Papaya

Hello.

In my chocolate alternative post I talked about my family trying a new fruit each week. Well, this week was the turn of the Papaya fruit.

Pictured above, I had high hopes for it because it looked like it would be sweet and certainly juicy. Well...It was juicy...but as for the flavouring...what flavour? My dad couldn't taste a thing lol.

For me, it tasted pretty bland and reminded me of some fish food I used to feed to my pet goldfish! No I never ate the fish food but the papaya tasted what the flakes smelt like, if that even makes sense?!

I guess we should have done our homework a bit first. My mum tried one of the seeds and got a very bitter shock and  no wonder...According to Wikipedia, the seeds can make a good substitute for black pepper! Haha!

Although the fruit is generally eaten raw, it can be cooked and supposedly used in curries, salads and stews. So, hardly the type of fruit to expect sweet things from! Perhaps similar to a tomato in this respect...although I reckon most tomatoes are sweeter tbh!

All in all...for me this is not a winner. I do like this 'try a new fruit each week' thing though...I might just try and continue it when I'm back at Uni :)

It seems papaya leaves a bit of an aftertaste...again reminiscent of fish food!...Going to grab a drink :/ ...Bleurgh!

NOTD: Barry M & Andrea Fulerton

Hello!

So, I found a couple of nail polishes stashed away in a vanity case that I'd completely forgotten about! Not sure how...but I feel like I've got new stuff! :)

Barry M: 167 Lavender Blue. I immediately liked this colour and it has a nice shimmer to it. The purpley-grey shade is a winner in my opinion, so I chose to paint the majority of my nails with this. I applied two coats to give the colour payoff in the picture. 

Barry M: 166 Orchid. As I had also stumbled across this polish, I was keen to use them both so I decided to use this lovely shimmery pink shade for my accented nails. Again I applied two coat.

I must say the Barry M polishes applied like a dream...some of the best ones I've used! I love how the formula is quite thin, yet not runny, and this makes application really easy. The varnish literally glides onto the nail and it seemed to be fairly quick drying too! Big thumbs up to Barry M!...Might have to invest in some more of these nail polishes!

Lastly I added a clear topcoat for extra shine and protection, using Andrea Fulerton's Gloss Up Overcoat. Again I'd forgotten about this but I'm a big fan of this brand too...

Petrol in water

Especially the Andrea Fulerton Trios...The one above is my absolute favourite! Look how it turns out when you layer the polishes...

The picture doesn't in fact do the colour the justice it deserves...SO PRETTY! :)

Disappointing Products!

Hello beauties :)

This week is half term in Nottingham, so I left my uni abode and came back to home comforts for a bit! 

And, upon opening up my make-up storage (currently a weird shelved wardrobe thingy magig) I was surprised at how many products I'd left behind, like the 'Renford rejects'...Give me a comment if you remember this classic 90's kid programme! :P

But on closer inspection I realised why they'd been forgotten and thought about how disappointing each of them had been. So, maybe in an attempt to prevent others from suffering the same disappointment I thought I'd share what they were and tell you why I don't like them, or why they aren't worth the money. Of course, it's only my opinions so you can take my advice as you will. With a pinch of salt if you wish? :P

If you'd rather watch me talk about these products click above! But if you fancy a read...scroll on down :)

First up, MAC's Cleanse Off Oil. Yeah, yeah, I know a lot of you might love it, but for me I just can't get on with it! Agreed it does literally 'melt off' your make-up without any effort, but for me it also finds a way into my eyes and temporarily blinds me! No matter how carefully I try to remove my eye make-up, it seeps in somehow. Give me Liz Earle's Cleanse & Polish any day thanks!

Goodbye cellulite?! Hmmm. I'm afraid it's true...I fell for the gimmick. I mean as if there's a product to essentially disguise fat cells?! Sure it gives a nice cooling sensation, application is pleasant, and I suppose it helps to moisturise your skin but hard work and exercise is the only thing I've found works in regards to cellulite. Don't fall for the nice idea like me!

Rimmel's Scandal Eyes Mascara. To be fair I think Rimmel are actually doing a fab job at the moment and are definitely in the running for the best high street/drug store brand imo. But, I guess there's always the odd anomaly or 'blip'. The brush is far too big for my liking and this makes application really difficult and darn right fiddly. I'm not a big fan of the formula either which seems to take ages to dry, but perhaps that's to do with the many a clumps this attracts?! It's cheap and cheerful at £6.99 but nope, it's not for me!

Avon's Colour Trend...eye shadow/liner stick? Had this one a while and only used it once...says a lot really! The quality of the cream shadow and crayon liner just isn't great. It blends...with effort, but there's nothing that nice about it. Just a big thumbs down to be honest!

Nicola Robert's Dainty Doll WHITE Foundation by Jelly Pong Pong. Yep, I guess the shade is enough to put you off, unless of sure you're Snow White. But I thought maybe the idea behind this would be to mix it with those foundations that are perhaps a little too dark for you? Waste not want not and all that. Wrong. In fact this questionable foundation contains serious sparkle! I mean I like a bit of shimmer and all that but not over my entire face! It's just odd. Enough said. 

Laura Mercier's eye lash curlers. I'd say be aware of these. Sure the design is really cool and you think 'ahh they're so compact and nifty', but they over-curl like a bi-atch. They don't fit my eyes particularly well either and I remember them to be fairly pricey. I'll stick to my bog-standard cheap curlers for now I think!

Lip stains/ lip pen markers. I guess this isn't all that personal to Maybelline's Color Sensational and Max factor's Lipfinity versions, but they dry out so quick! I mean under the month mark. And then you get that scratchy feeling when trying to apply them. I don't think I can warrant the money for just a few week's worth of use. However, I must say the Maybelline one smells absolutely delicious...like summer fruit berries! Yum.  

Max factor's Lipfinity two step duo. I really like the concept of this, with the glossy texture drying quickly. Application is fairly easy and it leaves a nice finish. It seems to withstand perhaps more than many lip products but it's staying power starts to crumble after an hour or two...literally crumble. You're left with a flaky peeling effect that looks to me like you either haven't applied your lipstick well or indeed you have the driest lips ever known...I mean seriously grab yourself a Carmex quick! These aren't personally looks I like to go for, so I'll pass on this. 

And that's a wrap...some of my most disppointing purchases!

Owww stitch!

Hi. So I'm currently in the gym and doing what I usually slate people for doing...playing on my phone!

All was going well until 10 minutes in on the treadmill I started with stitch. No biggie, usually run through it.

Not this time! Chronic stitch, that hurts like a bitch lol. Ever the poet :p Owwww!
So, I did some sit ups and returned to the treadmill. Made it 6 mins in before having to stop my run again! Never had it this bad before :/

So now I've resigned myself to the exercise bike! Which to be honest, I don't overly enjoy. I just want to run but my stupid body won't let me haha. Booo. And now I've become one of those gym folk that 'play at' exercise :(

Any get rid of stitch quick tricks? I usually go with the pushing in the area of stitch with my fist...but that was to no avail today!

Oh well...best get on with my playing...

25 facts about me...

1. I have two sisters, of which I'm the eldest at 23.

2. I'm not a big fan of animals, give me children any day.

3. I make YouTube videos, Ellie1989, and the majority of my family and friends think it's weird. I don't care.

4. I can identify with Peter Pan...Not sure I'll ever grow up!? :)

5. I used to be called a Magpie because from a young age I was attracted to shiny things.

6. When I was 4, I stole my great grandma's ring because it was pretty. I got found out and sent to bed. Oops.

7. Despite drinking it when I go out, I don't particularly like alcohol and could easily be teetotal.

8. I've never had a boyfriend...I'm waiting for the right guy to come along.

9. I've become really good at painting a smile on and acting as if everything's OK, even if it isn't.

10. I lost over 20lbs in 2012.

11. I have a raw meat phobia. I can't handle it, touch it and it sickens me to be near it. However, I am not a vegetarian.

12. Exercise is really important to me. My fave mottos are 'No pain, no gain' and 'Work hard or go home'.

13. I have never taken any drugs, excluding painkillers etc, nor have I ever tried a cigarette. I never intend to.

14. I honestly believe I was addicted to junk food and still have to be careful around it.

15. I have more make-up than I actually need but cannot stop buying it.

16. From the age of about 13 I used to buy a new mobile phone every 6-12 months. Up until I got an iPhone. Apple changed me for the better! :)

17. I went to a stage school for 3 years (15-18yrs) and my dream was to be an actress/singer. That dream still remains but the hope doesn't.

18. I passed my driving test the first time I took it. My dad didn't believe me at first haha.

19. I haven't driven in almost 4 years. This summer I plan to get my first car. I want an automatic because I never enjoyed using the clutch.

20. My favourite holiday was in Florida. That place really is magical.

21. I really dislike chick-flick films, excluding Dirty Dancing as it's a classic. Give me gore and tension with horrors any day!

22. I dyed my hair blonde for 6 years before going back to being a brunette.

23. I'm training to become a primary school teacher.

24. I really like my 4th year student house and housemates...I will be sad to leave. It's the first uni place I've been happy at.

25. I feel like I have the best parents in the world and owe them so much. I'm a very lucky girl and can't wait to be able to treat them when I have a job!


There you go...that's some of me!

Ellie x

Tweet me: @ellie1989

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A chocolate alternative...

Hey again. Can't keep away of late can I! But I've stumbled across something that might be of interest to those of you with a bit of a sweet tooth.

Previous to doing Weight Watcher's, I wasn't someone who was overly mad on chocolate or the likes. I was more of a savory gal. However after enrolling on the plan I somehow started craving sugar, A LOT. I guess I wasn't getting my usual greasy fixes of chips and what not, so sugar became more of a priority?!

I perhaps still can't identify with the major chocoholics of this world, but I am partial to the odd bar or two :)

Weight Watcher's taught me to eat smaller meals but then to treat myself with low cal sweet snacks afterwards...like their mini chocolate cake bites! So, in turn I grew a bit of a sweet tooth and recently I've found it hard to resist buying a chocolate bar after my Uni lunch or snacking on sweet fixes! 

Anyway... the other night, after coming home for half-term, I got given one of these...

Introducing the Sharon fruit!

I don't know about you, but I've never heard of these before! My dad and sister are doing this thing at the moment where each week they are trying a new fruit/vegetable. A good idea actually. Healthy and exciting all in one :)

I've come to love fruit and veg...you can teach yourself, honest! So I was looking forward to giving this a try.

To be honest I wasn't all that sure what to expect. It kind of looks like a cross between a tomato and an orange, but it's skin has a fairly waxy feel about it. 

Following the instructions, you eat it like I would do a kiwi...slice the top off and use a spoon to scoop out the contents. Apparently my sister thought that you ate it like an apple so has been eating skin and all!...She's still here to tell the tale but I personally wouldn't eat the outer shell :P

It's a weird taste to describe but the thing that hit me first was how sweet it was! Literally sweeter than sugar if that is at all possible?! The insides were similar to that of a passion fruit minus the seeds and the texture reminded me of a plum.

Quite an odd but rather enjoyable experience all the same. 

The good thing about this fruit is that it's SO sweet that it literally takes away any chocolate/sweet cravings that you might have had before! Prior to eating this I was considering a bar of Cadbury's, but a couple of spoonfuls into the Sharon fruit and there was no way I wanted chocolate or any dessert whatsoever. You could have put my favourite sponge pudding and custard in front of me and I wouldn't have eaten it! Says a lot, trust me! 

So my advice...if you're struggling to keep your sweet tooth at bay, give a Sharon fruit a try!

Ellie x

Twitter: @ellie1989