Christmas Pamper Session

Hey Guys!
Beccy here, sorry it's been a while, hope you didn't miss me! Miri and I have been very busy lately, now I have a bit of spare time so I'm able to (finally!) post again. we're ready to make another post. So before we begin, I'd just like to say that if you have any suggestions or ideas for a tutorial you want to see, a recipe, or whether you just want to see some posts where we just blabber on about our days (maybe something more personal? Only if you'd like) or even do a Q&A, don't hesitate to let us know, we'd LOVE to hear from you. 

So this is going to be a bit different from the usual posts. I know I always seem to get very stressed around Christmas time and a lot of other people do too. This post is going to tell you what I like to do to relax when everything is just getting a bit much.

When I'm stressed, a piping hot bath always calms me down. Of course, it's no fun if it's crystal clear water, so I like to use bath bombs or bubbles. Lush Cosmetics is my favourite brand, not only do the products look and smell great, but they do no animal testing whatsoever and they use organic, cruelty free ingredients. I like to combine the Christmas pudding bath bomb and the candy mountain bubble bar. Occasionally when I have a particularly bad skin day I use a facemask (I like the honey one from Montagne Jeunesse) I also like to use a sugar scrub on my face which you can make yourself or buy from your local boots or superdrug (if you like I could do a facial scrub recipe?) and finally, I light my favourite candle(s!) (I'm loving Yankee Candles Christmas Cookie!) Once I have my luxuriously extravagant bath set up, I like to grab the book I'm reading, maybe a snack or drink and sit in the tub. This is often the only time I get during the day to be alone and totally relaxed. 

Another thing that always calms me in the hectic holiday season is making lists. To some people that sounds absolutely absurd or bizarre, but to other people (like me!) it's basically a ritual. I make lists on what people want for Christmas, what I want to get them, gifts within my price range, budget lists, stores I need to visit, what I want for Christmas, etc. I don't know why but having a neat stack of perfectly handwritten lists on the desk is just such a good feeling and OH MY GOD WHEN I PRINT SOMETHING THAT DOESNT NEED TO BE PRINTED YET AND ITS SO PERFECT AND SATISFYING. 
I hope that I'm not just a bit weird and that other people understand this too... It just makes me feel like I'm so organised!

Idk if this is another weird thing but I like to like clean my desk and re-organise it and make it all perfect and also vacuum my floor just because it makes me feel more productive.

Do you do any of these things?
Let me know in the comments down below.

Ok so another thing that I don't think is quite as weird as the other things is to make sure you're prepared, ie have various different rolls of wrapping paper and ribbons and bows at hand. 
It's also good to go out and buy some stuff that's a good present for anyone, so like no one in particular in mind so if something comes up or you forget to buy something and you don't have time to go shopping, you can just wrap one of your emergency gifts and ta-da! You're ready!

It's nice to sit by the fire in pjs and cute socks with a warm drink and a good book, but not everyone has those things, so another way to relax at the end of a stressful day is to grab a couple of tasty yet filling snacks and a drink, and cuddle up with some blankets in front of the TV/Netflix. Lord knows how often I do that... 

Whether this blog post helped you or not, I certainly enjoyed writing it and I hope you enjoyed reading it (if you even made it this far...) 

So it's bye for now, and again, sorry it's been so long!

Hugs and kisses, Beccy x

Back to school!

Hey, Beccy here!

So I know not everyone is actually going back to school, so if you aren't, some of these can also just be tips for staying on top of things whether you're at work, or just at home. So, without further ado, let's get this party started!

So tip number one is to buy some cute and colourful new stationary for taking notes! I actually enjoy writing things down when I can colour code it and use my ADORABLE new sharpies! Colour coding also can help you remember things when studying, so it's great for that too. Just make sure your teacher is okay with it before you write in a class work book in coloured marker.

Tip number two is to organise everything in your locker (or whatever space you use to keep everything you need)! You won't need all of your books every single day so don't keep them all in your bag, it's bad for your posture. Also, please don't just shove everything in there and panic when you can't find your history in mount stationary! If your locker is neat and tidy, you will have quick and easy access to any books you may need. I also suggest buying a lock for your locker if your school doesn't provide it. Seriously. You don't want to end up with someone else's half eaten banana in there. It happens.

Tip number three is to work out what you will wear the night before, and not just on the first week. I did this all year last year and trust me, I could have slept in another half hour most days! It's also good to prepare your breakfast the night before, so you can eat it on the go!

The 4th tip is to use apps on your device to help you make flash cards, to translate or to plan. Here are some recommendations for you to check out. (All are free except for "clear")
~ Quizlet (makes flash cards, helps you study
~ MyScript calculator (calculates math problems from handwriting)
~ iTranslate (with over 90 languages, it's sure to help your French)
~ Photomath (take a picture of a maths problem, and it'll solve it for you)
~ Clear (makes lists etc. it's really useful so check it out)
~ myhomework student planner (as the name suggests, it's a planner)
~ 30/30 (helps you allot time for studying and homework)
~ MindSnacks (language app, helps you learn French, Spanish, German,  Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese and Italian, with more to come)

Hope this helps you prepare for the new school year, and remember to study, but don't over work yourself. And remember you don't have to go overboard. You've made it through the year before without help and tips, so just don't stress out.
We wish you the best of luck!

Hugs and kisses, 
Xx Beccy

How to: Organise your wardrobe

Hey Reader/s, 

It's me, Beccy!

The other day I had a MASSIVE clean out of my closet, and when I say massive I mean it was empty and my floor was covered in piles of rubbish. I was (eventually!) able to sort this out though, but it got me thinking that there are some simple way you can save space and also decide what to throw out!

Now, if you're anything like me you have a place in the bottom of your closet or a shelf inside your wardrobe that you just shove anything that you can't be bothered to actually put away. So, I'll help you deal with that first, and in a few simple steps your shelf/bottom of the closet will be spick and span.

Step 1. The first thing you're going to want to do is empty your closet onto your floor. Just all of it. Then you should sort them into 3 piles: A. Keep Pile B. Give Away Pile C. Throw Away Pile. It's pretty self explanitory. Don't keep unnecessary things, only things you need, love or aren't going to be shoved straight back in the closet.

Step 2. Get a large bin bag and put everything in the Throw Away Pile into it, and take that out of the room so you don't trip over it. Put other things such as broken jewellery, old school books, etc in too. Sort out the Give Away pile, thinking about who you will give it to, a younger cousin or family friend perhaps? If you don't know anyone who will want it you could always take it to a charity shop or try to sell it online or in a garage sale. Sort it into labelled boxes and bags. 

Step 3. You should be left with only your Keep Pile. Anything you want to keep but aren't going to use in the next couple of months should be packed tightly away in a box, so you know where it is when you need it. Anything you will be using in the near future should be put in desk drawers or other easily accessible places.

So you've cleared the clutter of the stuff, now it's time to clear old clothes out. 

(Tip: Once you're done, turn all the hangers the same way round. When you wear the item for the first time after the cleanout, turn the hanger the opposite way around, and make sure it always faces that way. Next year, the hangers that haven't been turned are the ones with the clothes you haven't worn all year... time to say goodbye!)

Step 1. Try on any clothes you suspect are either a bit worn or the wrong size. If they don't fit, give them away, if they're worn and have holes in them, throw them out. 

Step 2. To decide which clothes to keep out of the ones that fit, if you can't answer yes to any of these three questions, you should give it to someone who will appreciate it: Do I love it? Do I need it? Do I look great in it? I use this method and find it very effective, especially when I'm in a store trying on new clothes.

Step 3. Organise your closet according to the season, the items you wear most often and the outfit combinations.

I really hope I helped, I know how annoying it can really be to have to sort out so much stuff!

Hugs and Kisses,

Beccy XX

Summer Bucket List

Hey, Miri here!

I thought it would be a really fun idea to do a summer bucket list post, so here it is.

~pull an all nighter
~go to the beach
~get a tan
~go to an amusement park
~go out of the country
~collect seashells
~go shopping
~have a summer romance
~attend summer hobby classes
~do yoga
~become healthy and fit
~jump into a pool fully clothed
~create a lemonade stand
~participate in a 5km run
~do a pet or car wash
~complete a wreck this journal
~try a new look
~sit on a rooftop and watch the stars
~visit a black sand beach
~meet a celebrity
~donate to charity
~drop water balloons off a building
~make tie dyed tshirts
~have a bonfire
~make a music video
~have a disney movie marathon
~create a home spa
~build a fort
~make a fun photo booth
~go to a concert
~swim with dolphins
~eat breakfast in bed
~have a picnic in the park
~have a triple sleepover (three night sleep over!! duh)
~organise a block party (a party with the people on your block/street)
~buy a hammock
~dance under the moonlight
~ENJOY LIFE!

Edit, rearrange, add to, or ignore this list. It's up to you!

Have a nice Summer!

Hug and Kisses,
Miri

Summer Vacation Tips

Hey, Beccy here.

Recently I've been super busy with exams and "end of school" stuff, then I went on a family vacation to Iceland, which, I would just like to say, is absolutely stunning I totally recommend it, although it was rather cold. Miri won't be around for a couple of months, she's spending 6 weeks in Australia, lucky her! 

In this post I'm going to give packing and travel tips. So, without further ado, let's jump right in!

Travel Tricks

~Save space in your suitcase by rolling your clothes instead of folding. 

~Place a dryer sheet in your suitcase to keep your clothes smelling fresh and to reduce static.

~Keep bobby pins or hair clips handy in tic tac containers.

~Store your smartphone in a sandwich bag to prevent it from being scratched by sand if you're heading to the beach. the touch screen will still work.

~Cases for glasses are perfect for chargers and cables.

~Put your smartphone in a mug for an effective diy speaker for playing music.

~Summer highlights: spray some lemon juice in your hair before you go out in the sun, and you'll find your hair a little lighter by sunset.

~Use a fitted sheet instead of a towel on the beach to keep sand out of your sunbathing area.

~If you forget your wall plug, you can charge devices through the usb slot on a tv.

~Put a scented teabag or dryer sheet in stinky shoes before packing to deodorize.

~Invest in a brightly colored suitcase (Or just use a large ribbon or bag tag) for easy identification at baggage reclaim.

~On the last day of your trip to a foreign country, collect all of your loose change and give it to a charity box at a nearby supermarket or airport.

Helpful Hints

~ The first thing you must remember when packing is where you are going. It may seem stupid and simple but I cannot stress this enough. Look up the weather forecast for your destination before packing, so you have an idea of what sort of clothes you will need. I don't know how many times I have realised I'm out of clean and weather appropriate clothing halfway through the trip. Please don't make the same mistake.

~ If you are going somewhere cold, pack layers. It's always useful. If you are going somewhere warm or hot, make sure you have lots of flowy clothes, such as dresses, floaty tops, loose shorts, and skirts. Make sure to bring a cardigan or sweater in case the night gets a little chilly. Also make sure to pack a swimsuit and towel. 

~Make sure you are organised, but not too organised. I always hate having to rush to things, I prefer booking certain things like a trip to a museum or a dinner reservation, then leave the rest of te day to explore and discover the area like a local. It's more relaxing that way.

Flights, Long Car Journeys and Road Trips

~When on the road, nothing is worse than sitting uncomfortably. Make sure to dress for comfort, choosing loose or baggy clothes as apposed to skinny jeans and a tight top. 

~Bring a pillow or neck cushion, to relax on.

~Charge electronics the night before, and bring a car charger or portable charger if you have one. Entertainment while traveling is important.

~Pack a smaller back for snacks, drinks, games, books and electronics to keep with you in the vehicle, while your clothing, toiletries and other essentials are kept in the back.

~GO TO THE BATHROOM BEFORE YOU LEAVE!!!! I don't care if you don't need to go. You will in a few minutes and you'll have to stop the car (It doesn't matter as much on the plane, especially if you have the aisle seat)

~If you have travel games, bring them to play with your parent/sibling/friend/travel companion. Avoid your devices for as long as possible to conserve battery and data usage. You never know, you may enjoy it more than beating your high score on flappy bird.

Where ever you choose to spend your holiday, even if it's just at home on your sofa, I hope you enjoy yourself. Sometimes a break is all you need. I, for one, have a bucketlist that needs completing. So, until next time!

Hugs and Kisses, 

Beccy

P.s. You can comment tutorial/tip/recipe requests if you like, I'd really appreciate that :)

Must Know Summer Recipes

Hi, Miri here,

Sorry I haven't been around lately, I had to do my GCSEs......
Anyway, I'm back now, with more fresh, delicious ideas for you!!!
In this post I will share some of my all time favourite recipes. These recipes are simple but tasty, that even the most ungifted cook can perfect. I'll start with the easiest, but some do take a bit more time and patience.

Scrumptious Smoothies

True to our name "Smoothies and Sparkles", here's a yummy smoothie recipe for you to try. You can edit it depending on taste.

Ingredients:
~Frozen or Fresh fruit - of your choice (Mangoes, bananas, strawberries and blackberries are always nice)
~Non concentrate, no additives fruit juice (use something with a weaker flavour, such tropical or mango passionfruit rather than orange or apple juice)
~Ice cubes

Put the cut up fruit or berries into a blender and then add your juice (fill it just below where the fruit goes up to)and mix until it has a smooth consistency. Pour it into a glass and drink it outside in the sun.(With a straw)

Cheesy Muffins (makes 6) 

Deliciously simple, these cheesy muffins will have you begging for more.

Ingredients:
~1 cup self-raising flour
~1 cup grated cheddar cheese
~1 cup milk

Heat your oven to 180C. Line six holes of a muffin tray with a square of baking paper 14cm by 15cm. 
Mix all the ingredients in a bowl (remember to sift the flour!)and then share the mixture equally in the muffin tray.

Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Enjoy as a snack or lunch.

Mac & Cheese (serves 4-6)

This one is a little more difficult, as you have to use several methods.

Ingredients:
250g Macaroni
100g ham bits
500ml milk
30g butter
30g plain flour
150g grated cheddar cheese

Heat your oven to 180C. Cook the macaroni according to the instructions on the packet. Put the pasta into an ovenproof dish and sprinkle with ham.
Make an all in one sauce by placing the flour the milk and the butter into a pan and gradually bring to a boil, stirring all the time. When the sauce is thick and glossy add in 1/2 of the cheese and stir. Pour the sauce over the pasta in the dish and sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Bake for 15-20 mins and serve hot with a salad or vegetables.

Mini Victoria Sponge Cakes (makes 6)

Ingredients:

~75g self raising flour
~75g butter
~75g sugar
~2 eggs
~1 teaspoon vanilla essence
~1 bottle of whipped cream
~Jam

Heat your oven to 180C. Cream the butter and sugar, add the vanilla essence. Add the eggs and mix well. Sift in the flour and mix. Spoon into a muffin tray and bake for 15-20 minutes. When they are cool cut them in half horizontally and spread with jam and whipped cream. Dust with powdered sugar.

 

Elderflower Cordial (Makes 2 Litres)

This recipe is by far the most difficult. It requires keen devotion and patience.

Ingredients:

~15 elderflower heads with their stems trimmed (the buds should be JUST opening)

~Finely grated zest of 1 unwaxed lemon and 1 orange, plus their juice (about 75ml in total)

~500g sugar

Inspect the elderflower heads carefully and remove any insects. Place the flower heads in a large bowl together with the orange and lemon zest.Bring 1 litres water to the boil and pour over the elderflowers and citrus zest. Cover and leave overnight to infuse.Strain the liquid through a scalded jelly bag or piece of muslin and pour into a saucepan. Add the sugar and the lemon and orange juice.Heat gently to dissolve the sugar, then bring to a simmer and cook for a couple of minutes.Use a funnel to pour the hot syrup into sterilised bottles. Seal the bottles with swing-top lids, sterilised screw-tops or corks.

TIP: Ratio of syrup to water is 1:2 or 1:3 depending on how sweet you like it.

Hope you enjoy these fun easy recipes as much as I do!
Hugs and Kisses,
Miri

Room Decor ~ 3 "Three-Step" D.I.Ys!

Hey!
It's me again, Beccy.
Miri is unable to post very regularly, but hopefully in the few weeks coming we'll see some action from her. 
In this tutorial I'm going to show you some super easy ways to make your room look gorgeous... and the best part is they will cost you next to nothing!

D.I.Y no.1
Jewellery Tree
I absolutely love this D.I.Y, it looks great and I've recieved many compliments from my friends about it. I feel it is the main feature of my room and it looks very stylish. I spray painted mine, but I've seen ones that are literally just sticks in a vase with jewellery hanging from it, and that looks super cute too.
So, without further ado, let's get started!

You need:
~6-10 Smallish Sticks (40-80cm)from your garden, it looks really cool when they're interesting shapes (you could also use a larger stick with lots of mini branches!)
~Newspaper
~Spray Paint (Metallics look really cool, but any colour is good!)
~A cute vase (You could pick one up from the dollar shop[U.S.A] or poundland[U.K] or similar, I got mine for three euros from a little craft store!)
~Some of your cutest necklaces and bracelets to hang on the 'tree'

[Tip:It would probably be a good idea to wear old clothes or a painting smock, it could get messy. Make sure to remove jewellery before hand, my watch ended up with silver paint flecks all over it!]

Step 1 
First you have to prepare for your spray painting. Lay out some newspaper on the ground outside or in a well ventilated area (Make sure to weigh it down if it's windy!!!) Lay your sticks out along the newspaper. If you are using more than one colour you should keep the different coloured paints seperate. 

[Tip:Before you paint, make sure your sticks don't have any moss on them or any bark falling off!]

Step 2
Use the spray paint to cover one side of your stick, but leave about 2-4cm paint free at the bottom (so you can hold it), then flip it over without getting covered in paint. Spray the other side and repeat with all your sticks.

Step 3
Once the paint has dried, you can arrange your sticks in your vase and hang your favourite jewellery from it, I think it just looks so cute and adorable!!!!


D.I.Y no.2
Pinboard Decor
I know how boring a pinboard can be... colourless, disorganised and ugly. But, with a little bit of paint, your corky disaster can become an adorable way of showing off photos, reminding you of events coming up and little memoirs of that time you went to that concert. It just needs a little T.L.C.

You need:
~A cork board, big or small.
~Paint (colours like white and grey are really nice)
~Tape (The papery kind is best)
~Stencils (usually you can pick some up from a craft store)
~Paint brush



Step 1
Place your stencil where you want it to go. Tape it down so it doesn't move.

Step 2
Use your paint brush to go over the stencil. The beauty of it is that you can go over the lines!

[Tip:You could find a cute stencil on the internet and print it out onto some paper, then cut out the parts you want to see]



Step 3
Now you can take your stencil off and wait for it to dry. You can either do more stencils, or you can finish there. The choice is yours! 

Omg all of these corkboards on pinterest are just adorable!!!!




I honestly think they all look so so cute especially the ones with the world map on them!


D.I.Y no. 3
Photo Garland
For the final D.I.Y of this post, I'm going to teach you how to jazz up your room, with just a few simple things. I really like this because it gives a wow factor each time you enter the room, and I can display so many great memories.

You will need:
~A Length of String. I got a cute brown spool from the local craft shop.
~Pegs. I got some little wooden ones that look so cute.
~Photos. You can usually get these printed out at a supermarket or department store. You could also use polaroids, or print them out onto plain paper.
~Hooks (Optional, You may already have hook-like things around your room, like a curtain rail. Make sure to check before screwing a hook into your wall, too!)

Step 1
Screw your hooks into the wall, or use hooks that are already there, and drape your string over it. Make sure to tie it and cut it so it's secure. You may want to leave enough excess so it hangs loosely (like the pictures shown)

Step 2 
Get all your photos, and decide where you want them to go. Peg them onto your garland one by one. You could do it in order, like a timeline, or just randomly. I also pegged up little bits and bobs (concert tickets, leaves, flowers, cut outs from magazines)

Step 3 
Look at it from a distance and decide where to space thing out a bit. Feel free to add and change part of it as time passes. Old memories are nice, but we have to remember to make room for the new!



Be sure to try out these D.I.Ys, I hope you enjoyed reading this post even if you don't, and I hope I've given you some inspiration for redecorating! I certainly enjoyed making them, and writing about it afterwards! Until next time!

Hugs and Kisses,
Beccy