Mango + Raspberry Smoothie Bowl

Hey! How's it going? The weather here is ridiculous, one week we had like eighty bush fires and the state was covered in smoke, then this week there have been massive downpours and flooding. So yeah, Tasmania is bat shit cray at the moment. 

Thankfully Australia Day was between the two, post smoke, pre rain, so we were able to listen to Triple J's Hottest 100 in peace. If you didn't already know Hoops by the Rubens made it to no.1, which is pretty cool as they're Australian. 

So this past week I've been back on the smoothie breakfast bowl train. I love experimenting with smoothies and making new ones with whatever fruit I have at the time. Most of the time they work and taste delicious although sometimes I don't exactly produce the goods.

 But the other day I struck smoothie gold and produced this pretty and delicious creation and of course I just had to share. There is just something so good about starting the day with a smoothie it's just so energising and such a positive way to start the day.

B L E N D

2 big spoonfuls of greek yogurt

1/2 a mango, chopped

1 cup of raspberries, fresh or frozen

1/2 an avocado 

1/2 cup of water 

T O P /  W I T H 

1/4 of a pomegranate seeds

A handful of blueberries

Chia Seeds 

Hope this gives you some smoothie inspo. You can check out some of my other smoothie recipes here and here. Let me know in the comments what gets you energised in the morning! Would love to here you thoughts. 

Love Rach, xx 

Homemade Raspberry Lemonade ✖️

When I was a kid making lemonade was always so exciting, i don't know why but it was always just so much fun and made me feel a little old fashioned. Let's be real, who doesn't love the idea of a cool jug of freshly squeezed lemonade. This recipe creates a fresh and zesty drink that will slowly turn from yellow to soft pink. I was sipping on a couple on these and some cranberry mocktails on Australia Day and it was the perfect beverage for the warm weather. Also, it just looks soo pretty and who doesn't love a pretty drink! x  

Anyway, here is what you'll need...

✖️ 400g of Lemons, washed 

✖️ 2 cups of Water

✖️ 2-3 Tbs of Coconut Sugar

✖️ Raspberries 

✖️ Sparkling Water

✖️ Ice

✖️ Lemon to Decorate 

...AND here is how to make it;

✖️ In a blender, blend the lemons (whole), the still water and the coconut sugar together for a couple of minutes, or until smoothish.

✖️ Then strain the puree until all the juice has been removed from the pulp. 

✖️ Fill a glass a quarter of the way with the juice and add ice, a handful of raspberries and top with sparkling water. 

✖️ Then you can decorate glass with a slice of lemon, a paper umbrella and a straw. Or don't, it's up to you x 

✖️ Hope you love it! ✖️

5 Ways to De-Stress During Work

Hey guys, so today I want to talk about stress. I had a pretty stressful day at work earlier this week and I don't know about you but while it's happening, I can normally manage the situation. I just focus on what needs to be done and don't really let myself feel the stress until after. I am a waitress in a cafe and so normally when I get stressed at work it's cause it's super busy and we're understaffed, or something has broken down, or it's just really really busy.

Anyway, after it has calmed down, that's when I normally start to feel it. All the stress from the last two hours hits me and I just feel exhausted and emotionally drained. Anyone else do this?

Well here is how I recover so I can get back into it for the rest of the day.

Drink Some Water

Drinking water always helps calm me down, especially when I've forgotten to drink something for the last two hours because I've been to focused on work. Drinking water helps you relax and often clears the mind and obviously rehydrates you. You might feel thirsty, but you probably are. So drink some water and try to remember to keep drinking for the rest of the day.

Eat Something 

I rarely feel hungry at work until it's like 3pm and suddenly I'm starving and I realise I haven't had anything to eat since 8am. You feel me? Anyway, we all know food gives us energy and when your stressed you can use all the energy you can get. Even if you only have time to eat a piece of fruit or some nuts, it will help you feel more focused and less like you want to crawl into bed and sleep for a year.

Walk Around

This one is more for people in office jobs. I have worked in a reception and I know it can start to feel very confining sitting at a desk. Instead of emailing or calling the person two offices away, get up and go talk to them, or go and fill up your drink bottle even though it's only half empty. Just find some excuse to get out of you little zone, stretch your legs and clear you head. One of my teachers used to tell us to wiggle our toes during exams to increase circulation to help us think better. So if you can't leave your desks at least wiggle your toes.

Go Outside

Getting fresh air is so good. Like there's a reason the dramatic girls in movies always say, "I need some fresh air" halfway through a confronting conversation. That shit helps you think. I'm currently writing this outside, cause there are always so many distractions inside. Like at work there's always customers, or phones or emails, coffees to make. If you can take a minute to go outside, do it. I always volunteer to do jobs that will take me outside at work, like clearing/cleaning outdoor tables, watering the plants or something along those lines. Being in the fresh air makes always make me happier and replaces the stress.

Ask For Help + Accept it

If shit is getting hectic, ask for help or accept it when people offer it. I know you might want to do everything yourself, or you don't want to trouble people by asking for their help, but get over yourself and be humble. You will be happier for it later. Also be grateful for it and toward the people helping, positive emotions will help you feel less shitty.

Hope some of this helped you, I know doing these things always help me when I'm feeling stressed. Anyone have any de-stress tips, cause I'd love to hear them! 

Love Rach xx

A Little Black Dress To Save The Day ✖️

Laura V-Neck Lace Wrap Dress - Forever New 

Hey everyone! Whose started back at work or school? I finally got round to enrolling in uni and it was ridiculously confusing. Hopefully my study won't be as confusing as the website hah!

So one of my BFF's, Georgia, got married in Hobart this week and the wedding was so exciting, cute and relaxed. The ceremony took place on a beach and the reception was at a nearby beachfront restaurant, and it was such a good day, Georgia looked AH-mazing! (DUH) 

Squad pic with the bride. I blame the wind for my bad hair hah!

So up top is the dress I wore to the wedding, but it wasn't my original dress, cause like an hour and a half before the ceremony was to begin, I may have accidentally broken my dress + gotten bright pink lipstick on it and I didn't have a back up. So yeah. That Happened. 

Anyway my bro drove me into town and I got this dress from Forever New. I had actually tried it on the week before for fun, so I knew it suited me, plus it went with my shoes (gotta love black heels!). I think I would've cried (again) if they didn't have my size... lol! 

But they did and literally everything else went perfectly! Seriously though, it was such a good day. 

Ye Old Pier

For the rest of the week I've been chilling at the beach, the weather has been insanely good. I've been filling my days with bike riding, kayaking, swimming and jumping off jetty's. Oh, and eating frosty fruits, lots and lots of frosty fruits (they're an icy pole BTW or an ice lolly if you're weird). They kinda taste like frozen orange and passionfruit J2O's if your from England and they are amazing and defiantly not sugar free ha! 

Chuck Tailor All Star Dainty Ox Leather - The Iconic

I also received these Connies in the mail this week and I'm in love with them, so, yeah...

Anyways, hope you are all enjoying the summer or winter months, wherever you are.  

Any of you have crazy wedding stories? Let me know! 

Cya round (though not literally, probably) xx

Where I Went | 2015

Rome

For me 2015 was a year where I went places. I went out of my comfort zone, moved to England and  saw a small snippet of our beautiful world. This year was challenging at times, but through it I think I grew up a little and made so many great new friends. 

When I moved to England I got a job in a little village called Longworth, just outside of Oxford. From there I saw a bunch of amazing bands including, The Strokes, The Libertines, The Mini Mansions, Jamie T, Kendrick Lamar, Beck and a few others. 

I was also able to travel around and I went to Brighton, Bath, Manchester, Reading, London (many times), Fort William, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Paris, Annecy, Lyon, Nice and Rome. 

I feel incredibly blessed to have been able to experience all this and see the places and things that I have. 

The Promenade, Nice

The Best Gelato in Roma

The Colosseum, Rome

Rome

The Port, Nice 

Across from the Louvre, Paris

Paris, Duh!

More Paris 

Edinburgh

Eileen Donan Castle, Scotland

Glen Etive, Scotland

The Libertines, Reading Festival

The Mini Mansions, Reading Festival

It's obvs London

O X F O R D 

Brighton Promenade 

Bath 

The Lanes, Brighton

Beck (waiting for The Strokes), Hyde Park

The Bridge of Sighs, Oxford

Lake Annecy

Lyon

Bath

Camden Markets

The Old Town, Annecy 

I know this might seem a bit like I'm bragging, but I want to go into 2016 feeling happy about how 2015 went. I want to remind myself to be grateful about all the amazing things that happened this year, because I think that I often get caught up in the day to day nuisances and let them affect my mood too much. I forget to look at the big picture and remember that 2015 was actually pretty rad.

My Skincare Secrets ➳

Hello lovelies! Hope everyone had a good Christmas, hope you all had a delicious Christmas meal and had a great time with family and friends. My whole family worked for most of Christmas day, but we still had fun and it was still quite special.
With the New Year coming up fast we all want the perfect make up look, so we can start 2016 looking fierce. We all know that the best way to perfect your makeup look is to have a great base, that means smooth, clean skin.
Everyone has their own little tips and tricks to obtain and maintain their skin so I thought it was about time to share mine.

First of all, I'm pretty proud of my skin, sure it might be normal for me to have one pimple somewhere on my face, but you know what, that's just normal for my skin type. I have normal to oily skin, but by cleansing and moisturising on a regular basis I am able to keep it smooth and balanced. Because of this my skin generally looks clear and isn't blotchy in colour. 

Now, I've been more or less using the same products on my skin since I was about 14. I know a lot of bloggers are always talking about what their current favourite moisturiser, cleanser or exfoliant is, but I figure that if I have found a product/brand that works for my skin then why should I change it? 

So most of my products are from the brand Alpha H, but I also one from the body shop. Theses are my staple products;

➳ Triple Action Cleanser with Thyme 

(I've also used their balancing Cleanser in the past, but this one works better on my skin).

➳ Balancing Moisturiser and Gentle Exfoliant 

➳ Gentle Daily Exfoliant with Papaya & Pineapple 

➳ Balancing and Pore Refining Mask with Jojoba Oil

➳  Elderflower Cooling Eye Gel 

My Daily routine is to cleanse and moisturise my skin twice a day, once in the morning and once before bed. I also use the Gentle Daily Exfoliant in the morning before moisturising, but I've currently run out and am yet to restock. I find that the exfoliant is great at making my skin look clearer but isn't totally necessary for obtaining nice looking, smooth skin.
After moisturising I apply the eye gel which helps brighten under the eyes, reduce puffiness/redness and it also just feels so nice and refreshing, especially when I've kept it in a cool place. 

Then once a week (haha, realistically more like once a month. Oops!) I use my mask in the evenings after cleansing. 

On top of this I also try to put my makeup on only right before I actually need to wear it and have at least one day a week where I don't wear makeup. This usually happens on a monday and I like to call it No Makeup Mondays. This allows my skin to breathe and minimises the damage caused by makeup. 

One other tip I have is to pay attention to what your skin reacts to. For example, Nutella, as delicious as it is, causes my skin to break out so I avoid eating it except for on special occasions. If you have a break out, take note of what you had been eating and work out what might've caused your skin to become unbalanced. 

On the subject of food, there are lot's foods and drinks that help to make you skin glow such as tomato's, oatmeal, pomegranate's, green tea and most importantly, water. Drink lots and lots of water to hydrate your skin!
Another really simple trick we all should know, is to frequently clean your makeup brushes. Makeup brushes are great at collecting bacteria and I try to wash mine every 1-2 weeks with baby shampoo and lukewarm water. Your makeup will be easier to apply if you do this as well.

I believe that all you need is a balanced diet and a good routine for your skin to look amazing!
Let me know about your favourite tips and tricks in the comments below! xx 

What I'm Grateful for this Christmas | Blogmas Day 17

Hello lovelies! I know New Year's or Thanksgiving is traditionally the time when you reflect and think about what you're thankful for, but I think Christmas time is also the perfect time for this. Many of us are surrounded by so much love, joy and generosity at this time of the year, it's hard not to feel a little warm and fuzzy on the inside. 

Anyway, I thought I'd share with you what I'm grateful for this Christmas.

 I don't do this to show how much I have, but to humble myself and honour those around me, I think we often forget to stop and say THANK YOU!

 I also think that positivity isn't shared enough, we tend to take the little things for granted and forget to appreciate them. 

SO thats what were gonna do today. Yes I say we, not me. I want you to come up with a list of you own and post it on your own blog, or in the comments below or just on a piece of paper. Just let me know you've done it in the comments, and I'll be sure to read what you have to say if you put it online. xx 

One | Family

I love my family so much and I love that they are people who I can talk with. They are people that tell me if I'm being an idiot, or if I'm wrong, they will tell me when I've done good and they will always encourage me. They help me be a better version of my self and to be more patient. I couldn't of gone to England for six months if it weren't for their support and their encouragement to be brave. 

I love the way they love each other, their friends and the community, it's inspiring to watch and I do my best to follow their lead. My whole family works so hard, much harder than I, and it constantly humbles me and makes me realise how resiliant they all are. So to my family, you know who you are, I just want to say thank you. Thank you for teaching me how to be an adequate adult.

Two | Friends

I have a lot of friends that I don't get to see very often. Some are in England pouring pints, some are in Melbourne studying and some are in New Zealand for love and work. I then have a few friends that I get to see all the time, but regardless of where they are, these people are still my friends and I love that we were able to remain so, even through the distance. All my friends are quite different to each other, but all of them challenge me (and each other) to grow, be better and to chase our dreams. They are all people I want to know for my whole life and I love that distance doesn't matter. They are all so funny, kind, strong and intelligent, and I can't thank them enough for being my friend, and being in my life, even when I'm being moody or irritating. Love you all to the moon and back! 

Three | Generosity

I am thankful for the generosity of other people and that I have the resources to be generous. I love the generosity that comes at christmas time and how it can come in so many shapes and forms. It can be by giving a gift to a someone, or donating gifts/money. It can be donating your time to helping others, or it can just be by doing something kind for someone. I love that generosity comes from the heart and isn't exclusive to people with money. Generosity isn't measured by the size of your gesture but by how much you give from your heart. It's a bit hard to measure, but it's the best way to. So to everyone who has given from their heart this christmas, I want to say thank you, your kindness makes the world a better place. 

Four | Grace

I think that grace is something that is massively under appreciated. If you think about it, if there was no grace there would be no forgiveness. Grace is something that people don't deserve, but is given anyway. Often people talk about how life is unfair, but if life was fair then people wouldn't be gracious and forgiving. So I'm thankful for God sending down his only son, Jesus, so that he could die and we could be forgiven for all bad things we do. I'm thankful that through the grace of Jesus I can have an eternal life in heaven after I die, even though I don't deserve it. Thank you. 

Five | Christmas

I am grateful that this holiday exists and that the reasoning behind it is still alive today. I'm grateful that the story of Jesus spread and is still real. I love everything that christmas represents, from the birth of Jesus that brought hope, to the time spent with friends and family and to the generosity and sense of community that's spread throughout this time. I am thankful that so many people celebrate christmas and that it is so universal in its philosophy of love. I am thankful for the christmas movies, the food I get to enjoy and the presents that have been so thoughtfully given to me. Thank you Christmas for existing.

Also thank you to anyone who read this post, I know it's kinda long and even if you just skimmed through it, thank you for sorta reading haha. Please please please let me know what your thankful for, it makes me feel so warm and fuzzy seeing other people being positive! 

Hope you're enjoying December so far, only eight days to go! 

Lots of love, 

Rach xx