Happy Hump Day %

Very true....sending a quick bit of love to my dear friends all over the world! Thank you for your continued love & support. Happy Hump Day everyone! Hope the start of your week (and year!) has been FANTASTIC so far! xoxo

Reveal a radiant complexion & not last night’s secrets..

During the holiday party seasons there's one multi-tasking beauty essential that every girl needs: a good make up remover & cleansing cream! I recently received the Pond's Cold Cream Cleanser in my letter box and thought the holiday season would be a perfect time to try it out. 

What they say: "Removing all traces of makeup, even the most stubborn lashings of mascara, Cold Cream Cleanser also deeply cleanses skin to reveal a radiant complexion, and can be used as a nourishing face mask to add some extra moisture to tired, dehydrated skin."

Pond's Cold Cream has been around for centuries & I know many people that swear by it, but I'd never tried it before. I have got to say, I can see why it's so popular. I liked using this product over the holiday season and with the cold harsh winter weather my skin could use the extra moisturising!

♥ How to use this product?
Simply apply product by massaging it onto your skin and then wipe it off using a cotton pad or warm face cloth.

♥ Pro's

Cleanses without drying out your skin. Really liked how soft and hydrated my skin felt afterwards!

Does great job of removing all make-up, even waterproof mascara.

Non greasy & suitable for all skin types

Good price (only £3.99 for 50ml, which will last you ages!)

♥ Con's

Packaging - think it would be better if it wasn't supplied in a pot but maybe a pump option for hygiene reasons.

Normally I use simple makeup wipes to remove my make-up & do find that they are a bit faster and easier to use. But then again, they don't leave your skin feeling as soft and moisturised afterwards...

Oh plus if it's good enough for Kylie Minogue!! (read here)  Then it's definitely good enough for me ;)

Pond’s is available at most drugstores or online at http://www.boots.com/ 

*The small print: PR sample 

River Island Shopping Haul

Before Christmas I did some shopping in London at River Island to get some nice cosy winter casual outfits. These are the items I ended up buying:

Brown Cowl Neck Dress (it has 22% angora wool in it which makes it super soft, warm & comfy!) 

You can get it online here for £39.99. 

Wearing it with simple black leggings and my Hunter Regent Savoy Wellington's. 

Soft pink long slouchy cardigan with pockets.

 Jeans by ZARA and white top as below.

Left: Black cotton asymmetric frill scoop top - get it here for £10.99

Right: White cotton button shoulder long sleeve top - get it here for £10.99

Have you done any shopping at River Island recently? I really like their clothes & love their jeans! :)

Today I went to the movie 'Love & Other Drugs' with Jake Gyllenhaal in it. Swoon...he is just TOO  charming and handsome. It's quite a nice love story, a bit more serious than I was expecting but did enjoy it! Would definitely recommend it for a girly day out :) Only 1 more day of holidays and then back to work. Hope you are all enjoying your last few days of holidays xoxo

What I love about NY Eve?$

Hi darlings! 

Well, there are two main things I love about New Years Eve!

1) Oliebollen! 

You might think, huh what on earth is that? Well, oliebollen are small round Dutch doughnuts. They are a traditional food to serve on New Year's Eve in Holland. The name of these tasty treats literally translates to "oil balls." But don't let this unappetizing name fool you, Oliebollen are truly delicious!! They are made by using two spoons to scoop dough and dropping it into a deep fryer filled with hot oil. So a round shaped “oliebol” emerges. In December many 'Oliebollen' stands appear around the country, selling the freshly baked warm doughnuts. A national newspaper even runs a yearly nation wide test that scores the many stands to find where you can buy the best Oliebol for that year! :) This is me and mum enjoying an oliebol in the city of Haarlem a few days ago!

Yesterday on my last day back home, dad & I made fresh homemade 'Oliebollen'. I think I ate about 5 of them, uh-oh ;) In Holland a lot of people make them from the packet because it's so quick and easy! So yes, I admit it, we cheated too and used a packet! All we had to add was water, the raisins and currents and let the dough rise. Then we fried them up in hot oil.....Check out the finished result:

If you want to make these (you know you want to & trust me, you won't regret it!) here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

500 grams flour

25 grams yeast

350 ml milk

250 grams (in total) of currants and raisins

Pinch of salt

Oil for deep-frying (use fresh vegetable/sunflower oil)

Method:

Put the flour in a bowl and make a depression in the centre. Pour in the yeast, which has been dissolved with a little lukewarm milk. Add the remaining milk, salt and stir. Stir the washed currants and raisins into the mix. Beat it to a smooth and airy mass, cover with a damp cloth (eg, a tea towel) and leave to rise in a warm/draft free place/room around 45min to one hour.

Heat the oil in a deep pan or in a deep fryer to 175 degrees C (= 350 degrees F). To check whether the oil is at the right temperature, stand the handle of a wooden spoon in the oil. If little bubbles form around it, the oil is ready. Use two tablespoons or an ice-cream scoop to shape balls and slide them into the hot oil. Fry the balls until they are golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. They should turn over on their own when they are ready to brown on the other side, but keep an eye on them and flip them as necessary. They should be soft and not oil soaked inside. Remove them from the oil with a slotted spoon or similar tool to a paper towel lined plate and repeat with the remaining dough. Serve them warm with a generous dusting of icing sugar! Yummmmmm

2) Celebrating a new start! 

I always see the New Year as a great opportunity to set new goals and resolutions for myself :)

Some of my News Years Resolutions for 2011 are:

♥ Planning more fun travel trips now that I am back in Europe
♥ Start exercising again.....
♥ Making new friends in London 

♥ Not being too hard on myself sometimes; allowing myself to relax & enjoy life a little more!
♥ Finding love?
♥ But most of all....

Here's wishing you more happiness 

Than all my words can tell, 

Not just alone for New Years Eve

But for all the year as well! 

xoxo Roz