWFhehspuTRcHbsT6hFY0VpXOReewCLcBGAs/s640/Meg_47.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://rstyle.me/n/c5wi7jb3g2f" target="_blank">Charlotte Tilbury Brightening Youth Glow Primer</a><br />
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<u>Described as</u><br />
"<i>an anti-ageing, colour-correcting, glow-boosting primer to help even your skin tone and [appear to] blur away blemishes</i>"<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Meg says...</u><br />
As a big <a href="https://rstyle.me/n/c5wjinb3g2f" target="_blank">Charlotte Tilbury</a> fan (I rarely try anything I don't end up loving from her range and many have holy grail status for me) I've got high hopes for this. Primer isn't something I reach for on a daily basis, so it'll be interesting to see whether that changes - I think it'll have to be really amazing for me to remember to use it before I have that 'doh, totally forgot to put any on and I'm already halfway through my foundation' feeling!<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Packaging</u><br />
Luxe af, as you'd expect from The Tilbs - the gold lid (that has an extremely satisfying 'click', may I add) and sleek thin design looks extremely pretty! It's also really practical - the squeezy plastic body combined with the thin pointed nozzle makes dispensing super easy and you'll have zero problems travelling with this baby.<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Texture/consistency</u><br />
This has the consistency of a light, liquid-y moisturiser or sunscreen - think the majority of your skincare cabinet that comes with a pump.<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Application</u><br />
Quick and foolproof. Massage a blob all over your face (you control the amount, more product = more sheen) and watch how quickly it sinks in and becomes one with your skin. My foundation (I'm currently using <a href="https://rstyle.me/n/dd52y2b3g2f" target="_blank">Benefit Hello Happy</a>) sits beautifully on top when I first apply it, although I do notice that my base doesn't last as long when I use the Youth Glow Primer (especially on my forehead) so I use a touch more powder to ensure even coverage.<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Scent/fragrance</u><br />
There's a slight rose scent, but it's very inoffensive and I personally really love it.<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Shade/colour</u><br />
The product is the same colour you can see in the tube (white, with a opalescent sheen to it) which blends out to leave a pearly glow on the skin. It's well worth pointing out at this point that I'm a pale white woman and am not sure how this would sit on darker skin as it does leave a faint 'brightness' behind - Wonder Glow may be a better option.<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Results</u><br />
My complexion looks visibly brighter with a noticeable glow. As for the colour-correcting claims this product makes I can't see I see much of a difference - any blemishes don't look any less red nor my dark circles any less purple - but I do like how it 'blurs' imperfections like large pores and dullness. This would be great on holiday with just concealer!<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Price</u><br />
£38.50<br />
<u><br /></u><u>The bottom line</u><br />
On the whole I like this product, mainly because it offers a pearly sheeny base that shines through my foundation, concealer and powder and makes everything look that bit more dewy and luminous. The price, however, is an issue for me as I often forget to use it after I've done my skincare/SPF and for a £40 primer, I want it to be so good that it doesn't slip my mind. I feel as though right now - in my fine line-less early 20s - I'm happy to use a blinding highlight for extra glow, whereas in my 30s and 40s I'm imagining that I'll be much more inclined to use products that make my skin look amazing in a more natural, lit from within way. So, with that being said - see you in 2034, Youth Glow, you're a definite yay!<br />
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Photos by <a href="https://www.meganduffield.com/" target="_blank">Megan Duffield Photography</a>Meg Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05020262044885103695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931583758905269229.post-85832329558183988062019-10-14T13:23:00.001+01:002019-10-28T13:57:20.571+00:00Everything You Need To Know About Glossier's New Serum/Oil: Futuredew<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p11XoxArCD8/XaRm7gWYIsI/AAAAAAAAOpQ/Su_RnYjpmB8YgmPMLFyQEHfHOLESO-gJwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Facetune_14-10-2019-13-12-56.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p11XoxArCD8/XaRm7gWYIsI/AAAAAAAAOpQ/Su_RnYjpmB8YgmPMLFyQEHfHOLESO-gJwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Facetune_14-10-2019-13-12-56.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CfCmc3kI0Vw/XaRm6hbOMJI/AAAAAAAAOpM/Jh8N2RPQercHwDrDxJtnB3mLmiYCcnv_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Facetune_14-10-2019-13-12-24.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CfCmc3kI0Vw/XaRm6hbOMJI/AAAAAAAAOpM/Jh8N2RPQercHwDrDxJtnB3mLmiYCcnv_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Facetune_14-10-2019-13-12-24.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://rstyle.me/+L1f_JrDmmGUI3EPnovWqBw" target="_blank">Glossier Futuredew Oil Serum Hybrid</a></div>
<u>Described as</u><br />
"<i>a new skincare step that packs a one-two punch: an instant glow, plus hydration and skin-nourishing ingredients. When you apply it today, you not only get the instant dewy glow from light-reflecting minerals payoff - you start feeding your skin what it needs to wake up brighter-looking and more moisturised tomorrow</i>"<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NrAQ_qIKL8o/XaRna81gLhI/AAAAAAAAOp8/toQ3u1uJdRA4JVxsV5JL3H6KltjQ_vYVACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSCF5455.RAF" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NrAQ_qIKL8o/XaRna81gLhI/AAAAAAAAOp8/toQ3u1uJdRA4JVxsV5JL3H6KltjQ_vYVACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/DSCF5455.RAF" width="640" /></a><u><br /></u><u><br /></u><br />
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<u>Meg says...</u><br />
On the day that Harry Styles kickstarted HS2 with his new single <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NZvM1918_E" target="_blank">Lights Up</a>, the postman knocked on my door with an unreleased <a href="https://rstyle.me/+YQcJx3m3QSMUBdJg11J96A" target="_blank">Glossier</a> skincare product called <a href="https://rstyle.me/+L1f_JrDmmGUI3EPnovWqBw" target="_blank">Futuredew</a> - tell me, has my personal brand <i>ever</i> been more represented? I think not!<br />
<br />
Trust <a href="https://rstyle.me/+YQcJx3m3QSMUBdJg11J96A" target="_blank">Glossier</a> to *invent* a step in our routine that we didn't know we needed until now. The press release literally calls it "<i>a new category of skincare</i>" and it promises "<i>your healthiest-looking, dewiest most radiant skin</i>". Designed to mimic the sheen your skin has after you've applied all of your skincare, I'm expecting glow by the bucketload...<br />
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<u>Price</u><br />
£23<br />
<br />
<u>Packaging</u><br />
Faultless, in terms of function and cuteness alike! Practically it's brilliant - just the right neat size, in heavy-duty glass that's actually fine for travelling and with a lid that actually can't fall off. Now for the fun stuff - it's <i>metallic </i>y'all! The classic #glossierpink lid sits atop a sheeny-shiny bottle that appears a sparkly light pink but shifts into purple or lilac or blue or green or red depending on how the light hits. Kacey Musgraves didn't write the song 'Rainbow' about it, but she could have.<br />
<br />
<u>Texture/consistency</u><br />
<a href="https://rstyle.me/+YQcJx3m3QSMUBdJg11J96A" target="_blank">Glossier</a> call it an "oil serum hybrid", an accurate description as the consistency is that of adding a few drops of oil to the balmiest serum you own. In fact, balmy is the takeaway word here - it isn't thick but it definitely has some tack and grip to it.<br />
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<u>Application</u><br />
We're advised to apply two pumps all over as the <i>last step</i> in our routine. Unsure about where SPF comes into this ~new~ skincare routine? I was too, so I sent the gTeam a DM and they confimed that it's as follows: skincare, then <a href="https://rstyle.me/+4tWP1cHkJ3sfC4aTFFG2Hg" target="_blank">Invisible Shield</a> (or whatever SPF you use), then <a href="https://rstyle.me/+L1f_JrDmmGUI3EPnovWqBw" target="_blank">Futuredew</a>. Apply makeup on top as your final step if you wear it!<br />
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One pump is sufficient. Two is nice but a bottle is 30ml, and at £23 for what's essentially a very 'extra' step, I'd whizz through it - plus, one is enough for me and I have dry skin.<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Scent/fragrance</u><br />
Lavender, unexpectedly! The scent is exactly like something you'd spritz on your pillow to help you sleep - I stuck this under my boyfriend's nose with a 'smell this!' command and his comment was "lavender, it's medicinal... I'm getting Play-Doh. Do you not think it smells like Play-Doh?" To me, it's best summed up as 'herbal'.<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Shade/colour</u><br />
Out of the bottle it's a light peach color with teeny pinky golden sparkles in it (Glossier call these "<i>light-reflecting minerals"</i>, naturally) and it blends into skin with no visible colour.<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Results</u><br />
An immediately and visibly plumper face. It instantly makes your skin look incredibly hydrated, even if it isn't, which makes perfect sense seeing as it's designed to look like you've got a ton of skincare on - and for that look to <i>last</i>. Upon application your skin looks incredibly shiny, but the shine does die down with time and becomes luminous rather than oily.<br />
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As for makeup, it applies as normal on top of <a href="https://rstyle.me/+L1f_JrDmmGUI3EPnovWqBw" target="_blank">Futuredew</a> as it would with a regular primer and it lasts, surprisingly! My first thoughts were "my skin looks as healthy and glowing as it can, but my foundation is surely going to slide off within an hour", but the coverage and finish actually looked great after 7 hours with Futuredew as its base.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pbdcdfb3FN0/XaRm9AIky6I/AAAAAAAAOps/ziGKNn4zBt8Nfte-tj_UuOo0z12Q_EO2wCEwYBhgL/s1600/Facetune_14-10-2019-13-13-31.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pbdcdfb3FN0/XaRm9AIky6I/AAAAAAAAOps/ziGKNn4zBt8Nfte-tj_UuOo0z12Q_EO2wCEwYBhgL/s640/Facetune_14-10-2019-13-13-31.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<u><br /></u><u>The bottom line</u><br />
If you're oily then the sheen might be too much for you, however, as someone with a dry skin-type who's living in the UK in October - it's a yes from me! It's probably not something I'd use everyday: more a product I'll reach for after a night out or a flight, or when my skin is looking particularly parched and in need of an extra hydration hit plus glow.<br />
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<a href="https://rstyle.me/+YQcJx3m3QSMUBdJg11J96A" target="_blank">Glossier</a> are great at coming up with (very millennial aesthetic) ideas that nobody has thought of before, and this is another one: something that makes your skin look like you've got the #shelfie of a Vogue coverstar, even if it's literally the <i>only </i>product you've applied.<br />
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<a href="https://rstyle.me/+EmBu_d-N5afrviyyge5N8g" target="_blank">Ribbed Jumper</a> | <a href="https://rstyle.me/+9H0Ij-keP2INFGskRLSWhQ" target="_blank">Gold Shield Necklace</a> | <a href="https://www.daisyjewellery.com/necklaces/full-collection" target="_blank">Layering Necklaces</a> | <a href="https://rstyle.me/+jv8xpJdx86UUcFIv4eXR-Q" target="_blank">Sundial Hoop Earrings</a><br />
Disclaimer: this post contains PR samples/gifted items and uses affiliate links.<br />
Photos by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/willburchillphoto/" target="_blank">Will Burchill Photography</a>Meg Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05020262044885103695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931583758905269229.post-63614582712930139142019-10-11T16:00:00.000+01:002019-10-16T17:28:52.382+01:005 Things That Travelling Taught Me About Myself<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Our nine-month backpacking journey is nearing its end, and as I'm currently sat in a hotel room in Vegas with a sprained ankle - maybe a story for another time - I thought I'd sip my (annoyingly cheap considering the price of the hotel) cup of coffee and take a few moments to reflect on things I've realised about myself along the way.<br />
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1. <b>I like pushing myself out of my comfort zone</b>, provided that I know I'll enjoy the situation at least somewhat. I know that's a complete contradiction, but bear with! At times opportunities came up that made me nervous, like embarking on a week-long motorbike trip with Will, but it was that good kind of <i>excited</i> nervous. Other times opportunities were just 100% Not My Thing, like caving, but I went anyway purely for the sake of 'trying something new'. Lo and behold, I hated every moment and the group having to stop every few minutes as I was slipping on wet rocks and felt a panic attack coming on made me think 'I knew from the beginning that I didn't want to do it, I should've just stuck to my guns'.<br />
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It reminds me of the time we went for a debriefing-brunch of the night before at <a href="https://www.hellofego.com/cobham-menus/" target="_blank">Fego</a> and our mate kept trying to get me to drink some of his Bloody Mary. "I really don't like tomato juice" I said, to which he replied "have you ever tried it?" I hadn't, and this sparked a 'how do you know you don't like it if you've never tried it?' dispute that we were both far too hungover for. In the end I took a big gulp just to put an end to the whole thing, had to run to the bathroom and it all ended with a rather frosty "I <i>told </i>you I <i>knew </i>I didn't like it". And now, I guess - I can say the same for caving!<br />
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2. Something that has surprised me is learning is that <b>I'm</b> <b>not as much of a homebody as I thought</b>. Maybe it's the years I lost to chronic illness that've meant I'm glad to be doing something different, or maybe it was our jam-packed schedule that gave me little room in my brain to think about good old sleepy Norfolk, but I haven't pined for home like I thought I would. I've had a couple of wobbles, sure, but for the most part I've enjoyed our little 'temporary homes' all over the world.<br />
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Whether it was for three days or for a month we've had endless basecamps that we've called 'ours', and I think it's comfort that I crave and not necessarily a certain place. If my environment isn't comfortable and the people I'm surrounded by don't make me feel at ease, <i>that's </i>when I feel homesick and like booking a one-way flight back to England. If I'm with Will and we've got a cosy room on the other hand, I could happily stay in one place forever!<br />
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3. I love meeting new people and socialising (this sounds like a dating profile), I'm not shy, reserved or quiet and my job requires the confidence to stand in front of 20+ crew members and talk to a camera as though I'm filming a YouTube video alone in my bedroom. So an extrovert, right? Not exactly, as I'm truly content with my own company and crave 'alone time' to recharge, and I actually feel a bit trapped and get this feeling that I can't leave our room sometimes. When I do, I realise that everything's fine and I thoroughly enjoy the conversations and mingling. <b>Is an 'extroverted introvert' a thing? </b>If so, that's me!<br />
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4. Grab your armbands if you can't swim as we're about to get pretty deep, and that's because I've realised that <b>I need to seek help for my mental health</b>. Depression and anxiety haven't been topics I've covered much online (something I'm willing to change if it'd help others in some way), and going on a trip like this one for the best part of year has brought certain issues to the surface that I've probably been ignoring for far too long. Backpacking doesn't leave anywhere to 'hide' - you can't put a sign around your neck that says Do Not Disturb whilst you're having a depressive episode, because you're staying in a dorm or you have a tour booked or you're getting on a flight. Feeling the way I have since we left the UK has been a reminder that turning a blind eye when it comes to your mental health simply doesn't work, and I'll be looking into therapy when we get home.<br />
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5. Let's have a lighthearted one to end things on - and offset that last 'world's smallest violin' moment - shall we? <b>I bloody love camping! </b>I didn't think I liked camping at all. In fact, I denounced it and said it was Not My Thing, just like - oh I don't know... caving? As explained in #1 however, I did know that I'd somewhat enjoy the whole experience so Will and I have done a fair amount (both in a campervan across Australia and regular tent-and-pegs camping). It's always such an adventure - rocking up to a gorgeous National Park and setting up for the night, cooking risotto from scratch on our wee hob and spending the evening chatting around the campfire. Absolute heaven, I tell you!<br />
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Now that I've taken a long look in the mirror and deduced a thing or two about me, myself and I - and now that my cheapo coffee is empty - it's probably time to call it a day on the self-reflection and go watch Rocketman with Will in the multiplex cinema in our hotel. Yep, the multiplex <i>in </i>our hotel. The bad coffee just doesn't add up does it, pals?<br />
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<a href="https://rstyle.me/+C1ahYxJhsC0jNPSJEv66fQ" target="_blank">Top</a> | <a href="https://rstyle.me/+9IcpS1BiadVoAdF1A_qmvg" target="_blank">Skirt</a> | *<a href="https://www.murujewellery.com/necklaces-c1/belle-bunty-for-muru-unity-necklace-gold-p1252" target="_blank">Necklace</a><br />
*PR sample/gifted<br />
Photos by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/willburchillphoto/" target="_blank">Will Burchill Photography</a>Meg Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05020262044885103695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931583758905269229.post-42980638343531207282019-10-08T16:00:00.000+01:002019-10-08T16:00:10.615+01:00The California Road Trip (San Francisco to Death Valley) <div style="text-align: center;">
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California is probably the state in the US that I was most excited to experience (mainly due to years of watching The OC) and if you've got a visit coming up - this is the post for you!<br />
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Whilst there was no Seth Cohen on this trip (sob), there <i>was</i> fun in abundance, from the moment we hired a car in San Francisco until we left California for Nevada. Here's every place we went, with recommendations for Greek fries, movie museums, camping and more.</div>
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<b><u>San Francisco</u></b><br />
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<a href="https://www.hayesvalleyinn.com/en-us" target="_blank">Hayes Valley Inn</a> - a little worn around the edges and the Standard Room could've had a bigger bed (Will and I are both tall) but overall, lovely stay! Don't let the shared bathroom put you off - they're spotless, we never had to wait for other guests and there are gorgeous sinks in the room so you can get your seven-step skincare routine on in private. The location is <i>superb </i>- we walked everywhere minus one Uber home from Fisherman's Wharf, and a plethora of restaurants are situated literally outside the front door.</div>
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<a href="https://www.souvla.com/" target="_blank">Souvla</a> - Greek food of restaurant quality that's served in a matter of minutes, we went back <i>three </i>times - in my opinion the salads (huge, fyi) are better than the wraps, definitely get the Greek fries and there's always a queue out the door for their frozen Greek yoghurt.</div>
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<a href="http://frenchsoulfood.com/" target="_blank">Brenda's French Soul Food</a> - you'll want to come here with a healthy appetite as the menu is extensive and the portions ain't stingy! They do a real big dirty breakfast - think secret recipe fried chicken, Louisiana cuisine and grits. If you're vegan, a few of their dishes (salads, sandwiches etc) are centred around this blackened cajun tofu that's rather divine. </div>
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<a href="https://amanosf.com/" target="_blank">a Mano</a> - with the star of the show being their hand-made pasta that's created fresh every day, head here for their cacio e pepe or my favourite, the parsley tagliatelle. Pasta portions aren't huge (at least compared to many other spots) so you may want to order one of their delicious antipasti dishes - or talk your partner into getting the asparagus, green garlic, stracciatella and lemon pizza so you can nick a slice. Not that I did that, or anything...<br />
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<a href="https://www.caffesportsf.com/" target="_blank">Caffe Sport</a> - we really wanted to go to the famous <a href="https://tonyspizzanapoletana.com/" target="_blank">Tony's Pizza Napoletana</a>, but the waitress was mega rude so we cancelled our reservation and walked in search of somewhere just as delicious (but hopefully a bit friendlier!) - and that's exactly what we found at this Sicilian restaurant. The elaborate interior and polaroids of celebrities who've dined there over the years mean your eyes will never get bored once inside, and your tastebuds won't be bored either. I had the risotto ai funghi porcini on the chef's recommendations and oh my goodness - the creamiest, richest risotto I've ever had! It's big enough to share, so maybe order one between two and an insalata caprese on the side.</div>
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<a href="http://www.visitfishermanswharf.com/" target="_blank">Fisherman's Wharf</a> - a must-do in San Fran, the centre of the city's world-famous fishing district is packed with things to do: fine dining, cheap eats on the boardwalk, views for days, boat trips, arcade games, variety performances - it's hard not to have fun there, and it'd be my number one recommendation if you're visiting as a family with children.</div>
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<a href="https://www.alcatrazcruises.com/" target="_blank">Alcatraz</a> - my only advice is: book ahead. And that's because we didn't, so we couldn't go...</div>
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<a href="https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g60713-d10483994-Reviews-Mrs_Doubtfire_House-San_Francisco_California.html" target="_blank">Mrs Doubtfire House</a> - I'm afraid that the 'Meg Says Do' section of this post is rather lacking, as we were seriously suffering after an 18-hour time difference from New Zealand and felt like zombies with hangovers. Going to visit the house from Mrs Doubtfire (my #1 childhood favourite) was top of my list but jet-lag got in the way, so go and wave hi to good old Euphegenia for me, will you?</div>
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<b><u>Truckee</u></b><br />
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<a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/27890596?location=Truckee%2C%20CA&adults=1&check_in=2019-05-16&check_out=2019-05-17&guests=1&source_impression_id=p3_1557956947_ExrNsSACW9loynIx&s=VEgOzOy0" target="_blank">Airbnb (Luxury Studio Condo)</a> - under £60 a night (use <a href="http://www.airbnb.co.uk/c/megs1438" target="_blank">this link</a> for money off) and only ten minutes from Truckee's centre, we stayed here on Will's 25th. The host was kind enough to give us a late checkout when our heads were throbbing after Will's birthday night out, and I can't even tell you how comfy the memory foam bed is! It's one of those Airbnb's where they've thought of everything, so if you've forgotten your toothpaste or your bottle of wine isn't a screw-top - they've got you covered.</div>
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<a href="http://www.moodysbistro.com/" target="_blank">Moody's Bistro Bar & Eats</a> - when the sun is shining, head to the perfect lunch spot that is Moody's - the staff are anything <i>but </i>moody btw, total rays of sunshine! - and choose from their range of pizzas (The Forage was my favourite) or sizeable burgers. Whilst my veggie take on beef carpaccio with beets was really yummy, the portion was minuscule and I had to make an emergency order of their truffle & parmesan fries. Poor me, hey!</div>
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<a href="https://www.pianetarestauranttruckee.com/" target="_blank">Pianeta</a> - we made Will's birthday dinner reservation here (special thanks to Mum & Dad Says, who paid for it!) and it's a must if you're in Truckee with your significant other. The perfect date night restaurant with low lighting and candles, once you've ordered a bottle of wine (we had a Valpolicella Ripasso red, highly recommend) the server opens it at your table and leaves you the cork to make a wish and add to the collection that's literally coming through the wall behind you. Our pasta dishes (aglio e olio and bolognese) weren't the best we've had, but the salad and olives we had to start were truly something special!</div>
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<a href="https://www.squeezein.com/" target="_blank">Squeeze In</a> - if "the best omelettes on the planet" doesn't tempt you to try this joint, maybe the queue of locals and visitors alike waiting outside for a table will. The menu is so big that having to wait actually proves to be a good thing, as it gives you time to read the thing! Let me narrow it down for you: their Mexican dishes are great so go for the burritos, huevos rancheros, chilaquiles section. They also have an entire vegan section - big plus!</div>
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<a href="http://www.donner-lake.com/" target="_blank">Donner Lake</a> - known as the Jewel of the Sierra, there are a ton of water-based activities here (swimming, fishing, sailing etc) and plenty of hikes and walks that'll keep you busy. Also visit the <a href="http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=503" target="_blank">Donner Memorial State Park</a> where you can camp or simply learn about the history of the area at the Visitor Centre. Keep an eye out for chipmunks - so cute!</div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/dressedboutiqueCA/" target="_blank">Dressed Boutique</a> - with polka-dot wrap dresses and on-trend leopard pieces in the window, we actually made a special trip back to Truckee from Tahoe City just so I could have a <i>proper </i>browse in here. Think ZARA meets Mango.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/PastimeClubTruckee/?rf=455139357995627" target="_blank">Pastime Club</a> - after leaving Pianeta we heard a band playing here, then the 70+ lead singer spilled out onto the pavement still strutting his stuff - and we were sold! We ended up dancing on the bar to What's Up by 4 Non Blondes at 2am and it was <i>fab</i>.<br />
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<b><u>Tahoe City</u></b><br />
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<b>Stay</b></div>
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<a href="https://www.mothernaturesinn.com/" target="_blank">Mother Nature's Inn</a> - a pet-friendly choice located just over the road from stunning Lake Tahoe, the owners welcome you to come and "hibernate" in this cosy and charming inn. I felt like I'd stepped back in time (in a good way) with all of the pine furniture and kitsch decorations! Get the <a href="https://www.mothernaturesinn.com/rooms/" target="_blank">King Room</a> if you can - maybe I've been backpacking for too long but it's one of the comfiest beds I've ever stayed in.</div>
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<b>Eat</b></div>
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<a href="https://www.tahoebridgetender.com/" target="_blank">Bridgetender</a> - at Fanny Bridge (I'm not laughing, <i>you</i> are) you'll find this local-filled tavern that claims to have the best burgers in Lake Tahoe! Will put their blue cheese & bacon cheeseburger to the test and gave it a thumbs-up, plus another for the delicious waffle fries (that I snaffled at least ten of). With new specials every day and happy hour from 4.15-6.15, you'll be as happy as the giant cowboy smoking a pipe on the roof of the restaurant.</div>
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<a href="https://www.firesigncafe.com/" target="_blank">Fire Sign Cafe</a> - our go-to breakfast/brunch spot! If you like eggs, you'll love it here - pretty much the entire menu is dedicated to omelettes, scrambles, benedicts or 'how you like 'em cooked'. I had the tostado one day which was delicious but <i>way </i>too much - I could barely eat half and it came with a big basket of chips with homemade salsa too. After that Will and I shared meals at Fire Sign and there was always enough for two - great for budgeting!</div>
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<b>Do</b><br />
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For a 'minimum effort with maximum payout' job, do the Eagle Rock Hiking Trail Homewood - I did it in Birkenstocks that were giving me a killer blister (plus I'm not fit in the slightest!) and it only took 20 minutes to reach incredible views at the summit! <a href="https://www.visitcalifornia.com/attraction/emerald-bay-state-park" target="_blank">Emerald Bay State Park</a> isn't far and again - hikes fo' beginners with views fo' days.</div>
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<b><u>Yosemite</u></b><br />
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<a href="https://www.tamaracklodge.com/" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Tamarack Lodge & Resort</a><span style="text-align: left;"> - it's worth at least a night's stay in Mammoth Lakes for the amazing sitting room in this lodge alone - it's a total pleasure to sink into one of the armchairs and read your book in front of the roaring fire! As well as lake views and a whole host of nearby activities like skiing, scenic gondola rides and snowcat tours, there's also a free continental breakfast to start your day and an in-house restaurant to end it.</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.slocums.com/" target="_blank">Slocum's Bar & Grill</a> - it snowed whilst we were in Yosemite and this was the perfect place to warm up in front of the fire with a nice glass of red. I had their ultimate mac and cheese which was satisfyingly stringy without being overly rich. Get the smaller portion, mind!</div>
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<a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60791-d12941209-Reviews-Wild_Willy_s_Hot_Springs-Mammoth_Lakes_California.html" target="_blank">Wild Willy's Hot Springs</a> - an Irish couple in Queenstown told us about these free hot springs - their exact words were "you'll keep thinking you've gone the wrong way but just keep going, you'll get there!" (which is actually rather good life advice isn't it, thanks cute couple) and it's a must if you're in Mammoth Lakes. It's basically a natural hot tub in the middle of nowhere with stunning mountain views - wear your swimming costume under your clothes (there's nowhere to get changed) or just forgo the clothes, and go at offbeat times if you want it all to yourselves. Twenty minutes in the car will take you to Convict Lake, also!</div>
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<a href="https://www.bishopmotels.net/en-us/accommodations" target="_blank">El Rancho Motel</a> - you know in Crossroads when Britney and the gals rock up to that motel and Kit's all like "I'm not sleeping here"... well, I was Kit when we first walked into our room here! I was ready to turn and run from the hills when I saw an unmade bed and someone else's lipstick on the coffee cup, but it turned out that we'd been given the wrong keys and we were staying in a room that had, y'know... actually been cleaned. Nothing special, but fine for one night and you get that authentic motel experience!</div>
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<a href="http://pupfishcafe.com/" target="_blank">Pupfish Cafe</a> - if you're looking for a cute, non-crowded place to get really good cup of Joe - come here. Their menu has your classic American eggs, bacon and waffles etc but they also have an <i>entire avocado toast section</i>... yup! Plus you'll find it at the back of a lovely bookshop, so you can breathe in that glorious new book smell with your morning coffee.</div>
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<a href="https://www.bishopvisitor.com/activities/bristlecone-forest/" target="_blank">Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest</a> - this was one of my favourite days of our entire trip! You've probably heard of the Giant Sequoia trees? Well, these babies are a whole <i>millennium </i>older than those, and are in fact the oldest living trees in the world. Take a little picnic, 'aww' out loud at all of the chipmunks and spend a few hours walking around and learning about this interesting, majestic forest!</div>
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<b><u>Lone Pine</u></b><br />
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<a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/inyo/recarea/?recid=20686" target="_blank">Lone Pine Campground</a> - it was around this point in our trip that we realised just how expensive America is to backpack around, so we hauled-ass to Walmart and bought ourselves a load of camping equipment. It felt like a lot of money at the checkout, but compared to staying in hotels every night? Bargain. Campgrounds have such a cute sense of community and this one is no different - not even the warning signs about bears could stop us from smiling as we played card games round the fire.</div>
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<a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g32646-d676399-Reviews-Alabama_Hills_Cafe_and_Bakery-Lone_Pine_California.html" target="_blank">Alabama Hills Cafe & Bakery</a> - bring your appetite, as these portions are big and you'll absolutely want a loaf of their homemade jalapeño bread to go! I had the vegan breakfast which restored my faith in ordering a vegan dish and not getting wafer-thin slices of beetroot topped with walnuts - it was probably big enough for two and came with a ton of delicious fresh fruit.</div>
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<a href="https://www.museumofwesternfilmhistory.org/" target="_blank">Museum Of Western Film History</a> - killing time before heading to Death Valley led us to find this gem - turns out that Lone Pine is Hollywood's favourite filming destination, who knew?! Every great Western you can think of was made against the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada and the Alabama Hills, and directors of many modern movies brought their filmstars and crews to Lone Pine also. Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Iron Man, Gladiator - the list is endless and this is a great way to spend an afternoon.</div>
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<a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g32646-d117177-r428032132-Alabama_Hills-Lone_Pine_California.html" target="_blank">Movie Road</a> - if you're gonna take my last suggestion then you've gotta do this, too - not far from the film museum is Movie Road, where you can visit the exact filming location of movies like Django Unchained. You can <i>totally </i>picture the characters there and it's clear to see why directors love it - it's otherworldly and full of photo opportunities!</div>
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<b><u>Death Valley</u></b><br />
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<b>Stay</b><br />
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<a href="https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g143021-d531547-Reviews-Sunset_Campground-Death_Valley_National_Park_Inyo_County_California.html" target="_blank">Sunset Campground</a><b> </b>- a large, open campsite with toilet facilities and running water etc, this seemingly in-the-middle-of-nowhere spot is great for campers. Most people there are in RVs and campervans, so be prepared if you're in a tent like we were - we arrived in May and the conditions were crazy! It took twenty minutes to knock just one peg into the rock-hard ground and a sandstorm threatened to rip away not only our tent, but our <i>car</i>. We came back the following (less windy) evening and camped there successfully, but on our first attempt we gave up and drove to...</div>
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<a href="https://pahrumpnugget.com/" target="_blank">Pahrump Nugget</a> - with <a href="https://www.oasisatdeathvalley.com/" target="_blank">The Oasis</a> across the road being fully booked, we made the drive to Pahrump and stayed in our first ever casino. If you find yourself in a pickle in Death Valley or you want to stay somewhere that isn't ridiculously expensive, this is a reliable spot with 'ooh, I really didn't expect it to be this nice!' rooms and 24/7 dining.</div>
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<a href="https://timbishatacos.com/" target="_blank">Timbisha Tacos</a> - Death Valley isn't exactly teeming with restaurant options (I think there's only around eight places that you can get food) and we chose this mega-casual Native American taco shop. They do a traditional fry bread with taco toppings, burritos and Hawaiian shaved ice with more flavours than you can shake a stick at!</div>
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<a href="https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g143021-d532011-Reviews-Artists_Palette-Death_Valley_National_Park_Inyo_County_California.html" target="_blank">Artist's Palette</a> - on your way into or out of the National Park, make sure you take ten minutes to do the drive here, it's well worth it! Put a great song on the stereo (we went for Sedona by Houndmouth), crank up the volume and fly through the rock formations. It's the craziest, most winding road to the point where you genuinely feel like you're on a rollercoaster in your car!</div>
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<a href="https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g143021-d116979-Reviews-Badwater-Death_Valley_National_Park_Inyo_County_California.html" target="_blank">Badwater Basin</a> - yes, it's just as cool as it sounds! Make sure you see the salt flats, marvel at the incredible natural beauty of Inyo County and take a selfie with the Sea Level sign (the basin is the lowest point in Northern America).</div>
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We managed to squeeze so much into this two-week road trip and it was such an adventure - if I had to pick one highlight then it'd be our beautiful day at the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, although every day was an adventure in itself. I'd love to return to California someday to see Los Angeles and San Diego!</div>
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Meg Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05020262044885103695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931583758905269229.post-17323808122826054722019-10-04T16:00:00.000+01:002019-10-04T16:00:03.519+01:00Overnight Sleeper Trains In Thailand: What To Expect & Advice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When travelling through Southeast Asia, nothing would fill my Instagram DMs with 'are they awful or okay?!' messages from backpackers-to-be's like a Thai overnight sleeper train.<br />
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It's a convenient and cost-effective option - cheaper than flying plus you save one night's accommodation - but if you're a first-time traveller (or female, or you've heard horror stories) then please allow me to shed some light on what they're <i>actually </i>like...<br />
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A common route is Bangkok to Chiang Mai or the other way around; we did both and they take 11-14 hours. It costed roughly £35/$45 for a 2nd Class A/C Sleeper at the station - prices are higher online <a href="https://www.thairailwayticket.com/eTSRT/default.aspx?language=1" target="_blank">here</a>, although it's advisable to book in advance to ensure a seat.<br />
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You'll be allocated a seat number on your ticket, so find it when you first get onto the train - the luggage space provided isn't huge, but it's big enough for two large backpacks or medium suitcases. You can take your own food and snacks onto the train, and you'll also be offered a food menu with standard Thai dishes - I had stir-fried vegetables with rice. A table that's kept underneath your seat will be put up whilst you eat, and put away after.<br />
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At this point it'll look like a 'regular' train and everything will be business as usual until around 8pm, when the staff come to change the seats into beds. This is executed with practically military position and you'll be stood to the side as though watching a magic show whilst a Thai man expertly folds seats into mattresses and tucks in sheets.<br />
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The differences between the lower and the upper bunks aren't huge, except the lower is about 200 baht more expensive, you don't have to go up or down a ladder and it's a little wider. All bedding is provided, although you may want to wear warmer clothing (long sleeves and socks etc) as the air conditioning is non-adjustable.<br />
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The bunks are pretty cosy with a curtain for privacy and a plug socket for charging devices. Like most things in Thailand they're pretty small, but it's only one night!<br />
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Let's talk about safety. My friend had a bad experience due to begging children on the train and waking up to find that some of her money had been stolen from her bag. I, therefore, boarded my first Thai sleeper feeling really anxious and apprehensive and didn't sleep much due to fear of being robbed. I'm so pleased to tell you that nothing bad happened whatsoever - there were no children (except those travelling with their families, of course) and I didn't feel as though I were in any danger at all.<br />
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Having said that however, obviously you need to keep your wits about you - don't wave your iPhone around and keep an eye on your belongings. A good rule of thumb is to keep any valuables on your person - put your passport, laptop, cards and cash etc in your day bag and sleep hugging it or with your legs through the straps. On my second journey I felt much more relaxed, but still - don't make it easy for someone to nick your things.<br />
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There are shared bathrooms onboard and these are pretty much what you'd get on any train or airplane, except they're more 'hole in the floor' than 'action-sensor dual-flush'.<br />
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If someone has paid extra for the bottom seats then you'll be on the top bunk - I would say the bottom is comfier (it's impossible due to the ladder, but I kind of felt like I was going to roll off the top) but there's not much in it. Download some podcasts, remember your eye mask, take some lavender essential oil, tuck the curtain underneath your mattress so you're in your own little cocoon and let the motion of the train sway you to sleep!<br />
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The experience may feel alien and take some getting used to, but it's exactly that - an experience! If you go into it with a negative, wary mindset (like I initially did) then you'll probably be up all night worrying, but if you see it as a little mini-adventure (like I did the second time around) on your Thai backpacking journey, then it's actually really fun.Meg Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05020262044885103695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931583758905269229.post-23030706522104841612019-10-03T16:00:00.000+01:002019-10-03T16:00:03.566+01:00Glossier Lidstars: The Shades You Need, And The Ones You Don't<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://glossier.79ic8e.net/M3R7K" target="_blank">Glossier Lidstar Glistening Eye Glow</a><br />
<u><br /></u><u>Described as</u><br />
"<i>one-step eye enhancement - </i><i>a wash of soft, glistening colour that lasts all day</i>"<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Meg says...</u><br />
Boy, am I excited to try these. As a self-confessed <a href="https://rstyle.me/n/c5wnvrb3g2f" target="_blank">Glossier</a> fangirl, I've been waiting for the day they'd announce eyeshadows and it's finally here! Well, I say eyeshadow - the gTeam are actually saying "<i>less shadow, more glow</i>", so I'm expecting something super sheer and super sparkly. Hey, if it's good enough for Beyoncé, it's good enough for me!<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Packaging</u><br />
Ridiculously cute, obviously! Were we expecting anything different? Adorable little test-tubes with millennial pink screw-on lids, what's not to love? If this was what we learnt about in Science at school I would've gotten a <i>much </i>better GCSE grade... just saying. I love how neat they are as they take up hardly any space in your makeup bag, and being able to clearly see which colour you're picking up and how much you've got left is really handy.<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Texture/consistency</u><br />
Their creamy consistency has a lovely 'glide' to it - I was expecting something more liquid-y, but they're actually quite mouse-like in texture and have play-time before they dry down.<br />
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<u>Application</u><br />
Easy, but not as easy as <a href="https://rstyle.me/n/c5wnvrb3g2f" target="_blank">Glossier</a> says, in my opinion! They market the <a href="https://rstyle.me/n/c5wjmeb3g2f" target="_blank">Lidstars</a> as a kind of 'swipe and go' product, and if a barely-there sheen with the slightest hint of pigment is what you're after then that's great, but they require a little more effort if you want decent colour payoff. With a stronger shade like Cub, at least two coats is required for an opaque finish - any less than that and the result can look a little thin and verges on streaky.<br />
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The best way I've found to apply them is to dab the colour all over your mobile lid and use your finger or a fluffy blending brush (like a <a href="https://www.escentual.com/real-techniques/realtechniques034/" target="_blank">Real Techniques 200</a>) to diffuse, then go back in to build up the pigment on your lid before blending again. They're designed to give a soft wash, so if you're used to good pigmentation then I'd highly recommend using my method - once you get the hang of that, they're really easy and fairly foolproof to use. The doe-foot applicator works a treat as it doesn't pick up too much or too little product, and it has a 'precision tip' which is perfect for swiping colour along the lower lashline or for dabbing shine onto inner corners. The shade Lily looks amazing here!<br />
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<u>Shade/colour</u><br />
As there are currently half a dozen shades in the range, I thought I'd rate them 1-6 - 1 being 'omg you absolutely NEED it, prettiest thing eva' and 6 being 'give this a miss, hun'.<br />
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1. Cub (<i>a rose gold with warm shimmer effect</i>)<br />
Every time I wear Cub I get a lot of compliments, which I think is down to how insanely blue it makes my eyes look. I can't think of anyone it wouldn't look unreal on!<br />
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2. Moon (<i>the sheerest cream base with blueish opalescent glimmer</i>)<br />
Not something I'd wear all over my lid on a regular basis, but when I'm going for a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFcYVgsr4PU&t=2s" target="_blank">full face of Glossier</a> I <i>love </i>wearing this in my inner corner - very soft and pretty.<br />
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3. Lily (<i>a sheer lilac base with blue and violet pearls</i>)<br />
Unsurprisingly cute and surprisingly wearable - just make sure you don't skimp on the black mascara. Wear it smudgy and bold à la <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BgHePiiAMzB/?hl=en&taken-by=katiejanehughes" target="_blank">Katie Jane Hughes</a>.<br />
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4. Slip (<i>a sheer baby pink with golden highlight effect</i>)<br />
My 10-year-old self would've gone crazy for this, and my current self likes it more than expected! Pair with <a href="https://rstyle.me/n/dd53skb3g2f" target="_blank">Cloud Paint</a> in 'Puff' on the cheeks and <a href="https://rstyle.me/n/dd53sub3g2f" target="_blank">Generation G</a> in 'Like' for matchy-matchy goodness.<br />
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5. Herb (<i>a smoky green with yellow gold pearl</i>)<br />
Whilst I can imagine this would look SO cool on others, it doesn't suit me at all. I can't get the colour to build properly and end up with an uneven, kinda dirty-looking mess.<br />
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6. Fawn (<i>a cool, smoky taupe with violet and neutral gold pearls</i>)<br />
Again, cool on others (hi, Queen Bey) as it's such a unique shade that with different applications could look super sophisticated or super grungy - but a hot mess on me!<br />
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<u>Results</u><br />
I'd say this is all down to how you apply them as you can go for the sheerest 'look at my effortlessly cute eyelids' wash of sheeny colour, or you can go for full-on bright (dare I use the word mermaid?) vibes, so it depends... which makes them very versatile, woohoo! Personally, the result I get is a very pretty one - every shade is glistening rather than glittery which makes them look all whimsical and dreamy. Their staying power is <i>really</i> impressive also as they truly do last 12 hours without creasing, which can actually look rather funny - picture me at the end of a very long day with basically zero makeup, except shimmery purple eyelids! That longevity is fab for inner corner/browbone highlighting.<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Price</u><br />
£15<br />
<u><br /></u><u>The bottom line</u><br />
Cub is probably the only <a href="https://rstyle.me/n/c5wnveb3g2f" target="_blank">Lidstar</a> I'd repurchase, and I can imagine that it's their most popular shade. The rest aren't the most wearable colours in the world - apart from Fawn, maybe Herb - and unless you're super cool (or thirteen!) I don't know whether the pastel pink and lilac hues will appeal. They're very pretty and do push you out of your comfort zone when it comes to trying cool new shades, but as this is 'the bottom line' - Cub or snub!<br />
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*Affiliate links have been used<br />
Photos by <a href="https://www.meganduffield.com/" target="_blank">Megan Duffield Photography</a>Meg Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05020262044885103695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931583758905269229.post-12185355828904600122019-04-26T16:00:00.000+01:002019-04-26T16:00:05.303+01:00Why You Should Add 'Milford Sound Overnight Cruise' To Your Bucket List<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Milford Sound - there's a reason why they call it "the eighth wonder of the world". One of the most beautiful places on earth (that was carved by glaciers in the ice age, no less) and set in the heart of the stunning Fiordland National Park, the sights will leave you truly awestruck. It's an unmissable destination if you're visiting New Zealand's South Island.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The best way to see Milford Sound is by ship or helicopter, and the majority of people do a daytime cruise. Of course it depends on time and budget, but I'd strongly urge you to go for the overnight cruise option for the following reasons.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The difference in price between the daytime and overnight cruise for us was (sic). We would've booked a hotel nearby (these aren't easy to come by and are therefore pretty pricey) and had meals out anyway, so a night's accommodation plus dinner and breakfast was essentially subtracted from the cost. Milford Sound is remote so you need to book transport or drive, and the overnight option means that your journey isn't rushed. </span><br />
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Convinced? Good! On with the review...<br />
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Coach connections are available, however we took ourselves (it really pays to have a lovely uncle who lives in Christchurch who'll lend you his truck!) and I can't stress how gorgeous the drive through Fiordland National Park is. If you've seen the Peter Jackson version of King Kong, it kind of looks like you're driving through Skull Island but more glacial. Yep, apparently my niché descriptions translate from my beauty posts to my travel ones!<br />
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We booked our overnight cruise costing (sic) each via Real Journeys on the Milford Mariner. What struck us immediately was how relaxed and laidback everything was whilst still remaining really professional. It was only us and six other people waiting to board the ship and the friendly crew welcomed us with huge plates of sandwiches (to my boyfriend Will's delight) and a safety talk.<br />
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In the afternoon you explore the waters and shoreline, either via kayak or tender. Will is an adventure seeker through and through so he chose to kayak, whereas I opted for the easy 'pop on a life jacket and get driven around in a boat' option. It reminded me of an open-top bus tour - think tour guide (who's also a nature expert - ours was called Forrest and he was a legend!) at the back, steering us through the still, pure waters and telling us everything there is to know.<br />
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Dinner is a three-course affair and it was <i>delicious</i>. Sometimes with mass-catering meals you end up with sorry-looking salads and dry, crusty lasagne but not aboard the Mariner - everything was wonderfully fresh and flavoursome, and they have a fair 'first served for dinner, last served for dessert' system that also stops the buffet from getting swamped.<br />
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An impressive platter of cheese and biscuits was brought out following dinner and our specialist nature guide, Forrest, gave a really interesting slideshow presentation and answered any questions. A young couple handed me their adorable two-year-old, so I spent this time singing Baby Shark and not paying much attention - sorry, Forrest!<br />
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Will and I were expecting a right knees-up, to be honest - being in our early twenties we were up for a night of drinks and laughter and games with some newfound friends. Well, friends we did make, but we must've been the only people onboard under sixty and as soon as the nature presentation was over, literally <i>everyone </i>went to bed, including the crew.<br />
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This turned out to be really fun and romantic as we were the only ones awake, and the evening that ensued can only be described as 'pretending we're Jack and Rose in Titanic'. We bundled ourselves up, took a bottle of red wine up to the top deck and, when our eyes adjusted to the inky black sky and all we could see was mountains and stars, spent a couple of hours feeling as though we were the only two people in the world.<br />
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Sleeping arrangements are either a private cabin or a quad-share bunk. We were in the latter as those were the only two spots left on the ship for the date we wanted. It was significantly cheaper and really comfortable and cosy - it's always going to be slightly awkward when sharing a room with strangers, franted, but it was totally fine!<br />
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Morning is when things get <i>really </i>beautiful. We woke at 6am and had a lovely breakfast, then we grabbed a coffee and headed outside. Like the night before, it was a case of everyone else staying inside and giving us the gift of having the entire boat to ourselves, and the views were unparalleled. Mountains towered over us in every direction as we sailed through the mist, and it was definitely the most atmospheric coffee of my life!<br />
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Things got even better with the arrival of five wild bottlenose dolphins, and it was so beautiful that I burst into tears of joy as they swam alongside the ship and cruised the bow wave. Our nature guide explained that you have a 1 in 7 chance of seeing dolphins in Milford Sound, and the wildlife didn't end there: we passed a family of seals playing in the water and snoozing on the rocks of Seal Point, and we were also lucky enough to see two albatross and a guillemot. We didn't see any penguins or whales, but these can be found in Milford Peak - how special is that?!<br />
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We spent a few hours cruising the waters and marvelling at the awe-inspiring sights - we headed out to the Tasman Sea and were taken so close to the stunning, world-famous plummeting waterfalls (e.g. Stirling and Bowen Falls) that you could feel the spray.<br />
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A once-in-a-lifetime experience, an overnight cruise at Milford Sound is probably my #1 New Zealand recommendation. Of course the day trips are amazing also, especially as the journey into Milford Sound is as impressive as they come, but there was something really special about spending the night in the depths of a remote fiord and it's something I'll never forget.<br />
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Photos by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WillBurchillPhotography/" target="_blank">Will Burchill Photography</a>Meg Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05020262044885103695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931583758905269229.post-34380278405574070312019-04-23T16:00:00.000+01:002019-04-23T16:00:08.658+01:00Your Morning Routine Is Missing This £8 Body Product<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GSMdlXy7x4s/XCs5vjZKJxI/AAAAAAAAOI8/-7663RCnLfkGWEW-GxSK5NcUsjOzdY6jgCLcBGAs/s1600/Meg_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GSMdlXy7x4s/XCs5vjZKJxI/AAAAAAAAOI8/-7663RCnLfkGWEW-GxSK5NcUsjOzdY6jgCLcBGAs/s640/Meg_7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.sanctuary.com/en-gb/wet-skin-moisture-miracle/" target="_blank">Sanctuary Spa Wet Skin Moisture Miracle</a><br />
<u><br /></u><u>Described as</u><br />
"<i>the ultimate moisturiser when you're short on time</i>"<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Meg says...</u><br />
<a href="https://www.sanctuary.com/en-gb/" target="_blank">Sanctuary Spa</a> has been a brand that's inhabited my bathroom since childhood (shoutout to all the various school teachers of mine over the years who received a <a href="https://www.sanctuary.com/en-gb/" target="_blank">Sanctuary Spa</a> gift-set with a <a href="https://www.boots.com/" target="_blank">Boots</a> gift sticker on it for Christmas, holla) and something about the name of this product really intrigues me. Is it the word 'miracle'... probably, yes.<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Packaging</u><br />
Actually really pretty! I've got a feeling that <a href="https://www.sanctuary.com/en-gb/" target="_blank">Sanctuary Spa</a>'s packaging may have had a revamp at some stage. The cream with the copper rose-gold is gorgeous (a definite 'on the edge of the bath rather than in the cupboard' product) and you get a decent 200ml inside.<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Texture/consistency</u><br />
Like yoghurt, but a thin one... think your Actimel drink rather than your thick Liberté. Honestly, my comparisons in these blog post reviews really do know no bounds. It's got a lovely light consistency - not too watery so that it runs everywhere, but liquid enough to be able to apply it in (to quote Rowan Atkinson in Love Actually) the flashiest of flashes.<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Application</u><br />
This is the highlight! Never in my life have I tried a body product that's as quick and as effective as this. <a href="https://www.sanctuary.com/en-gb/" target="_blank">Sanctuary Spa</a> recommend that you apply this whilst you're still in the shower (after you've turned the water off, you put it all over then step out and pat yourself dry without rinsing it off) but I do it slightly differently - such a rebel, I know. I hop out of the shower, dab my skin with a towel then whack the <a href="https://www.sanctuary.com/en-gb/wet-skin-moisture-miracle/" target="_blank">Wet Skin Moisture Miracle</a> all over. This application, from top to toe, takes approximately thirty seconds. Honestly, I'd be surprised if it was longer than that - it IS a miracle!<br />
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The miraculousness of this product continues, as it soaks in in an instant (wow, how many 'ins' are there in this sentence) and you can get dressed immediately, making it the ultimate morning product for anyone who's low on time or energy or the motivation to stand in the bathroom applying thick body butter for ten minutes.<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Scent/fragrance</u><br />
Ooh, that Sanctuary Spa Classic scent! If you're British and into your beauty products then I'm gonna guess that you know exactly what I mean, but if you don't however, it's an exotic blend of jasmine, vanilla, sandalwood, patchouli and bergamot and it's gorgeous. I've also just discovered that they do two other scents also (I can't even tell you how much this new knowledge has excited me, it's impressive that I haven't left my desk to run to the closest shop in search of them) which are <a href="https://www.boots.com/sanctuary-green-lemon-and-orange-blossom-wet-skin-moisture-miracle-10248341" target="_blank">Green Lemon & Orange Blossom</a> and <a href="https://www.boots.com/sanctuary-spa-white-lily-and-damask-rose-wet-skin-moisture-miracle-10248233" target="_blank">White Lily & Damask Rose</a>. Edit: you can tell by the photo that I've ended up acquiring the latter, as after I finished writing this blog post, shop run was imminent - I can confirm that it's gorgeous!<br />
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<u>Results</u><br />
A beautifully soft skin with minimal effort. Your skin's optimum hydration moment is when it's wet, so it makes perfect sense to cover it in something easily absorbable and nourishing at this time and it really is as simple as running your hands over your body post-shower!<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Price</u><br />
£8<br />
<u><br /></u><u>The bottom line</u><br />
I'm obsessed. I love how nice my skin feels post-application and throughout the day, as the hydration really does last for hours and hours, and as it's ridiculously quick it feels like there's no excuse <i>not </i>to use it on a daily basis. <a href="https://www.sanctuary.com/en-gb/" target="_blank">Sanctuary Spa</a> is always on 3 for 2 at <a href="https://www.boots.com/" target="_blank">Boots</a> (or a similar offer, like buy one get another half price) in case, y'know, you needed another reason to try the <a href="https://www.boots.com/sanctuary-spa/sanctuary-spa-bath-body/sanctuary-spa-wet-skin-moisture-miracle-200ml-10229030" target="_blank">Wet Skin Miracle Moisture</a> after this absolutely glowing review!<br />
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Photos by <a href="https://www.meganduffield.com/" target="_blank">Megan Duffield Photography</a>Meg Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05020262044885103695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931583758905269229.post-65577516944114545832019-03-05T16:00:00.000+00:002019-03-05T16:00:00.727+00:00The Complexion Product That'll Get You ALL The 'What's On Your Skin?!' Compliments<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://rstyle.me/n/dd23cxb3g2f" target="_blank">Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter</a><br />
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<u>Described as</u><br />
"<i>a customisable complexion booster [to] illuminate skin and make lines and pores appear smoother</i>"<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Meg says...</u><br />
I'm late to the party with this one, aren't I? In all honestly, I think it's because I've been confused about what it actually <i>is </i>and what it actually <i>does</i>. Is it a primer, a highlighter, a concealer, a bird, a plane? Let's figure it out together, shall we...<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Packaging</u><br />
As you expect when you buy anything from The Tilbs (and rightly so, as it's a luxury brand that isn't cheap in the slightest) the packaging feels satisfyingly heavy and looks extremely pretty. It's not the most travel-friendly product which is a shame, but the weighty glass and rose-gold lid are kind of worth it!<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Texture/consistency</u><br />
This is a lightweight, creamy liquid. I wish I could expand further on that but in all honesty, I'm sat at my desk right now with the back of my hand smothered in the stuff and all I'm coming up with is: 1. it's very light 2. ooh, it's creamy! 3. not actually a cream though, more of a liquid... so, there we go.<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Application</u><br />
There are a multitude of ways you can apply this: under makeup as a primer, mixed with your foundation for extra glow, dotted over the high points of your face as a highlighter or simply all over your face by itself. It's extremely, wonderfully versatile!<br />
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My personal favourite way to use this is both as a primer and a highlighter. Using the huge doe-foot applicator, I sweep a generous amount over my cheeks, forehead, nose and chin. Next, I place a few dabs of foundation over the Flawless Filter and use my Look Good Feel Better Multi-Tasking Brush to blend everything. I go for another dip and dot the product in a C-shape around my temple onto the tops of my cheekbones, on the bridge of my nose and on my cupid's bow then bounce in with the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge.<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Scent/fragrance</u><br />
I can't quite put my finger on its faint scent but whatever it is, it's clean, non-offensive and disappears once you've blended everything in.<br />
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<u>Shade/colour</u><br />
This comes in seven shades from fair to dark. The product doesn't actually leave much colour behind once it's blended in, but obviously you want to get the right one for your skin tone and the Charlotte Tilbury website is really useful for helping you decide this. I use 'Light 2' and it's an absolutely spot-on match for my MAC NC20 colouring!<br />
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<u>Results</u><br />
The perfect 'I'm positively glowing with health and my skin really does look this good naturally' lit from within glow. It practically airbrushes your complexion: pores seem to disappear, dullness is immediately brightened and the word 'flawless' isn't an exaggeration. It blends seamlessly with foundation and really does give this Hollywood-esque red carpet look to your skin, especially when you double up on the old primer/highlighter combination. I feel like it gives a decent amount of coverage also which I wasn't expecting, as I definitely use less foundation and concealer and would happily wear this by itself on good skin days (or 'no makeup' days, wink wink).<br />
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I can't imagine any skin type this wouldn't work on either, as you can simply alter the way you apply it. If you're dry then whack it all over like I do, and if you're oily then stick to a few teeny dabs along the tops of your cheekbones for glow (not shine) instead.<br />
<u><br /></u><u>Price</u><br />
£30<br />
<u><br /></u><u>The bottom line</u><br />
I'm absolutely obsessed with it. The first time I used it, I genuinely couldn't stop staring at my skin in the mirror as I'd never seen it look more glowing or perfected before. How did I sleep on this product for so long?! If you haven't tried it, you really must - it's reasonably priced for the difference it makes and you'll be pleasantly surprised by how many "which foundation do you use?" or "your skin is looking great!" comments you'll get. Pinky promise!<br />
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Photos by <a href="https://www.meganduffield.com/" target="_blank">Megan Duffield Photography</a>Meg Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05020262044885103695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931583758905269229.post-52485625939477116582019-02-26T16:00:00.000+00:002019-02-26T16:00:10.131+00:00The Best Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner You'll Eat In Pai, Thailand<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'll always remember Pai as being the place where I spent my first Christmas and New Year's outside the UK, the place where my boyfriend Will joined the circus (quite literally) and the place where I enjoyed some of the most delicious food I've ever eaten.</span><br />
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As you've clicked on this post I'm gonna guess that you're a fellow foodie who's heading to Pai (I'm actually here whilst I'm writing this and I'm <i>still </i>jealous of you!) and it's a pleasure to introduce you to these spots. As someone who eats 95% plant-based these are mainly vegetarian and vegan recommendations, however Will eats meat and fish and he loved the following restaurants just as much as I did. Read, visit, eat and enjoy!<br />
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<b>Breakfast</b></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/OmGardenCafePai/" target="_blank">Om Garden Café</a><br />
You could have twenty people in your party and each of them would find something to suit their appetite at Om Garden! They offer 'main meals' such as chickpea curry or pesto penne (both of which I've had and loved), lunch options like soups, salads and sandwiches and an all-day breakfast menu with plenty of avocado toast, savoury crepes and porridges. I'm a big fan of their tempura cauliflower burger (ask for the wasabi mayo on the side, it may make your eyes water!) and really like the green 'tropical garden' decor. They also do a <i>proper </i>cup of tea - we're talking actual Yorkshire Tea teabags, people. I hadn't had a cuppa in about three months and it was a slice of home (and heaven, as if you know me you'll know how much I love my cups of tea!)<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/bigslittlecafepai/" target="_blank">Big's Little Café</a><br />
A popular spot with Brits, probably for the sole fact that they serve hash brows and baked beans! When they say 'little' they aren't kidding, this is a tiny hut where you pull up a stool to the bar and watch the cooks at work. This is your best bet if you're after a classic fry-up - get the big hash brown with all the trimmings and thank me later! They also serve jacket potatoes, baguettes, burgers and more brunch-like options such as Spanish omelettes.</div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/FatCat-1484657631748094/" target="_blank">Fat Cat</a><br />
Organic home-cooked food for a reasonable price, and cats! Their cats are extremely adorable and very friendly - even if the food wasn't great I'd go here to get my cute kitty-fix. They do great herbal teas and coffees (with lots of non-dairy milk options) for about £1, and we always go for the 'on toast' option of scrambled egg or avocado with seeds which is roughly £2.20. Their sandwiches are generously filled and come with salad and chips, and they have a fridge full of vegan desserts like raw cheesecakes.<br />
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<b>Lunch</b></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nas-Kitchen/222129891157760" target="_blank">Na's Kitchen</a><br />
Probably our most-visited restaurant in Pai, you must come here for a traditional Thai curry! They do all of the classics (green, red, panang, massaman etc) with rice included, so you can get a really decent and delicious feed for around £1.50. Check the back of the menu for their "one dish" options, these are even cheaper and just as tasty! Their spring rolls were also the best we had in Pai - some restaurants give you three tiny ones chopped in half, but theirs is a generous portion. Na is an angel and her warm smile always brightened our day!<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/PensKitchen/" target="_blank">Pen's Kitchen</a><br />
Another cheap and cheerful one that never disappoints, Pen's became our go-to lunch spot as the meals were inexpensive, filling and always full of flavour. The portion sizes are healthy and their panang is to die for - we took two new friends from Colorado here and they agreed! I fell in love with Thai curry soup (with a side of plain rice stirred in) whilst in Pai, and Pen's Thai red or green curry soups with tofu were my favourite.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Charlie-Lek/114849425270586" target="_blank">Charlie & Lek</a><br />
Continuing with the theme of family-run restaurants that offer amazing Thai food with tiny price tags, we headed here for quick lunches and group meals alike. I didn't like tofu before I came here, which is saying something, as theirs isn't 'mushy' and I especially enjoyed it in their red curry and their vegetarian khao soi. If you haven't tried khao soi before, it's a coconut curry noodle soup from Northern Thailand and it's <i>divine</i>. Other Charlie & Lek recommendations include the papaya salad and the vegetable tempura - and if you're missing red wine, they give you a generous glass (rare in Thailand!) for 100 baht.<br />
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<b>Dinner</b></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/le.reve.de.pai/" target="_blank">Le Rêve de Pai</a><br />
Hands down one of the best meals I've had in my <i>life</i>. I'm sure that's enough to convince you to enjoy a meal here, but I have more to say so let me proceed... the menu is small and therefore extremely well executed, and from the moment we walked in and ordered two glasses of Cabernet Sauvignon we were in love. Good Italian food is extremely uncommon in Pai but this is the real deal: the bruschetta is lovely, the pumpkin soup is wonderfully warming and their cheeseboard is such a pleasure after months without 'proper' cheese. Will had the salmon pasta and I had the mushroom pasta, and I'll forgive you for thinking mine sounds plain as it was anything but! They use dehydrated stalks of shitake mushrooms and I can't even explain how meat-like the texture was - it's the closest thing I've had to steak in years. Combined with silky spaghetti, beautiful red chillies and practically whole garlic cloves, it was genuinely my perfect pasta dish and every mouthful was sheer heaven. Our bill came to around £25-£30 with red wine and G&Ts included and was the perfect 'let's treat ourselves' romantic date night spot. We'll be going back for that mushroom pasta!<br />
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Update: we did indeed go back, as we decided to treat ourselves to another meal here on our last night in Pai, but we had a horrible experience. During my meal I bit onto something hard, pulled a sizeable piece of sharp broken piece of glass out of my mouth and when we told the owner, she couldn't have made it clearer that she thought we'd made it up (presumably to get a free meal?) and I was so mortified that I genuinely could've cried! It was a painfully awkward situation, she offered no apology and we left feeling incredibly uncomfortable - so whilst the food is lovely, the rude treatment was pretty inexcusable.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/MayaBurgerQueen/" target="_blank">Maya Burger Queen</a><br />
If you're British and missing 'proper' chips then you won't be disappointed with a portion of Burger Queen's fries. Chunky-cut and fluffy, you'll find yourself ordering another portion (with their homemade garlic mayo) before you've even finished the first one. Will thought their mushroom burger tasted like pulled pork, and their vegan sweet potato and pumpkin patty with avocado is <i>so</i> satisfying - the perfect hangover cure!<br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/">Cafecito</a><br />
If you're finding yourself craving something different then why not give Mexican a whirl? I had a pretty average burrito at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/onefinedaypai/" target="_blank">One Fine Day</a> but an outstanding one at Cafecito! They do various Mexican classics like quesadillas, tacos, tostadas and tortas with your choice of homemade chorizo, pulled chicken, avocado or mushroom carnitas and you can add toppings such as black beans, pickled jalapeños, rice or avocado. I actually almost sent my meal back as I thought they'd given me pulled pork instead of mushroom carnitas but nope, they're just genuinely that meaty and tasty! The heuvos rancheros from the all-day breakfast menu was a real treat for Will, and the tostadas were my personal favourite. Ask for the off-menu spicy margaritas if you're in fiesta-mode!<br />
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Honourable mentions go to <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g303916-d3746231-Reviews-Nong_Beer-Pai_Mae_Hong_Son_Province.html" target="_blank">Nong Beer</a> which is great for groups, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/earthtoneinpai/" target="_blank">Earth Tone</a> for all the vegan food and desserts you could want, Air Restaurant for the cheapest Thai lunch in Pai and of course, Walking Street.<br />
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Walking Street (officially Chai Songkhram Road) is basically a night market selling souvenirs, clothing and all the food you could possibly want! Head here for an inexpensive meal on the go - there's falafel wraps, Mexican burritos and nachos, sushi, pancakes, gyozas and much more, all made right in front of you. Our favourite was <a href="https://web.facebook.com/pages/Thai-Food-Bar-at-Pai-Walking-Street/1430566573725278?_rdc=1&_rdr" target="_blank">Thai Food Bar</a> - it's a converted vehicle where you'll find the nicest guy who cooks fresh meals to order that you eat from the bar on the side of his van. I loved his veggie mushroom green curry - just don't say yes when he asks if you want it "Thai spicy", I'm really good with spice and struggled!<br />
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If you'd like to see these meals in action, check out the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykMSdvGo8E8" target="_blank">weekly food diary in Pai</a> video I made. Hope you enjoy these recommendations as much as we enjoyed discovering them!Meg Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05020262044885103695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931583758905269229.post-77800476205472721682019-02-19T16:00:00.000+00:002019-02-19T16:00:07.824+00:00The Beauty Products I Wish I'd Brought Travelling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-75bk_tMO1kQ/XDmqZsMzRTI/AAAAAAAAOOE/dMlZm2X2AsUvj_WBApiNYCJrLYdZRAeNwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-75bk_tMO1kQ/XDmqZsMzRTI/AAAAAAAAOOE/dMlZm2X2AsUvj_WBApiNYCJrLYdZRAeNwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_0374.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rCLQRQRbkV4/XDmqZ-BSEiI/AAAAAAAAOOI/gI9Yk_ZPd_k8IhLDbpif6W4su6cLw7lTQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rCLQRQRbkV4/XDmqZ-BSEiI/AAAAAAAAOOI/gI9Yk_ZPd_k8IhLDbpif6W4su6cLw7lTQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_0375.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Considering how thorough, how methodical and how diligent my packing process was when it came to deciding which beauty products I'd be relying on for a trip lasting the best part of a year, it's kind of crazy how many changes I'd make if I could go back in time. I guess I never could've known what I'd miss or what I'd need until I actually experienced backpacking... and in the words of Michael Scott, I should've had hindsight.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Just for the fun of it, and in the hope that this will aid any other fellow beauty and makeup lover who are embarking on a long ass trip of their own, here are the products that are currently sat at home in the UK, unused and unappreciated, whilst I'm sat in Asia missing them deeply. Mama loves you, kids.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://rstyle.me/n/ddurzeb3g2f" target="_blank">BECCA x Chrissy Teigen Glow Face Palette</a><br />
This actually made my final cut but I took it out at the last minute - so close, yet so far - as it was so big that it wouldn't fit in my makeup bag. I'm mainly missing it for the colours: it has a bronze with the perfect non-orange tone, a pinky-coral blush, a peachy highlighter and my pick of the bunch, the <a href="https://rstyle.me/n/dd23v9b3g2f" target="_blank">BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter</a> in 'Rose Gold' which is my <i>favourite </i>thing makeup-wise when I'm in a hot country. I'm also missing it for the huge mirror, as doing your mascara in a teeny <a href="https://rstyle.me/n/dd23w2b3g2f" target="_blank">Benefit Hoola</a> mirror gets old fast! I sooo wish I'd just stuck it in my bigger toiletries bag.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://rstyle.me/n/dejd8vb3g2f" target="_blank">Charlotte Tilbury Instant Look In A Palette</a><br />
Perhaps even more useful than the BECCA x Chrissy Teigen palette would've been this neat wee number from The Tilbs, as it has the same big sturdy mirror that stands up by itself and pretty much everything you need to create a day or night look. All you'd need aside from it - if you're a makeup lover like me, of course - I'm sure most people don't think about it that deeply! - would be concealer, mascara and lippy. So compact and convenient, and worth the price tag also as you're guaranteed to use every product down to the pan.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://rstyle.me/n/dejd9ab3g2f" target="_blank">Maybelline Color Tattoo 24-Hour Gel-Cream Eyeshadow</a><br />
Specifically in the shade 'On & On Bronze' - 'Bad To The Bronze' in the States - which has been one of my go-to eyeshadows for years as it's such a failsafe product! Simply swipe onto your lid with your index finger then get to work with a window-wiper motion using something like the Real Techniques Oval Shadow Brush and hey presto, the perfect bronze eye that lives up to its 24-hour claims! Instead I brought <a href="https://rstyle.me/n/dejefab3g2f" target="_blank">MAC Tempting</a>, and find that the lasting power just isn't there nor is it as easy to apply.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Shaving-Hair-Removal/Braun-Silk-Epil-Womens-Cordless-Epilator-Electric/B009774AL2/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1496915888&sr=8-1&keywords=braun+silk+epil+5511&m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&tag=braunfhr0c6-21" target="_blank">Braun Silk-Epil Epilator</a><br />
A tool rather than a product but something I'm missing all the same is my epilator, as trying to stay on top of hair removal whilst travelling has been a shock to the system and I'm tempted to take inspiration from the hippies I'm surrounded by and just let it grow! I didn't bring my epilator as it felt like a lot of faff what with the charging cord and extra weight, but constantly buying razors isn't great for my purse or the environment - plus the underarm stubble reappears way more quickly.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://rstyle.me/n/dejd9qb3g2f" target="_blank">It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream</a><br />
This is a weird one as I've never actually <i>tried </i>this product before, but after a few months of backpacking (and reading a ton of blog reviews) later, I've come to the conclusion that it'd be the perfect base product - something that sits in the middle between coverage and SPF, that isn't a foundation or a tinted sunscreen. I'm finding my <a href="https://www.escentual.com/en-US/bioderma079/" target="_blank">Bioderma</a> too dark and often don't want to wear anything full-coverage now that my freckles are coming out.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://rstyle.me/n/deqhccb3g2f" target="_blank">Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel Bronzing Makeup Base</a><br />
I know what you're thinking: but Meg, isn't that super bulky and would therefore be a bit annoying to travel the world with? Maybe, yes - but so many beauty bloggers having rediscovered it recently and I've therefore been reminded of how great it is. It's such an amazing holiday product that you don't even need any coverage with as it makes you look so beachy and bronzed, and in the most natural way ever too. It's pricey but would've lasted me the entire trip (and beyond!)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://rstyle.me/n/dejd9yb3g2f" target="_blank">Glossier Generation G Lipstick</a><br />
I packed one bold lip shade, the <a href="https://rstyle.me/n/dejef7b3g2f" target="_blank">Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick</a> in 'The Queen' which is a stunning cherry red, but am yet to wear it as it as the formulation (despite being lovely!) seems too heavy for hot, sweaty weather. I also think I'd feel too 'done up' wearing it whilst in Asia, and wish I'd brought a lighter option like one of the Glossier Generation G's. They've recently switched up the formula and made the packaging more sturdy, so 'Zip' and 'Jam' definitely would've been in my makeup bag had they made those changes in time.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://rstyle.me/n/dejeamb3g2f" target="_blank">Shu Eumera Eyelash Curler</a><br />
If I could have <i>one </i>beauty related thing magically transported to me right now, it'd 100% be an eyelash curler and I'll be making a purchase as soon as I see one. I never use mine at home, but practically every day I wish that I could open my eyes up and look more awake without having to apply mascara. Even more so, I wish that I'd gotten a lash tint and perm - I've heard amazing things about <a href="https://nouveaulashes.com/" target="_blank">Nouveau Lashes</a> and am truly kicking myself for not booking an appointment in before I left the UK!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://rstyle.me/n/dejeaub3g2f" target="_blank">NARS Monoï Body Glow</a><br />
Such an extra one, however something I've been craving is a golden glow. Despite having been away for weeks, I'm not one for sunbathing and nearly always wear long sleeves and trousers so I'm just as pale as I was when we hopped on the plane at Heathrow. A product that gives sheen and shimmer like this one from NARS would be so welcome, just for a little shoulder and decollatage action! Glass bottles aren't great for travelling, but you could decant it into a plastic spray bottle like this - or save the money and make your own by mixing baby oil with a budget smashed-up powder highlighter.<br />
<br />
Are there any products you couldn't live without if you were going travelling?Meg Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05020262044885103695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931583758905269229.post-30666673808266429922019-02-12T16:00:00.000+00:002019-02-12T16:00:03.206+00:00A Week In My Travelling Bank Account: Thailand Edition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t29Zaeu0uLA/XF6uDNVF6bI/AAAAAAAAOSI/sQbdw-YxTtkOBjlxcPlYuMpNymi59DHnACLcBGAs/s1600/Meg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t29Zaeu0uLA/XF6uDNVF6bI/AAAAAAAAOSI/sQbdw-YxTtkOBjlxcPlYuMpNymi59DHnACLcBGAs/s640/Meg.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Round up, round up: it's 'new blog series' o'clock, and this one's all about money and travelling. Countless people have sent me polite and tentative "don't answer this if you don't want to, but how much did you save for travelling?" DMs on Instagram, so I thought I'd take the awkwardness out of it for you and start sharing how much I'm spending.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
Whatever your backpacking budget, I hope this helps anyone who's in the same boat that I was, e.g. 'I'm leaving home soon and have no clue how much things will <i>actually </i>cost in various parts of the world'. We're kicking things off in the very affordable town of Pai in Northern Thailand!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
$1 = 31.45 Thai baht (<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">฿)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">£1 = 40.73 Thai baht (</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">฿)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Monday</b> = 1,000<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">฿</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Food</b>: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Brunch at </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/FatCat-1484657631748094/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Fat Cat</a> (<span style="font-family: inherit;">90 - avocado toast & salad, 50 - </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">iced coconut latte). </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dinner on Walking Street (</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">100 - falafel & salad pitta at <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g303916-d12842341-Reviews-Queen_Falafel-Pai_Mae_Hong_Son_Province.html" target="_blank">Queen Falafel</a>, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">50 - ginger tea & reusable bamboo cup)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Socialising</b>:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">140 - 2x rum & coke</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Transport</b>: </span><br />
150 - daily scooter hire<br />
40 - litre of petrol<br />
<br />
<b>Accommodation</b>:<br />
450 - private bungalow at <a href="https://www.booking.com/hotel/th/pai-tara-resort.en-gb.html?aid=356980;label=gog235jc-1DCAso3QFCD3BhaS10YXJhLXJlc29ydEgzWANoaIgBAZgBCbgBB8gBDNgBA-gBAYgCAagCAw;sid=dc88b69bbfafdc2c69518b6a64c05d1b;dist=0&keep_landing=1&sb_price_type=total&type=total&" target="_blank">Paradise</a> (between 2 people)<br />
<br />
<b>Miscellaneous</b>:<br />
150 - 2x homemade soap from <a href="http://www.re-wildhouse.com/16975178/my-natural-personal-care-products" target="_blank">Re-Wild</a><br />
100 - 1x supplements from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/earthtoneinpai/" target="_blank">Earth Tone</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Tuesday </b>= 610<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">฿</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Food</b>:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Brunch at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/onefinedaypai/" target="_blank">One Fine Day</a> (140 - avocado salad, 60 - iced coconut latte). Dinner at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PensKitchen/" target="_blank">Pen's Kitchen</a> (50 - veg & tofu noodle soup, 60 - beer)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Transport</b>: </span><br />
150 - daily scooter hire<br />
<br />
<b>Accommodation</b>:<br />
450 - private bungalow at <a href="https://www.booking.com/hotel/th/pai-tara-resort.en-gb.html?aid=356980;label=gog235jc-1DCAso3QFCD3BhaS10YXJhLXJlc29ydEgzWANoaIgBAZgBCbgBB8gBDNgBA-gBAYgCAagCAw;sid=dc88b69bbfafdc2c69518b6a64c05d1b;dist=0&keep_landing=1&sb_price_type=total&type=total&" target="_blank">Paradise</a> (between 2 people)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Wednesday </b>= 850<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">฿</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Food</b>:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Brunch at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/cafecitopai/" target="_blank">Cafecito</a> (170 - burrito, 40 - mint tea). Dinner at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MayaBurgerQueen/" target="_blank">Maya Burger Queen</a> (100 - vegan burger, 60 - large fries, 60 - beer)<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<b>Socialising</b>:<br />
120 - G&T at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sundownplayground/" target="_blank">Sundown Playground</a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Transport</b>: </span><br />
150 - daily scooter hire<br />
<br />
<b>Accommodation</b>:<br />
450 - private bungalow at <a href="https://www.booking.com/hotel/th/pai-tara-resort.en-gb.html?aid=356980;label=gog235jc-1DCAso3QFCD3BhaS10YXJhLXJlc29ydEgzWANoaIgBAZgBCbgBB8gBDNgBA-gBAYgCAagCAw;sid=dc88b69bbfafdc2c69518b6a64c05d1b;dist=0&keep_landing=1&sb_price_type=total&type=total&" target="_blank">Paradise</a> (between 2 people)<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Thursday</b> = 1,450<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">฿</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Food</b>:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Brunch at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Art-in-chai-cafe-174000465975671/" target="_blank">Art In Chai</a> (120 - avocado salad, 60 - chai latte). Dinner at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nas-Kitchen/222129891157760" target="_blank">Na's Kitchen</a> (100 - red curry, 60 - tom yum soup, 80 - beer).<br />
<br />
<b>Socialising</b>:</div>
</div>
400 - wine at fire show<br />
130 - 'I'm drunk and hungry' veggie avocado burger<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Transport</b>: </span><br />
150 - daily scooter hire<br />
<br />
<b>Accommodation</b>:<br />
450 - private bungalow at <a href="https://www.booking.com/hotel/th/pai-tara-resort.en-gb.html?aid=356980;label=gog235jc-1DCAso3QFCD3BhaS10YXJhLXJlc29ydEgzWANoaIgBAZgBCbgBB8gBDNgBA-gBAYgCAagCAw;sid=dc88b69bbfafdc2c69518b6a64c05d1b;dist=0&keep_landing=1&sb_price_type=total&type=total&" target="_blank">Paradise</a> (between 2 people)<br />
<br />
<b>Miscellaneous</b>:<br />
200 - reusable water bottle<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Friday </b>= 450<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">฿</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Food</b>:<br />
Lunch at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Pai-Backpackers-Paradise-1687563424906983/" target="_blank">Paradise</a> (free - kindly cooked by our friends!). Dinner at Food Truck (70 - veggie green curry, 60 - beer). Snacks on Walking Street (20 - pancakes)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Transport</b>: </span><br />
150 - daily scooter hire<br />
<br />
<b>Accommodation</b>:<br />
450 - private bungalow at <a href="https://www.booking.com/hotel/th/pai-tara-resort.en-gb.html?aid=356980;label=gog235jc-1DCAso3QFCD3BhaS10YXJhLXJlc29ydEgzWANoaIgBAZgBCbgBB8gBDNgBA-gBAYgCAagCAw;sid=dc88b69bbfafdc2c69518b6a64c05d1b;dist=0&keep_landing=1&sb_price_type=total&type=total&" target="_blank">Paradise</a> (between 2 people)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Saturday</b> = 955<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">฿</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Food</b>:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Lunch at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PensKitchen/" target="_blank">Pen's Kitchen</a> (70 - veggie stir fry, 30 - honey & lime iced tea). Dinner at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Kome-Maun-Kitchen-431542460678736/?ref=nearby_places" target="_blank">Kome Maun</a> (75 - rice noodle soup, 30 - ginger tea)<br />
<br />
<b>Socialising</b>:<br />
100 - wine<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Transport</b>: </span><br />
150 - daily scooter hire<br />
<br />
<b>Accommodation</b>:<br />
450 - private bungalow at <a href="https://www.booking.com/hotel/th/pai-tara-resort.en-gb.html?aid=356980;label=gog235jc-1DCAso3QFCD3BhaS10YXJhLXJlc29ydEgzWANoaIgBAZgBCbgBB8gBDNgBA-gBAYgCAagCAw;sid=dc88b69bbfafdc2c69518b6a64c05d1b;dist=0&keep_landing=1&sb_price_type=total&type=total&" target="_blank">Paradise</a> (between 2 people)<br />
<br />
<b>Miscellaneous</b>:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
350 - gel pedicure</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Sunday </b>= 1,180<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">฿</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Food</b>: </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Breakfast at market (100 - baguette, fruit and avocados). Lunch at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Pai-Backpackers-Paradise-1687563424906983/" target="_blank">Paradise</a> (80 - fried rice, 40 - iced coconut latte). Dinner at <a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_1414782628"></span>Bebe Spice<span id="goog_1414782629"></span></a> (320 - curry, 340 - rum & cokes)</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Transport</b>: </span><br />
150 - daily scooter hire<br />
<br />
<b>Accommodation</b>:<br />
450 - private bungalow at <a href="https://www.booking.com/hotel/th/pai-tara-resort.en-gb.html?aid=356980;label=gog235jc-1DCAso3QFCD3BhaS10YXJhLXJlc29ydEgzWANoaIgBAZgBCbgBB8gBDNgBA-gBAYgCAagCAw;sid=dc88b69bbfafdc2c69518b6a64c05d1b;dist=0&keep_landing=1&sb_price_type=total&type=total&" target="_blank">Paradise</a> (between 2 people)</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Monday </b>= 2,370<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">฿</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Food</b>:</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Fruit from market (20 - pineapple, 40 - bananas, 10 - passionfruit). Breakfast at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/cafecitopai/" target="_blank">Cafecito</a> (740 - 4x Mexican dishes, also paid for friends). Dinner at <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g303916-d8364408-Reviews-Le_Reve_De_Pai-Pai_Mae_Hong_Son_Province.html" target="_blank">Le Reve De Pai</a> (180 - mushroom pasta, 60 - gin & tonic)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Transport</b>: </span><br />
150 - daily scooter hire<br />
40 - litre of petrol<br />
200 - bus from Pai to Chiang Mai<br />
800 - sleeper train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok<br />
<br />
<b>Accommodation</b>:<br />
450 - private bungalow at <a href="https://www.booking.com/hotel/th/pai-tara-resort.en-gb.html?aid=356980;label=gog235jc-1DCAso3QFCD3BhaS10YXJhLXJlc29ydEgzWANoaIgBAZgBCbgBB8gBDNgBA-gBAYgCAagCAw;sid=dc88b69bbfafdc2c69518b6a64c05d1b;dist=0&keep_landing=1&sb_price_type=total&type=total&" target="_blank">Paradise</a> (between 2 people)<br />
<br />
Seven days of spending, done! This reflects an average week in Thailand for me. Some days I'm clearly feeling more frivolous than others, socialising tends to mean more pennies leave my purse and paying for a bus or train to another part of Thailand can be pricey, but on average I spent between £25 and £30 in total per day.<br />
<br />
In Pai I paid around £5 a night for a lovely bungalow, ate mostly local food like curries for £2.50 a portion and shared the cost of transport with my boyfriend. As a result, I haven't set myself a daily limit for Asia as pretty much everything is low-cost - Australia will be a very different story! - and I'm earning along the way through blogging, however if you're on a shoestring budget there are plenty of ways to save.<br />
<br />
Let me know if you'd like a post sharing money-saving tips whilst travelling (I quite like the idea of setting myself spending challenges) and I'd love to hear your thoughts on this new series also? I thought it'd be a helpful idea for anyone embarking on a backpacking journey or a cost-effective holiday of their own - if you have any suggestions on what I should add or where I can improve, please feel free to leave a comment. Thanks, pals!<br />
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Photos by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Will-Burchill-Photography-2755505574675499/" target="_blank">Will Burchill Photography</a></div>
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Meg Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05020262044885103695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931583758905269229.post-47191491942996280372019-02-05T16:00:00.000+00:002019-02-05T16:00:02.832+00:00An Ode To Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ztEUiy7A8VQ/XCs2YwX9sKI/AAAAAAAAOIo/xWyWfoiXyPgODsLRv6TRQXICoCjiaMFQACLcBGAs/s1600/Meg_62.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ztEUiy7A8VQ/XCs2YwX9sKI/AAAAAAAAOIo/xWyWfoiXyPgODsLRv6TRQXICoCjiaMFQACLcBGAs/s640/Meg_62.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Oh <a href="https://rstyle.me/n/cy22iab3g2f" target="_blank">Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser</a>, how I adore thee.<br />
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It's one of those products that I tell <i>everyone </i>about (seriously, even the postman has barely escaped my recommendation on this one) and I thought I'd let you know why... you know, just on the off-chance you weren't already convinced by the hoards of bloggers you follow and your equally obsessed pals who are die-hard fans of this beautiful, angelic product.<br />
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<a href="https://rstyle.me/n/cy24y7b3g2f" target="_blank">Glossier</a> describe it as "<i>the ultimate daily face wash</i>" and I agree - I agree with my whole entire heart and soul, I tell you! I'm just so fond of it, to the point where it genuinely makes me looking forward to washing my face. I'll be in bed brushing sleep from my eyes seconds after hitting the snooze button and, when that winter chill hits my feet before they've even touched the floor and I get that 'ugh, <i>mornings</i>' feeling, Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser pings into my mind and suddenly getting out of bed isn't so bad.<br />
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The name hits the formulation nail on the head to be honest, as it's a gel that also manages to feel milky at the same time - it's lightweight and creamy whilst being translucent and seriously comforting. As soon as that stuff touches my skin I have to fight back an audible sigh of relief, as it's refreshing and relaxing all at once which leads me to think that it may actually be magical. Okay, maybe not <i>actually</i> magical, but it really is the stuff of dreams.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TfYWSQ86dOM/XCs2b40YjJI/AAAAAAAAOIs/Y3EQjskw6HcUjYMuGYKce5SIaOG-WslSACLcBGAs/s1600/Meg_64.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TfYWSQ86dOM/XCs2b40YjJI/AAAAAAAAOIs/Y3EQjskw6HcUjYMuGYKce5SIaOG-WslSACLcBGAs/s640/Meg_64.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
I use it as a straight-up face wash rather than a makeup remover, preferring to use an oil or balm to 'take my face off' - that's such a strange turn of phrase - first, then follow up with Milky Jelly as a second cleanse. It does remove makeup really well, but I already go through the stuff at an astronomically fast rate and using it for both steps would mean that Emily Weiss has more of my money than I do. You're instructed to apply to damp skin although I usually go straight onto dry as it feels the most satisfying, then I massage for a minute or so - thinking about how much I love it - then rinse off with clean water and pat dry.<br />
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The first time I ever used Milky Jelly Cleanser, I'd read hardly anything about it and as a result my untainted, uninfluenced brain/nose immediately thought of the dentist. I don't want to put anyone with dentophobia off as the scent is actually rose, but to me... yeah, it kinda smells like the dentist! Now that my brain/nose knows that it's rose I get that it has a lovely delicate and fresh rosewater scent to it but I think I'll always think it smells like going to the dentist, and I absolutely love it. Is that weird?<br />
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Not only can you adorn the packaging with the fab pack of stickers you get in every order - mine is business on the front (tiny pink loveheart) and party on the back (piano keys, red lipstick, googly eyes, peace sign) - but it's travel-friendly plastic and has a pump, so basically it's perfect. Props given, Glossier!<br />
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The results speak for themselves: my skin is clear, bright and happy 99% of the time. It feels comforted, soft, nourished, smooth and impeccably clean. I actually couldn't dream up a better cleanser and it's absolutely something that I deem holy grail worthy. The pH balanced formula contains the same cleansing agent found in contact lens solution, which kicks impurities and dirt to the curb whilst still being incredibly gentle. It rinses off wonderfully without that uncomfortable 'tight' feeling, and my skin never cries out for moisturiser like it can sometimes do following cleansing.<br />
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For how much joy it brings me I think £15 is perfectly reasonable (Glossier actually have a clever subscription service so you don't have to worry about remembering to repurchase), which is necessary for me as I truly do get the running-low-on-Milky-Jelly fear.<br />
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Perhaps one of the key indicators that I'm utterly obsessed with this product and would probably marry it if it was a person is that one of the main things at the forefront of my mind when it came to packing for travelling wasn't visas or vaccinations: it was how many Glossier Milky Jelly Cleansers I'd need to take. I need help. Get 10% off on it <a href="http://bff.glossier.com/gH3Zm" target="_blank"><span id="goog_448341167"></span>here<span id="goog_448341168"></span></a>!Meg Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05020262044885103695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931583758905269229.post-67376834918132332832019-02-01T16:00:00.000+00:002019-02-02T09:17:38.696+00:00The Monthly One #1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-spqUp5Zjpu4/XFQqwd7ao3I/AAAAAAAAORo/SoKF4xPLuRwYAIk7fspfpGBM36Y3D6tNACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-spqUp5Zjpu4/XFQqwd7ao3I/AAAAAAAAORo/SoKF4xPLuRwYAIk7fspfpGBM36Y3D6tNACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_0140.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When I first started this blog (in 2014, whilst on medical leave from my university degree) I had a little series called The Fortnightly One. It was an update on anything I'd enjoyed over the previous two weeks in classic 'Meg Says [insert verb here]' format - there was <b>Apply </b>(products), <b>Watch </b>(films, tv series, YouTube videos), <b>Eat </b>(food), <b>Read </b>(books, blogs, magazines), <b>Wear </b>(style), <b>Listen </b>(music, podcasts) and <b>Inspire </b>(quotes).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I thought I'd add <b>Travel </b>to that list (seeing as I'm currently backpacking the world) and bring back The Fortnightly One! Kind of, as it's gonna be monthly instead. For a throwback, see what I was loving aged 20 <a href="http://www.meg-says.com/2014/04/the-fortnightly-one-2.html#.XFQJl88zbBI" target="_blank">here</a>, and for right now, let's do this thing!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Travel</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'll always remember Pai as a bubble as that's honestly what it felt like - a rose-tinted hippie bubble in which fire-spinners spun and souls healed. It's the kind of place I can imagine being hit or miss for some, but our month there was free of pretentiousness!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Another 'hit or miss'-er that we've been lucky enough to catch at a really beautiful time is where we're currently residing, Gili Trawangan. Known as a party island popular with teenage backpackers, we unknowingly arrived in wet season which means less drunk Brits in Magaluf vests, more meaningful conversations. Score!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Apply</b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Asian tiger mosquitoes are the bane of my 2019 so far and despite having our own net, applying plastic-melting repellent and wearing long cotton trousers, I'm being eaten alive and seem to have awful reactions to the bites. Cue me lying in bed (with the fan on full-blast, obviously) and whacking <a href="https://tropicskincare.com/products/tamanu-healing-balm" target="_blank">Tropic Tamanu Healing Balm</a> on every single one of the 197 sore, painful little blighters on my body. This lime-green wonder balm accelerates skin healing, helps with the itching and restores a little bit of my sanity.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Watch</b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Netflix had a real moment in January, didn't it? I had to mute the words 'Bird Box' from my Twitter timeline, and don't even get me started on how hard I fought to avoid Bandersnatch spoilers. I hate to say it but whilst both were interesting, the word 'overhyped' springs to mind (sorry Bullock, apologies Brooker) and I wasn't bowled over by either. Bird Box felt drawn out and I gave up with Bandersnatch in the end - or maybe I actually did reach 'the end', who bloody knows?</span></span><br />
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'Dan Humphrey being a creep' (something we thought got left behind in 2012 when the finale of Gossip Girl premiered) made a comeback with the arrival of You on Netflix, a psychological thriller that gave me an 'it's kind of crap but I'm enjoying it so much that I can ignore the cheesy dialogue and plot-holes' feeling. Worth a watch!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Potentially unpopular opinion incoming: Netflix's version of A Series of Unfortunate Events is better than the movie, and Neil Patrick Harris is a better Count Olaf than Jim Carrey. THERE, I said it! The script is intelligent, the attention to detail when it comes to sets, costumes and storylines is impeccable and I actually 'awww!' out loud at every Sunny scene.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Eat</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You know when you try a dish and you just know you'll spend the rest of your life trying to recreate it even though it won't be half as delicious? Khao soi, Dash restaurant, Chiang Mai. My lovely hairdresser <a href="https://instagram.com/christie_alice_hair" target="_blank">Christie</a> recommended Dash to us and my gorgeous friend <a href="https://www.instagram.com/calliethorpe/" target="_blank">Callie</a> recommend khao soi, and the two came together in the most perfect way when I spied the coconut curry noodle dish from Northern Thailand on the menu. It's my ideal meal!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm sure the 'Eat' section of these posts won't be half as long when I'm back in the UK and cooking for myself again, and I've been truly making the most of eating out in restaurants and cafés for breakfast, lunch and dinner. One dish I got obsessed with was red or green curry soup, then I'd order a plain rice and tip it in. The result? Hot, spicy and fragrant homemade soup with tofu and tons of al dente veggies. Miss you already, Thai food - so much so that tears are about to start splashing on my keyboard.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Read</b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Whilst in Chiang Mai we stumbled across The Lost Book Shop, a wonderful little store crammed full of used books which is run by an amazing Irishman with glasses on the end of his nose and enviable book knowledge. Having adored The Lovely Bones, I picked up The Almost Moon by the same author, a story about the twenty-four hours that follow a woman murdering her own mother. I expected a powerful, clever thriller and am sad to say that if it wasn't for Sebold's masterful writing and the fact that I had no other book with me on the plane, I wouldn't have bothered reading past the third chapter.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It was mind-numbingly slow, the characters were of little interest and my 'keep going, it might get better!' attitude that the plane journey induced was fruitless. The narrative was haphazard and messy, nothing ever seemed to come to a satisfying conclusion and some parts were just plain weird. I know I'm meant to be talking about things I've actually <i>liked</i>, but I didn't buy a Kindle for this trip (mistake of the century) and so a negative review it is.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Wear</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">After receiving a bag of clothes back from the laundrette (one of the best feelings you'll have whilst travelling!) and realising that a few items had gone missing, namely a white tee that I wore with everything, I headed to the closest market which just so happened to be Khao San Road in Bangkok. I bought a white ribbed cami top for a couple of quid and have since worn it to death - it's now a funny shade of cream and I have the outline of it on my chest and shoulders.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My go-to January outfit was that cami, these amazing rainbow flared Miss Selfridge <a href="https://rstyle.me/n/dfev65b3g2f" target="_blank">trousers</a> in the day or this flattering ASOS polka dot <a href="https://rstyle.me/n/dfev7gb3g2f" target="_blank">midi skirt</a> in the evening and a pair of trusty <a href="https://rstyle.me/n/dfev5wb3g2f" target="_blank">Havaianas</a>. Easy, comfortable and cute (despite the rum and coke on the top and the white lines underneath it).</span><br />
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<b>Listen</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A Star Is Born, on repeat, every day, all night. I saw it twice in the cinema, desperately tried to track down a screening in the Philippines and saying that I'm obsessed is a true understatement. Look What I've Found gets me up in the morning, Diggin' My Grave has me stomping my feet and Will has politely asked me to go ten minutes without belting out "I'm off the deep end, watch as I dive in!" Each listen of the soundtrack reveals something else to me about the story and I get so excited when I can match a lyric with a specific moment in the film - I feel such a connection with it and simply think it's a masterpiece. Current favourite: Hair Body Face. Yes, Gaga, just YES.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Inspire</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A couple of days after January 1st, I had a really nice conversation with someone from Colorado about how the start of a new year makes us feel. She explained that she's always placed huge importance on becoming 'better' in countless ways, practically as soon as the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve, and I said that I've done the same. We agreed that placing that huge importance with such urgency creates huge pressure, as whilst self-improvement is important and necessary, becoming 'the best version of yourself' immediately and without work is impossible.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the past I've said things like "this year I want to be more organised", not actually doing anything constructive to <i>become </i>more so, then feeling like a failure when I'm, surprise surprise, unorganised. In 2019 I'll be adopting a 'small and often' approach, and feel so thankful to that girl for reminding me that we shouldn't wait for the start of a new week, month or year to do something: life is now!</span>Meg Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05020262044885103695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931583758905269229.post-36800842544281953282019-01-29T16:00:00.000+00:002019-01-29T16:00:08.796+00:00The Ultimate Philippines Vegetarian/Vegan Guide: Best Restaurants, What To Order etc<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fn4AOwhUQlo/XEW0Qf5V5iI/AAAAAAAAOQU/W9UdLYg8PogbX2BzOaOFomsJ12PuI4sjwCLcBGAs/s1600/DSCF1576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fn4AOwhUQlo/XEW0Qf5V5iI/AAAAAAAAOQU/W9UdLYg8PogbX2BzOaOFomsJ12PuI4sjwCLcBGAs/s640/DSCF1576.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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Eating as a vegetarian in the Philippines was quite the adventure. Upon asking whether they offered vegetarian options before entering a restaurant I'd often be told "yes, of course!" only to find none in the menu, which then elicited responses such as "you eat chicken - no pork or beef!" or "it's fish, it's vegetarian" or, my personal favourite, a fit of laughter!<br />
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Filipino cuisine focuses very heavily on meat and fish, and having spent six weeks there and sometimes ending up with no choice but to eat plain rice for dinner, I'm here to help you navigate the vegetarian/vegan waters and eat the tastiest food possible. Let's dive in!<br />
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<b><u>Order</u></b></div>
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using these phrases</div>
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Vegetarian = walang karne</div>
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Vegan = vegan</div>
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Thank you = salamat</div>
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<b><u>Choose</u></b></div>
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from these Filipino vegetarian/vegan dishes</div>
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<u>Kangkong</u>: water spinach, which is like tenderstem broccoli and spinach in one (aka flipping delicious). It's in most Filipino menus under 'vegetables' or 'sides', and is often cooked in a thin oyster sauce with lots of garlic and red onion</div>
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<u>Adobong kangkong</u>: you'll see 'adobo' in menus non-stop in the Philippines as it's their unofficial national dish. Instead of chicken, pork, beef or fish marinated in the famous soy sauce, vinegar, garlic and peppercorn sauce, you can ask for 'abobong kangkong' which is the vegan water spinach version</div>
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<u>Adobong talong</u>: again, this is the traditional adobo dish but made with eggplant/aubergine</div>
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<u>Tortang talong</u>: one of my absolute favourites, this is the only traditional Filipino vegetarian classic I came across - at a roadside barbecue, no less! They take a grilled eggplant or aubergine then peel and mash it, soak in beaten egg, season with salt and pepper then fry until golden brown. It is <i>divine</i>, and something you absolutely cannot miss if you eat eggs!</div>
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<u>Pinkabet</u>: traditionally pinakbet is a vegetable dish made with pork and shrimp paste, however I was offered vegetarian/vegan versions throughout our trip. It's not the most exciting dish in the world (sort of like pan-cooked vegetables with a bit of a garlicky sauce) but there are <i>always </i>condiments on tables in Filipino restaurants so you can jazz it up with chilli and soy sauce etc</div>
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<u>Lumpia</u>: spring rolls, wahey! Served deep fried or fresh, these are the exactly how you're probably picturing them to be - just double check that they're actually veggie!</div>
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<u>Pancit</u>: noodles, wahey again! You'll hear 'pancit bihon' and 'pancit canton' - they're both the same fried noodle dish but bihon has thin glass noodles, and canton has thicker egg noodles</div>
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<u>Bam-i</u>: fun to say, fun to eat and fun for your wallet as it's usually extremely cheap, bam-i is like a mixture of pancit bihon and pancit canton. It's made with the two different types of noodles mixed together along with soy sauce and vegetables, and you might also hear or see it referred to as 'pancit bisaya'</div>
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<u>Banana blossom burger</u>: basically the Filipino version of the veggie burger, banana blossom patties are popular and taste like a regular one except sweeter - think sweet potato mixed with black bean! You might also hear banana blossom referred to as 'banana heart' or 'puso ng saging'. They usually come in your usual setup with fries on the side, lettuce, tomato etc</div>
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<u>Okra</u>: you probably already know this one, but if you don't, okra is a green vegetable in the mallow family (the taste is similar to green beans, the texture is more like soft cucumber and it has these funny white spherical seeds) and I just wanted to mention it here as it was in pretty much <i>every </i>vegetarian or vegan meal I had in the Philippines! </div>
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<u>Kalabasa</u>: squash, basically - one of the pretty green/orange ones</div>
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<u>Calamansi</u>: a citrus fruit native to the Philippines that looks and pretty much tastes like a very tiny lime... they're extremely cute and you'll get at least one on anything you order, whether that's chopsuey or a rum and coke!</div>
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<u>Ampalaya</u>: also known as 'bitter gourd' or 'bitter melon', this stuff's pretty gross and basically tastes like dodgy sea cucumber. As the alternative names would suggest it's extremely bitter, to the point where you pull a face whilst eating it, and if I was going to advise you to avoid one thing in the Philippines it'd be ampalaya! Unfortunately it's in a lot of vegetarian/vegan dishes so I'd suggest asking beforehand or picking it out. Hint: it looks like dark celery, and was created by the devil<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u>Watch</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">out for these things</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you're staying in a more remote area there may be a couple of occasions where there isn't anything you can eat on the menu, especially if you're vegan. Whenever it happened (usually in tiny villages with barely any tourists), I simply ordered garlic rice: everywhere does this and it's way more exciting than plain boiled!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Chop suey is often on Filipino menus, it's slightly different to American/European versions in that it normally comes as a stir-fried noodle and vegetables dish, just make sure you use a vegan translation app like <a href="https://agogoeats.com/" target="_blank">Veganagogo</a> to ensure that's definitely no meat in there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Shrimp paste is used in many recipes, as is fish sauce, and many people I met along the way thought that vegetarians could still eat fish and chicken, and some soups and curries may be cooked using carcasses or meat juices. On many occasions I asked for a vegetarian option and would be pointed towards something like 'pork in soy sauce with vegetables', so it's handy to know how to say "I don't eat meat or fish" (</span><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hindi ako kumakain ng karne o isda - use <a href="https://agogoeats.com/" target="_blank">Veganagogo</a> or keep this on your Notes on your phone).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u>Visit</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">my following top picks</span></div>
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<b>EL NIDO</b>:</div>
<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g294256-d7742119-Reviews-Happiness_Beach_Bar-El_Nido_Palawan_Island_Palawan_Province_Mimaropa.html" target="_blank">Happiness Beach Bar</a>: A lively, colourful veggie joint with swings at the bar, head to Happiness for great Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine: think hearty wooden bowls filled with hummus and dips, falafel pittas and shakshuka. They do a generous tabbouleh salad, and these amazing 'fries' that are like a Ready Salted crisp had a baby with a chip!</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com.ph/Restaurant_Review-g294256-d13112869-Reviews-Big_Bad_Thai_Bistro_Bar-El_Nido_Palawan_Island_Palawan_Province_Mimaropa.html" target="_blank">Big Bad Thai Bistro</a>: Ask for a seat upstairs - you eat overlooking the beach that way! - and order the som tum (spicy green papaya salad), the vegetable and tofu green curry or the classic Pad Thai. The sweetcorn salad is one to give a miss, as the corn was quite dry and bitter rather than succulent and sweet. Their cocktail menu is something special, so spoil yourself with their silver tequila, mango purée and chilli concoction dubbed 'The Thairita'.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g294256-d14198869-Reviews-Taste_El_Nido_The_Vegan_Cafe_PH-El_Nido_Palawan_Island_Palawan_Province_Mimaropa.html" target="_blank">Taste El Nido</a>: With a small vegan menu, Taste (or The Vegan Café) is well worth a visit. Choose from eggplant lasagna (made with cashew cream béchamel, so delicious!), Mexican chipotle bowl or mac 'n' cheese for your main, enjoy a variety of smoothie bowls and vegan coffees for breakfast, and try their sweet vegan snacks - we'd recommend the chocolate chip cookies.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g294256-d6277257-Reviews-V_and_V_Bagel-El_Nido_Palawan_Island_Palawan_Province_Mimaropa.html" target="_blank">V and V Bagel</a>: Lunch doesn't get much quicker or easier than a filled bagel, and this spot does a vegetarian one (eggplant, bell peppers, pesto, lettuce and Parmesan - forgo the cheese to make it vegan) for £3.50. Their wifi is top notch and whilst their regular coffee is good, upgrade to the Illy blend for a real treat. They also do a veggie burger as well as pizza, pasta and desserts.</span><br />
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<b>SIQUIJOR</b>:</div>
<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.cocogrovebeachresort.com/" target="_blank">Coco Grove</a>: <span style="font-family: inherit;">Vegetarians often get ignored at barbecues but not at Coco Grove, where they have a barbecue and entertainment evening every Tuesday at their beachfront <a href="https://www.cocogrovebeachresort.com/the-resort/sunset-restaurant/" target="_blank">Sunset restaurant</a>. They do these vegetable kebabs that are smothered in an amazing spicy satay sauce before they're grilled and served up with rice, salad and salsa.</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://baha-bar.com/" target="_blank">Baha Ba'r</a>: Aside from ordering a strong af and patriotic cocktail (quite literally, every time you buy a Baha Ba'r special you get to add a tally to your country on their chart) you should also order the Pandasal Express which is a banana blossom burger with sweet potato fries. Double check your order as some items on the <a href="http://coco%20grove/" target="_blank">menu</a> are marked as vegetarian, but include shrimp or fish.<br />
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<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.bohol.ph/resort.php?businessid=110" target="_blank">The Bee Farm</a>: The organic garden salad here is adorned with pretty edible flowers and comes with the most divine mustard dressing that really takes lettuce from drab to fab! Ask for a different one if you're vegan rather than vegetarian as it's heavy on the honey, and try the vegetable stir-fry with garlic rice for main.</span><br />
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<b>SIARGAO</b>:</div>
<span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.bamboosiargao.com/" target="_blank">Bamboo Garden Bar</a>: I have a full review of our stay at Bamboo <a href="http://www.meg-says.com/2018/12/5-best-places-to-stay-in-siargao.html" target="_blank">here</a>, and would highly recommend checking out the food there even if you're not a resident. The vegetarian pizza, panini and sandwich are all great (ask for no cheese to make them vegan) and I was a huge fan of their hearty and filling vegetable curry.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g2048776-d10428188-Reviews-Miguel_s_Taqueria_Y_Cerveceria-General_Luna_Siargao_Island_Surigao_del_Norte_Pr.html" target="_blank">Miguel's Taqueria Y Cerveceria</a>: This place is #3 in General Luna on <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/" target="_blank">Trip Advisor</a> and never anything else than heaving. With a tiny menu of either a classic foil-wrapped burrito or two soft filled tacos, you'll order within seconds and get your food within minutes. Both have a 'vegetable' option which will only set you back about £2 and can be made vegan if you ask for no cheese or creamy sauce, and there are two vegan sauce options on every table: salsa verde and pico de gallo.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.kermitsiargao.com/" target="_blank">Kermit</a>: The restaurant within this surf resort does a delicious vegetarian panini that's vegan without the cheese for 160 pisos (about £2.50, and comes with chips or wedges too!) as well as a wide range of Italian options. They have a huge wood-fired oven making fresh pizzas, calzones and focaccia, and if you're a pasta lover you'll be spoilt for choice: the spaghetti options are vegan (pomodoro, aglio e olio, pesto) and there's a creamy gorgonzola gnocchi and a porcini mushroom risotto if you eat dairy.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/altrove.siargao/" target="_blank">Altrove</a>: Sticking with the Italian theme, head here and choose from three different pastas (spaghetti, penne or fettuccini) then order the Pomodori Secchi - crushed tomatoes with chopped sun-dried tomatoes, garlic and extra virgin olive oil. I added chilli to my order, and asked for no Parmesan cheese to make it vegan. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.bravosiargao.com/" target="_blank">Bravo</a>: Our favourite 'date night' spot thanks to the beachfront location, beautiful lighting and live music. Their <a href="http://res.cloudinary.com/simplotel/image/upload/v1514943436/bravo-beach-resort-siargao/BRAVO_FOOD_MENU_2017_pmfofa.pdf" target="_blank">menu</a> has a brilliant tapas section, most of which is vegetarian, and the staff are incredibly friendly and informed about making dishes vegan - so get your patatas bravas and baba ganoush on! Their mongo bean, eggplant and mushroom veggie burger is divine (if you like onion bhajis then you'll <i>love </i>this) and every Sunday they have a paella night, one of which is 100% vegan!</span><br />
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<b>PORT BARTON</b>:</div>
<span style="color: black;"><a href="http://moon.deepmoonresorts.asia/" target="_blank">Deep Moon</a>: A* veggie dining! In the relaxed, open-air restaurant you'll find no end of options from vegan pancakes, sandwiches, paninis, pizzas, local dishes and more. Even if a dish is marked as 'vegetarian' it's likely to be vegan, as the kitchen uses fresh soy milk instead of cow's milk or egg. One of those places where you open the menu and feel spoilt for choice!</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/mabutirestaurant/" target="_blank">Mabuti</a>: Not only does this cute little spot have the speediest wifi (quite rare in Port Barton!), they only sell vegetarian and vegan food as seen in their full menu <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mabutirestaurant/menu/" target="_blank">here</a>. At only £2.40 for a breakfast dish AND a coffee, you can't go wrong. The soups, salads and pastas all received rave reviews and, like everything else, the veggie burger is made from locally sourced ingredients. Mabuti make their own bamboo straws and donate the profits to rehabilitating reefs, and on the whole have a large focus on protecting the environment.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g1370797-d13393960-Reviews-Gorgonzola_Pizza-Port_Barton_San_Vicente_Palawan_Island_Palawan_Province_Mimaro.html" target="_blank">Gorgonzola</a>: A trendy spot that wouldn't look out of place in Seven Dials in Covent Garden, you're gonna struggle to choose just one dish from this menu. It's pricier than spots serving local food rather than Western, but their pizzas (550 pisos for a margherita base, then you can add toppings like vegetarian bolognese or vegan cheese) are a whopping 60cm and can feed 2-4 people. The salads are proper (aka generous and actually tasty), and here's a handy tip: order their hummus without the focaccia then dip your crusts in it instead. You are welcome!</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><a href="http://ausanbeachfront.com/" target="_blank">Ausan</a>: This beachfront resort has a restaurant where you get a truly good bang for your buck, as they offer a three-course set menu for around £3.50 each! The veggie options for main include a chop suey style stir-fry, mushroom pasta and a banana blossom burger with fries to name a few, and I had a fruit platter for dessert. The first time we went the starter was a delicious sweetcorn soup and the second time it was chicken and corn so I couldn't have it, but they deducted this from the bill. Try and get the romantic candlelit 'treehouse' table if you can, and order the onion rings - they're immense!</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">I hope this helps you navigate your way as a vegetarian or vegan around the Philippines - there's so much delicious food on offer when you know what to look and ask for! </span>Meg Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05020262044885103695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931583758905269229.post-12114116996166150342019-01-25T16:00:00.000+00:002019-01-25T16:00:03.241+00:00In Defence Of Wearing Makeup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ever since I was a little girl - we're talking five years old and examining my mum's eyelash curler wondering what in the world it could be <i>for </i>- I've adored makeup and beauty products in general. Before I even hit my teens I'd pore over the beauty section of magazines, and my favourite thing to read (aside from books, obviously!) was the description on everything from shampoo to hair removal cream. Seriously, I wasn't even applying or using these things - I was simply just fascinated by the colours, textures, packaging, scents.<br />
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That fascination for beauty products has stayed with me through to my adult years - hence the large proportion of this blog that's dedicated to talking about them - and when my boyfriend and I decided to backpack the world for the best part of a year, I couldn't have been more excited to decide which items were going to voyage along with me.<br />
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Discovering the beauty blogging world when I was 13 let me know that there are other people out there like me, people who collectively love the world of beauty, as there are people who are passionate about food or surfing or art and could talk about it all day. It was never a vanity thing or centred around outward appearances for me, and I think the fact that I would sit and read the back of a body scrub aged seven (despite not actually being allowed to use it) is testament to that.<br />
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My point, explained in my usual wordily fashion, is that my passion for beauty products would exist whether the effect was visible or not. My eyeshadow blending is average at best but that'll never stop me from coveting and purchasing 102 palettes (all of which will probably be very similar mixes of nude champagnes and bronzes), as it's not about the way they look, but the way they make me <i>feel</i>. Looking at an outfit and conjuring an immediate mental 'this would be so sexy with a bronze smudgy eye and 90s nude liner' picture is the coolest, and I never feel more powerful than when I'm rocking a red lip.<br />
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So far, I've had a couple of comments about the fact that I'm wearing makeup whilst travelling and it got me thinking. Is it not 'the done thing', and why does it matter?<br />
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The first was a classic catty-girl tactic. She was rude (but only to me) from the get-go but I didn't take it personally as it was quite apparent that she fancied my boyfriend, and I'd gotten used to the constant sly digs designed to undermine and embarrass. One of which - said in front of everyone, of course - was "wow, it must take you such a long time to apply <i>all </i>that makeup". My makeup at the time: a teeny bit of <a href="https://www.revolutionbeauty.com/en/Revolution-Conceal-and-Define-Concealer---C1/m-5840.aspx" target="_blank">Revolution Conceal & Define Concealer</a>, hint of <a href="https://rstyle.me/n/ddyywxb3g2f" target="_blank">Benefit Hoola</a>, brows brushed up with <a href="https://rstyle.me/n/ddyyxbb3g2f" target="_blank">Glossier Boy Brow</a> and a swipe of lip balm. I'd guess that this three-product application took me literally less than two minutes from start to finish, but my face not being completely bare was portrayed as a negative, my beloved Real Techniques Expert Face Brush used as a tool with which to bash me with.<br />
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The second was a genuine question from a guy we met (and ended up living with, and will be friends with for life I'm sure) who asked "you know you're travelling, right?" as I sat on our communal sofa applying my Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Luxury Palette. As someone who doesn't even wear shoes, I could completely see how unnecessary and decidedly 'extra' it looked to him. "It makes me happy!" I replied, to which he gave me an understanding nod and said, "you do you". It wasn't him, or my boyfriend, or anyone else that I bought the £45 palette for: it was for me, because I like pretty colours and making my eyelids all sparkly.<br />
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Both questions - one a strategic move from an insecure individual and one offhand remark from a perplexed shoeless Danish dude - implied that I <i>shouldn't </i>be wearing makeup. And I'm just here to say, why ever the hell not?<br />
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I get it, backpacking inherently implies minimalism as you can literally only own what you can physically carry on your back, and when it's hot you're thinking about reaching for a bottle of water and not a lipliner. But genuinely, what difference does it make whether your lips are lined or not? It impacts neither the experience nor the journey, and spending three minutes - which is nothing, in the grand scheme of a 24-hour day - applying a slick of mascara and a swipe of lipstick if that's what you want to do is your prerogative.<br />
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'If that's what you want to do' should be the takeaway from that last paragraph, as makeup is all about freedom and expression without rules or limitations. I'm currently in a travelling environment where makeup is extremely rare - I haven't seen a <a href="https://rstyle.me/n/dexfz9b3g2f" target="_blank">Velvet Teddy</a> or a winged liner for weeks - and whilst I often forgo it during the day as I just can't be bothered, I really take pleasure in little things like smoothing on some <a href="https://rstyle.me/n/dexf2jb3g2f" target="_blank">Glossier Lidstar</a> and blending it out. I find it relaxing, enjoyable and kind of like a form of self-care.<br />
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I guess the reason why I was compelled to write this blog post is the feeling of being judged: that by wearing makeup - especially whilst travelling, in a sea of hippie pants and dreadlocks - it means that you're hiding, unconfident or materialistic. The way I see it, not wearing any makeup is as much as a choice as wearing a full face of contour and as it's all down to personal preference, there's no right or wrong.<br />
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We see makeup-shaming all the time, from snide remarks about people who - shock, horror - wear it at the gym or the pool, to petty "she's wearing <i>way </i>too much makeup" comments on Instagram posts. FYI, the people who write those sorts of things are the same people who internally squeal with glee when a celebrity is 'caught' without a full face in the Daily Mail whilst dropping their kids off at school. It's bred from insecurity, enables them to feel superior and breeds nothing but negative judgement.<br />
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Your time is your time and your choices are your choices. If recreating one of the insanely talented <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzTKskwIc_-a0cGvCXA848Q" target="_blank">Nikkie Tutorials</a> videos means you feel happy and confident and creative, then that's what you should do - and what you shouldn't do is let outside irrelevant opinions stop you from expressing yourself in whatever way makes your soul shine.<br />
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I think everyone should strive to adopt a 'different strokes for different folks' attitude like our Danish friend, who didn't understand why I was buffing in foundation and applying blinding highlighter in a tiny village in the middle of the Philippines and thought the whole thing pointless, but accepted it and said "you do you" with a smile anyway.Meg Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05020262044885103695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931583758905269229.post-23655238772012619122019-01-22T16:00:00.000+00:002019-01-22T16:00:00.158+00:00The Skincare I Packed For A 9-Month Trip<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LboRIx4NYro/XEWoUuwRzXI/AAAAAAAAOQA/vciZovVBUlccWabhixmVBuS8MoeKY9I0QCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LboRIx4NYro/XEWoUuwRzXI/AAAAAAAAOQA/vciZovVBUlccWabhixmVBuS8MoeKY9I0QCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_0156.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The enthusiasm I feel about skincare knows no bounds. My bedside table (back at home in the UK, sob) is full of lotions and potions, my lip balm collection is out of control and my boyfriend frequently gets roped into Netflix and sheet mask evenings. Once, a lady in a coffee shop stopped and asked me what skincare I use - seriously, it made my whole <i>month </i>- and it took about 0.2 seconds for me to whip out a napkin and start scribbling down a ton of recommendations.<br />
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When packing for the nine-month trip that I'm currently on with said reluctant sheet-mask wearing boyfriend, deciding which skincare products to pack was a task that I borderline agonised over - so whether you're heading off on holiday soon too and need recs like coffee-shop-lady (or just fancy a nosey in my toiletries bag!) then you're in the right place.<br />
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One product that needed no deliberation was <a href="https://rstyle.me/n/ddskqrb3g2f" target="_blank">Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser</a>. I've actually written an ode to it <a href="http://www.meg-says.com/2018/03/an-ode-to-glossier-milky-jelly-cleanser.html" target="_blank">here</a> - and find it the best all-round face wash for baby-soft, perfectly clean skin that feels happy and bouncy without any dryness. They make a handy diddy cabin-sized version (or you could decant into your own container) if you're going on a shorter trip. I'm actually nearly out, but I'm sure I'll manage without it. 90% sure. Maybe 60%.<br />
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Forgoing toner, oil and serum (who am I?) I skipped straight to the moisture section of my routine with the hope that sea and sun would be my new acid toner. My all-time favourite <a href="https://rstyle.me/n/ddsku4b3g2f" target="_blank">Elemis Pro-Collagen Eye Renewal</a> had to come on the journey as it has the most instantly replenishing gel formula and noticeably firms the area. I also packed the matching <a href="https://rstyle.me/n/ddskuhb3g2f" target="_blank">Elemis Pro-Collagen Hydra-Gel Eye Masks</a> in my carry-on and couldn't recommend them for flights (or life in general) more - think immediate, soothing relief. Bliss!<br />
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My face moisturisers of choice are the <a href="https://rstyle.me/n/ddskxxb3g2f" target="_blank">Caudalie Vinosource Moisturising Sorbet</a> - full review <a href="http://www.meg-says.com/2016/07/the-moisturiser-wardrobe-for-every-skin.html#.XBzwZc8zbBI" target="_blank">here</a> - for when I'm more on the dry side and need something more intensive, as this stuff banishes all feeling and signs of dehydration in a flash. The <a href="https://rstyle.me/n/ddsk3kb3g2f" target="_blank">Glossier Priming Moisturiser</a> is a fantastic everyday go-to staple - a little goes a long way and you can build it up, which I like to do in the evenings as I can <i>kind of </i>trick myself into thinking that I'm using a night cream. Can anyone tell that I'm missing my full skincare stash?<br />
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Not as travel-friendly as the other products (big factor during the packing process!) but something I really wanted are the <a href="https://www.tanologist.com/product/self-tan-drops-medium/" target="_blank">Tanologist Face & Body Self Tan Drops</a> in 'Medium'. This serum gives you a made-to-measure tan depending on how many drops you add to your moisturiser, and as someone who doesn't enjoy sunbathing and whose face never seems to tan anyway, that's very appealing! This way, my face matches my body and all is well.<br />
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Sun protection is a biggie so I brought the <a href="https://rstyle.me/n/ddsmddb3g2f" target="_blank">La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL 50+ Ultra-Light Fluid</a> for its gorgeously silky texture, and the <a href="https://www.escentual.com/bioderma/photoderm/bioderma079/" target="_blank">Bioderma Photoderm Max 50+ Tinted Aquafluid</a> for a water-resistant anti-shine finish with a hint of coverage. Body-wise I'm a huge fan of the <a href="https://rstyle.me/n/ddsmhtb3g2f" target="_blank">Garnier Ambre Solaire UV Water</a> - it feels so hydrating and leaves zero greasiness or white marks on your cute leopard-print bikini! I also love the <a href="https://rstyle.me/n/ddsmvib3g2f" target="_blank">Coola Eco-Lux Sunscreen Spray</a> for the way the nozzle produces a truly fine mist (hard to find and much appreciated!) and the fact that it smells like the most delicious piña colada ever.<br />
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Last but not least we have balms. I absolutely <i>live </i>to apply a good balm, hence why I have four and why 'minimalist packer' will never be on my CV! Three of my little balmy quartet are made up by <a href="https://rstyle.me/n/ddsm36b3g2f" target="_blank">Glossier Balm Dot Coms</a>: Rose (reminds me of home, good for when the soul needs soothing), Coconut (literally smells like holidays, needs no explanation) and Mint (by far the most moisturising of the bunch, with a nice little added tingle). I mainly use these on my lips, but also massage them into my cuticles and elbows if they need some TLC.<br />
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The final fourth slice of the balm pie - I'm going too far with this - is the <a href="https://tropicskincare.com/products/tamanu-healing-balm" target="_blank">Tropic Tamanu Healing Balm</a>, an "all-in-one skin saviour" and my personal skincare hero. It contains tamanu oil which is a Polynesian remedy that "promotes the formation of new tissue and accelerates skin healing", and has genuinely helped me <i>so </i>much during our trip already. Whether I've got scraped knees from tripping over on uneven roads or can play dot-to-dot with all the mosquito bites on my legs, I've been reaching for this balm and find that it always relives and improves the look of every scar or scrape in record time.<br />
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Aside from the actual basics (deodorant, soap etc!) that's everything I'll be applying to my skin for the next few months. Eight weeks in and we've already had to make a pharmacy dash a couple of times for more SPF and as mentioned my <a href="https://rstyle.me/n/ddskqrb3g2f" target="_blank">Milky Jelly Cleanser</a> is on its last legs, so please let me know if you have any recommendations for the best places to buy skincare in Asia. I hope this helps with all of your skincare-packing needs!Meg Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05020262044885103695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931583758905269229.post-43347832106938284562019-01-18T16:00:00.000+00:002019-01-18T16:00:03.550+00:00The 10 Instagram Accounts I'm Currently Loving<span style="font-family: inherit;">Social media platforms, hey? One taught me love (hi YouTube, with your endless hours of entertainment courtesy of Harry Styles compilations and Shane Dawson documentaries), one taught me patience (hey Twitter, and the accompanying daily mansplaining) and one taught me pain (what's up Facebook, sorry I dipped when I was 18 but it was all extremely boring)... now Instagram is so amazin', and so are the people who run these ten accounts that I'm currently </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">obsessed</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> with following.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tastecadets/" target="_blank">Taste Cadets</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A new discovery for me and one I've been telling my boyfriend, my mates and my grandma about, Taste Cadets is equal parts food, travel and comedy run by a trio of "swagged out freaks eating everything the world has to offer" - one of which is Seapa, co-creator of People Just Do Nothing and otherwise known as MC Grindah. From London's Chinatown to the streets of Barcelona, the Taste Cadets are never far from a gone-in-one-bite local delicacy or a six-course meal, all of which they review with a unique hilarity on their Instagram stories. It's basically three really sweet, really funny guys bopping around the globe in search of flavour-parties, and them letting us be a fly on the wall of their enjoyment. Also, I haven't actually recommended it to my grandma as I'm not sure whether Jean would get food being described as "highly f*ckable", but I know she'd respect it all the same. </span><br />
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2. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/calliethorpe/" target="_blank">Callie Thorpe</a><br />
I met Callie at a press dinner in 2016 a couple of weeks after one of her Instagram posts, in which it's her wedding day and she looks an absolute <i>vision </i>in her dress, had gone viral. Her caption was about how "you are deserving of happiness no matter what your size, and you will still be the most beautiful person in the room next to your love", and as she told me about this I realised that I'd crossed paths with a lady glowing with light and life who left a lasting impression on me. Over the last two years I've looked forward to Callie's hugely relatable Instagram stories like they're the latest Orange Is The New Black episode, and I get all my best healthy recipe ideas, cat content and general laughs from them!<br />
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3. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/julesvonhep/" target="_blank">Jules Von Hep</a><br />
Tanner to the stars (seriously, think of any babein' celebrity that you've had a girl-crush on since forever and Jules <i>will </i>have tanned them), perpetual smiler and all-round delight, Jules might just be one of my favourite humans that I've never actually met before. Also on that list: Steve Carrell, Amy Poehler, Tom Hanks, Jessie Ware. I was prompted to follow Jules on Instagram after listening to an episode of <a href="http://www.esteelalonde.com/" target="_blank">Estée Lalonde</a>'s comforting and informative podcast <a href="https://play.acast.com/s/ontheline" target="_blank">On The Line</a> and have felt everything from inspired to emotional to proud ever since, and his stories make me cry with laughter! Jules is the creator of <a href="https://rstyle.me/n/ddkxm3b3g2f" target="_blank">Isle Of Paradise</a> (there's a PR package sat at home in Norfolk waiting for me and I am positively <i>dying </i>to try it!) which has rave reviews all-round, so get bronzed whilst you're feeling buoyant after looking at his feed.<br />
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4. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mrsgifletcher/" target="_blank">Giovanna Fletcher</a><br />
Giovanna is the supportive, hilarious best friend or sister that we all wish we had - and with the invention of Instagram, we kind of can! A Sunday Times bestselling author, host of the brilliant podcast Happy Mum, Happy Baby and all-round blogging/vlogging/presenting whizz, she's a multi-talented modern mum who'll make you think "how <i>does </i>she do it?" but without a smidgen of smugness. You're bound to find inspiration in Gi's posts whether you're a parent or not, as they have a refreshingly real 'this is actually me, this is my actual life' vibe that encourages us to be a whole lot kinder to others and a whole lot easier on ourselves. Expect charity awareness, no-makeup selfies and <i>lots </i>of very adorable family content. She once said I was "always a little ray of sunshine", and I'll never forget it!<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">5. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/emilycoxhead/" target="_blank">Emily Coxhead</a></span><br />
Emily's feed is nothing but loveliness, rainbows, happiness - and come to think of it, so is Emily herself! If you've ever seen that meme of the baby hedgehog waving it's teeny arm in the air with the quote "this little hedgehog is cheering for you because you're doing great", that's basically how following Emily feels. Every post is like a warm hug, and it's pretty amazing. Her dedication to making others feel better in themselves with her cute illustrations, uplifting poems and reassuring letters is never-ending, as is the way she shows how much good there is (and how many everyday heroes there are) in the world through her wonderful publication, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/emilycoxhead/" target="_blank">The Happy Newspaper</a>. A sweetheart and constant stream of smiles.<br />
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6. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bethsandland/" target="_blank">Beth Sandland</a><br />
A cutie with a booty and a great sense of humour, I found Beth's account through <a href="https://lydiaelisemillen.com/" target="_blank">Lydia Elise Millen</a> and needed to share her brilliance with you. It's not just the gorgeous imagery, although that deserves a big shoutout - Beth's photos are always amongst the prettiest on my feed with clear thoughtfulness behind them - but her <i>captions</i>. Honest, thought-provoking, genuine, funny: Beth strikes a beautiful balance between being aspirational and relatable, evoking an empowering "I want to be her but at the same time, she's so unapologetically herself that I know I can draw from that and be confident in myself, too" feeling that I think's quite rare in the influencer world. She's also just announced a big move from the UK to backpacking life through Australia, New Zealand and Asia to name a few - so you're gonna want to start following that adventure as soon as possible!<br />
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7. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/laurenbrittonloves/" target="_blank">Britton Loves</a><br />
One of those chicas that I just feel so happy and lucky to know, Lauren is the brains and beauty behind blog <a href="https://www.brittonloves.co.uk/" target="_blank">Britton Loves</a>. Her accompanying Instagram page of the same name is everything cosy and comforting: this week it was all about the childhood throwbacks, fairy lights, cups of chai tea in Christmas mugs and much more, which gave me all of the festive feels that I'm currently missing out on being outside of the UK in December for the first time ever. As a professional photographer, Lauren's images are always stunning (her flat-lays are the best in the biz) and one of my favourite things about her feed is the mix of life, beauty, fashion and food - there's something for everyone and when I'm not getting cruelty-free skincare recommendations, I'm drooling over her latest bake. Gimme.<br />
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8. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lucysheridan/" target="_blank">The Comparison Coach</a><br />
Ever heard the quote "comparison is the thief of joy" and related on such a deep level that your vehement head-nodding makes your hair fall out of its messy bun? Then you're gonna <i>need </i>to start following Lucy Sheridan on the old 'gram, who posts "daily expert advice to help you find your own peace and go after your own success". If you often find yourself mindlessly scrolling and finding nothing of inspiration in your feed, Lucy'll swoop in with some insightful, wise and positive words that are guaranteed to brighten your day and bring a calmer mindset your way! I've learnt a lot from her about how fruitless comparison is and the power that comes with truly accepting yourself.<br />
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9. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jakegallagherhair/" target="_blank">Jake Gallagher Hair</a><br />
Hair extraordinaire and extremely lovely human being, Jake is the man who sat me down in his chair in 2015 and transformed my previously self-dyed locks from what I <i>thought </i>was platinum to what's <i>actually </i>platinum, giving me such new-found confidence through my 'do. Absolutely the coolest and most fashionable person I know, Jake's feed is a constant stream of inspiration and art and creativity. He's currently on tour with Lily Allen: together they've been serving looks left, right and centre, all of which I've been double-tapping and "yaaas"-ing at, whilst my own hair is in the same mediocre topknot that it always is, of course. Follow for insane outfits and fire hairstyles!<br />
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10. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bodyposipanda/" target="_blank">Body Posi Panda</a><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Without a doubt the most empowering person I've come across online (and in real-life on the night we both picked up our InStyle Project 13 Awards, yay!) is Megan Jayne Crabbe. Her bravery in sharing her own story to help others is something of beauty and her message is always one of inclusion and love regardless of gender, race, weight, sexuality, mental illness, or anything about a person that society has deemed 'not enough'. We need more people like Megan in the world and following her on Instagram is a start, because the positive ripple effect that grows from seeing posts that tackle fatphobia, prove that anxiety doesn't equal worthlessness, encourage self-love, dismantle everyday sexism and celebrate <u>all</u> bodies is really important and necessary. She's also simply delightful and rocks a pink sequin dress!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm always on the lookout for new people whose social media presence I can fall in love with and follow religiously, so please let me know who I need to check out next! I hope you follow all ten of these wonderful accounts and end up loving them just as much as I do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.micolet.co.uk/tops-women/topshop/704216-pink-sweatshirt" target="_blank">Jumper</a> | <a href="https://rstyle.me/n/ddp9deb3g2f" target="_blank">Earrings</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Photos by <a href="https://www.meganduffield.com/" target="_blank">Megan Duffield Photography</a></span>Meg Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05020262044885103695noreply@blogger.com0