sunday sound #8

something for a friday #5 fyi - the thing about distance

The thing about distance is this. 

You miss out. You miss out on the celebrations and the happiness shared between family and friends. And unfortunately you miss out on the momentous occasions that would otherwise shape your life. Distance means the emotions you would have so easily expressed become a little more complex as the time zones and climates colide. 

And thats exactly where I find myself now. 

Waiting in the airport for an unexpected and unplanned trip home; all the emotions about to explode in my brain as the reality of getting on a plane hits. Something has shaped my life and I have yet to realise it's full impact until I step foot on home soil and smell the air of London. A bit cryptic I know, but all you really need to know is that the blog will fall quiet for another week. When I return there will no doubt be stories of adventures had. 

To be continued...

midweek mix 20/02/2013

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mascara loyalty

I remember the first time I used the Bad Gal mascara from Benefit. It was one of those lightbulb moments where all other mascaras disappeared from my memory and life became a better place as I held the little tube of lash magic in my hand.

Ok, maybe that was a bit dramatic of me. But me and Bad Gal mascara have been through many a tube together and have developed a somewhat love love relationship; I love it and it seems to love my lashes.

It has the power to thicken, lenghten and volumise like no other mascara I have tried. And I dont end up with thicky, clumpy lashes after more than one coat. As a person who doesnt go anywhere without their mascara, this little tube makes my day a little bit easier.



The only other thing that has come close is a Rimmel mascara, which is the end of the month-cant afford benefit-need a new mascara-go-to-product.



sunday sound #7

something for a friday #4

I have made some great friends in Cyprus. They have been the most supportive, honest and trustworthy gals I could have ever hoped to meet. And of course they have a little craziness thrown in for good measure.
So it's Friday.
And it's time to let our hair down.
Celebrate a wonderful friends birthday.
With good music.
Friends.
And our pal Jack Daniels.
And if you want further explanation concerning the craziness, it goes something like this...

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the fear of love

Valentines day. A day of romantic gestures, celebration of love and expression of emotion. It's funny how fear and love go hand in hand. Fear of not being loved. Fear of being alone. Fear of the unknown.

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midweek mix 13/02/2013

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guest post // with vanessa chloes world

I am pleased to shout about my 2nd guest post in as many weeks; these ladies are really helping me out since my laptop situation went from bad to worst and im lucky if I get some internet time each day (my goodness I miss pinterest and my bloglovin reader has gone through the roof - there is no way im ever going to be able to catch up!). Today it's Vanessa who I met through the Better Blogger Network. She blogs over at Vanessa Chloes World. and has been kind enough to share her thoughts on long distance relationships as she prepares to enter one. 

Long Distance Relationships #2

EMBARKING ON A LDR - I came to university knowing that I would work hard to build a strong and unique degree in History, Archaeology, and Heritage BA to achieve my ultimate goals in life. This is me:

Spot the map in the background? I've had that for as long as I can remember, and I know without a doubt that I would make the most of my university debt and take the opportunity to do a free year abroad to continue my studies. 

So university came around quick, and I am now in my Second year, and this very morning I receive an email asking for my passport details, as Maastricht University in the Netherlands has been asking for them, all in preparation for starting a years worth of European Studies in September. 

I jump for my passport left on the bedside table along with a guide book to Europe, and as I do it I accidentally nudge a lump in my bed. He mumbles something, and turns over to continue his peaceful sleep. This is the part of university that I did not expect. 

Within the very first two weeks of university I get my very first boyfriend. It is a shock to anyone who knows me, as I had always had an interest in furthering my own knowledge over boyfriends any day, but when I see this person on the very first day of university I know that I want to be with him. 

One and a half years later and here we are, he is my best friend and my biggest support in life. There is so much in my life that I would not have coped with if he wasn't there, and I truly credit him for shaping me into the happy person that I am today.

So how will this change when we spend one year apart? Not only will I lack a boyfriend to go to when I have difficulties adapting to a new country but I will also be missing my best friend; the person who seems to know every joke to make me feel better. 

I am truly going to miss this man, but other than knowing that I will miss him I feel nothing at all. I don't feel like our relationship will be ruined: I trust him full stop, if anything the space will probably make us appreciate each other more. And we both know communication is key, and I know that we will never run out of things to talk about, where there is a will there is a way! Knowing that improving my CV in turn leads to better things for the future means a better future for us both, and a future together is our mutual aim.

He admits that it is getting harder and harder to positively encourage me to go, but he knows that it is going to be a brilliant experience for myself. My boyfriend may have changed my aim for the future, but it has not stopped me from taking a leap into the wider world, and I don't think that people heading into LDR's should be put off from bad stories, if you have the three basic foundations to any relationship – trust, communication, mutual goals – then I don't believe there is room for doubt!

I also look to history for a final word of inspiration, “where there is a will there is a way”:

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Visit me at vanessachloesworld.blogspot.co.uk, Vanessachloesworld records life, travels, and interests of a girl from Newcastle who moved to Wales for university to build a career in History. Current content includes photography from European travels, beauty products, and lots of pizza.

defensive lip care

The in between weather of Cyprus, is officially casuing havoc with my skin and lips. Technically it is winter; the air is colder, a bit damp and there is often a light wind. Mix this with the warm afternoon sunshine and my lips are feeling dry and lacking moisture.

That's where Inglot's Lip Defence Treatment comes in, combining protection, moisture, rescue and shimmer into one great lip product.

A brand, although stocked in the UK, I had never come across until my wonderful friend returned from Poland with it in her suitcase, knowing my love for lip balms, I was of course the recipient. It has a really thick consistency, almost like a gloss, that melts onto lips and covers and offers a great level of moisture.

 
 

It has spf 25 which is pretty high for a beauty product, but the protection it offers is great, especially considering the strength of the Cyprus sunshine, even in the afternoon. And lets not forget the cosmetic appeal; with its glossy sheen and nude undertones, you can wear it alone to add a bit of warmth to your lips or pop it over a nude lipstick for a glossier look. It's a multi purpose product that works hard to earn its name. 

And it has a gorgeous smell, almost a peach and cream flavour. And smell is a big thing when it comes to my lip balm choices! 

Visit the Inglot website here for more of their products.

sunday sound #6

mideweek mix 06/02/2013

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making chocolate (the fun way)

It would be no suprise to hear I have a sweet tooth. Well evidently I like food the amount of food talk that goes on around here. But when it comes to chocolate, there's no holding back.

In an effort to eat chocolate responsibly, it was decided (by my friend) that we should create our own dark chocolate creations to nibble on all afternoon in the office. And thats how these little blobs of dark chocolate, fruity, nutty goodness came about.

 

Dark lindt chocolate, with almonds cranberries and goji berries. Lets just say they didnt last long. 

(and I know we didnt actually make any chocolate, rather we just assembled it, but honestly, domestic goddess status is really not that great anway).

guest post // with the girl named pearl

This little guest post was planned a while ago when I fell in love with Judy and her love story. I became an overnight follower and knew instantly I wanted her involved in my ponderings about long distance relationships (of which more will follow). But with the laptop giving up life on me, we got a bit delayed. Finally we made it and as my first guest post on the blog, im excited and nervous all at the same time, to hand over the reigns.

Long Distance Relationships #1

Hello! My name is Judy, but sometimes people call me Pearl (usually the older folks in my family). I
write about things that I find interesting in life on my blog The Girl Named Pearl, which 
is usually full of photographs, details of my travels and projects that I quickly start and slowly finish.
 I’m currently engaged to the love of my life, who I tenderly refer to as the Polish boy, as we live two 
thousand miles apart from one another and I chronicle some of the difficulties with being in a long 
distance relationship.



If you asked me what I thought about long distance relationships, I would say that long distance
 relationships can be summed up in two words --- they suck. When I’m creative, I usually add a “really” in 
there and call it a day. By now, I’ve become inured to those pitiful looks I receive when I answer people’s
 questions about my dating life and relationship status. People either get them or they don’t. Those who
 understand long distance relationships know the difficulty in spending lengthy periods of time without
 physical contact from their loved ones. Those who don’t will rely on a list of preconceived notions of
 what they believe long distance relationships to be, but unfortunately they too know that most long
 distance relationships end up falling apart and that happily ever after is a rarity that fades away with 
time.



Being in a long distance relationship has meant that, for the unspecified amount of time being, I’m not
 able to look forward to seeing the love of my life on a daily basis. It has meant that adventures are put
 off because I’m missing my partner in crime. There are many a lonely night eating dinner by yourself, 
and when you need a hug from the one person who could dispel so much of the pain with just their
 presence and touch, it never comes. It means saving vacation time, costly plane rides and short stays
 that usually end in heartbreaking goodbyes.



Long distance relationships are without a doubt difficult, but coping is as much the mind as it is the heart.
 The one redeeming thing about a long distance relationship is the fact that love is there, and as long as 
you have that, everything else is a minor setback and every day is a day closer to when we can finally 
be together. Because to endure means that a relationship, even in limited capacity, is better than losing 
that relationship all together.



When I’m asked why I even entertained the idea of a long distance relationship, I will be honest and tell
 you that at first I cried that ugly cry you don’t want anyone to see and then got very angry. Afterwards, I
 started to see the positives although the negatives were certainly still there. “Why?” people would ask and I would simply reply “because he’s the love of my life.” There is no stronger reason for it.



Are there any benefits to having a long distance relationship? Well sure --- it’s not like one of us moved
 away because we wanted to be somewhere else. Many situations force people to relocate themselves
 unwillingly, be it for a job or education. I happen to believe that things happen for a reason. By being 
apart, we are offered the opportunity to strengthen our love despite the distance.
 

These relationships 
test us and refuse give us what we want immediately in order to prove ourselves worthy --- if we wait, if
 we’re diligent, it will come to us in the end.

cleanse and polish

Aside from my love of food, I love beauty products. And its a love that grows on a daily basis -I blame the whole host of beauty blogs filling up my blog lovin news feed.

I picked up the limited edition Liz Earle cleanse and polish a few months ago and have been hooked on this beautiful creamy lotion ever since. I was introduced to Liz Earle via a number of wonderful beauty blogs, and the cleanse and polish being my first ever purchase. I opted for the limited edition one becuase I was lured in by the promise of rose and lavender smells every time I cleansed my face. 

The cleanse and polish hot cloth cleanser (available here) is a one stop cleansing shop thrown in a bottle. It's designed for every age, every skin type, providing a sensative by effect approach to a fresh face. 

"Our plant-based cleanser has a two-phase action. Phase one is the cleansing. Free from mineral oil, it has a rich and creamy texture and swiftly removes all traces of face and eye make up, even stubborn mascara.

Phase two is the polishing. Polish off the cream using the pure muslin cloth to gently dislodge dead skin cells and help reveal clean, soft and radiant skin."

After about 1 month, I am totally won over by this cult product and with the Liz Earle brand. The cleanser is soft and creamy, removes my makeup effortlessly and leaves my skin feeling clean, healthy and soft. I think it is one of those products that once you start, you will never stop using.

The other great thing about this product is the variety of options available; if you want to try it out you can opt for the starter kit, hooked already and need a supply? Take the large tube or pump bottle depending on your bottle preference and they have travelling covered too with their small tube and muslin cloth kit.

Im no beauty expert and while I like to pamper, I need simple, easy and effortless skincare. If thats your style, definitely check out Liz Earle.

sunday sound #5

who wants a burger?

Thursday night saw me drowning my sorrows in a huge homemade burger, with cheese, happily sitting between a brioche bun. Topped off with a home made fries with parmesan and a fantastic creamy mayo, mustard garlic type sauce thing that blew my mind. It was a good way to end an otherwise horrendous day. 

The venue for said experience; Limoncello. 

A new little foodie haven tucked into Ayios Antonios marketplace in Nicosia, this deli by day, restaurant by night, oozes comfort. With its chunky wooden tables and benches, lanterns and aromas leaking from the open plan kitchen, it feels like you about to tuck into dinner in your friends kitchen.

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The menu is compact - offering quality dishes instead of huge quantaties of rubbish ones. The gorgonzolla flatbread was amazing and we all know how I felt about the burger. Im sure I can still taste the roasted sweet onion relish in my mouth. 

And since the prices are reasonable and the service fantastic, next time your in Nicosia looking for a relaxed little eatery, you know where to go.

something for a friday #3

It's been nearly two weeks without regular access to a laptop and thus the internet and thus the outside world. Part of me has become used to this no-internet lifestyle and part of me yearns for hours of pinterest, blogging and wishful online shopping. 

Unfortunately it seems the damage to said laptop is more severe and requires a whole new battery.

However, the sun is shining. 

It is Friday. 

And I have developed a deep connection with my Kindle that I feel will be unbreakable. 

Every cloud has a silver lining.