tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63373518414662566532024-03-05T06:50:51.309+01:00Once Upon A DecemberAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683646051510624629noreply@blogger.comBlogger175125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337351841466256653.post-22581541649577674372016-02-28T08:00:00.000+01:002016-02-28T12:07:55.274+01:00Matte lips. <div>
A few months back I was on a lovely little trip abroad and whilst I didn't do much shopping, I couldn't <i>not </i>visit sephora and the NYX counter. </div>
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Lip products are my favourite beauty items, so that's what I went for!</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_mQgIdEnuMU/VtGplQGpRKI/AAAAAAAACmA/rZyei0MRxCY/s1600/_DSC4546%2B%2528640x427%2529.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_mQgIdEnuMU/VtGplQGpRKI/AAAAAAAACmA/rZyei0MRxCY/s1600/_DSC4546%2B%2528640x427%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
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<u><span style="font-size: x-large;">Antwerp</span></u></div>
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At the NYX counter I couldn't just pick one product to try, but the first one I picked is the soft matte lip cream in the shade Antwerp. It's a soft coral-y pink shade, a bit brighter than the colour of the bullet really. It is very creamy and is easy to apply!</div>
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hbsp1yk2RoA/VtGplQyAIzI/AAAAAAAACl4/EGe7uvukI94/s1600/_DSC4548%2B%2528640x425%2529.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hbsp1yk2RoA/VtGplQyAIzI/AAAAAAAACl4/EGe7uvukI94/s1600/_DSC4548%2B%2528640x425%2529.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P_9iezJTIRM/VtGplXZbxaI/AAAAAAAACl0/ta3mA8dra3Q/s1600/_DSC4549%2B%2528640x428%2529.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P_9iezJTIRM/VtGplXZbxaI/AAAAAAAACl0/ta3mA8dra3Q/s1600/_DSC4549%2B%2528640x428%2529.jpg" /></a><br />This one reminded me of another item I already had: the collection cream puff. They even smell the same! As far as I can tell, they are the exact same product, but NYX has loads more shades in their range!<br /> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HnqP-EXIlHo/VtGpl_ypeUI/AAAAAAAACl8/r2k4YVMJI7U/s1600/_DSC4550%2B%2528640x427%2529.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HnqP-EXIlHo/VtGpl_ypeUI/AAAAAAAACl8/r2k4YVMJI7U/s1600/_DSC4550%2B%2528640x427%2529.jpg" /></a><br />The top swatch is the Collection Cream Puff in Cotton Candy, the bottom one is the NYX soft matte lip cream in Antwerp.<br /> <a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QAlnaRh7-3M/VtGpmG_Rl7I/AAAAAAAACmE/FvjnzUAxBKE/s1600/_DSC4552%2B%2528640x426%2529.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QAlnaRh7-3M/VtGpmG_Rl7I/AAAAAAAACmE/FvjnzUAxBKE/s1600/_DSC4552%2B%2528640x426%2529.jpg" /></a><br />The finish isn't completely matte at first, but the gloss disappears when you give it a few minutes to dry.<div>
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<u><span style="font-size: x-large;">Strawberry kissed</span></u><br /> <a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SaPpfjzFeho/VtGpmY0YvaI/AAAAAAAACmI/7Pfn0vKylpQ/s1600/_DSC4553%2B%2528640x428%2529.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SaPpfjzFeho/VtGpmY0YvaI/AAAAAAAACmI/7Pfn0vKylpQ/s1600/_DSC4553%2B%2528640x428%2529.jpg" /></a><br />At Sephora I bought this liquid lipstick from their own range. It's called Cream lip stain and I got the shade Strawberry kissed. It's a very deep pink, almost red, but not quite!<br /> <a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aJKrCOhjqBA/VtGpmWCYfGI/AAAAAAAACmM/P4waY5LIiR8/s1600/_DSC4555%2B%2528640x427%2529.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aJKrCOhjqBA/VtGpmWCYfGI/AAAAAAAACmM/P4waY5LIiR8/s1600/_DSC4555%2B%2528640x427%2529.jpg" /></a><br />This is the most peculiar lip product I've ever tried: it is very pigmented and applies smoothly. But once it sets it will stay there until you remove your make up. It survives eating and drinking and doesn't stain other people's cheeks when you kiss them. It. Will. Not. Budge!</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OSIEkhqP7eg/VtGpmkTfmWI/AAAAAAAACmQ/hkDMks_jOxk/s1600/_DSC4558%2B%2528640x640%2529.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OSIEkhqP7eg/VtGpmkTfmWI/AAAAAAAACmQ/hkDMks_jOxk/s1600/_DSC4558%2B%2528640x640%2529.jpg" /></a><br />Here's a swatch, although I'm afraid the colour isn't entirely correct. It's a bit more pink, just like the two previous photos!<br /><br /><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">Eden</span></u><br /> <a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OKu6b_lQreg/VtGpmqm2ZSI/AAAAAAAACmU/gKvVZUxrEQs/s1600/_DSC4561%2B%2528640x428%2529.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OKu6b_lQreg/VtGpmqm2ZSI/AAAAAAAACmU/gKvVZUxrEQs/s1600/_DSC4561%2B%2528640x428%2529.jpg" /></a><br /> The other NYX item is a Matte Lipstick in the shade Eden. This a very hard to apply, you do need a brush for this! It's a bright red with a blue undertone to it. I thought it was a bit darker when I bought is, but it's quite bright!<br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ztiXGts0SVc/VtGpmgnUM2I/AAAAAAAACmY/ilTmXW8nCKo/s1600/_DSC4562%2B%2528640x608%2529.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ztiXGts0SVc/VtGpmgnUM2I/AAAAAAAACmY/ilTmXW8nCKo/s1600/_DSC4562%2B%2528640x608%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
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Here's a swatch: top is Strawberry kissed, bottom is Eden. Again the colours aren't exactly as they should be, Strawberry kissed is more pink, and Eden is less orange.<br /><br />I like all three of these, but I'm most amazed by the lasting power of the Sephora lip stain!</div>
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Sincerely,<br />R.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683646051510624629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337351841466256653.post-28029263176899752842016-01-03T08:00:00.000+01:002016-01-03T08:00:09.212+01:00New Year's resolutions. <br />
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<a name='more'></a>It's that time of the year where people make resolutions again. In the past two years I made a few. One was not burning my hand so often. I managed to not burn it often, but ironically I did it again earlier today! I wanted to stir my food in the oven and it was too late before I even knew it! Another one was to persevere with running. I haven't done too much of that in the past few months, but I am getting back on track again and I ran 4.5k again on New Year's day! I'll be glad when spring comes around so I can go barefoot again, I just enjoy running barefoot so much more! Lastly I wanted to stop buying books for a while since I had many unread books in my collection. I would say I succeeded at that for about three quarters of the year and then I went to a book festival and I'm in the same situation I was a year before now!<br />
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I intended not to make any resolutions this year, because I tend to put too much pressure on myself regarding many things in life. Re-reading these resolutions of the past two years puts me in two minds about that. So I won't be making any new resolutions (certainly not in terms of bigger life goals that I don't write about here) but keeping up with these three I made in previous years won't hurt, and they are things I think I would try without making a resolution out of them anyway.<br />
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So in short, I'll just stick to those for now and see what life will be like as it goes on. Que sera, sera ;)<br />
What are your resolutions for 2016?<br />
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Good luck with them and happy New Year!<br />
Sincerely,<br />
R.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683646051510624629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337351841466256653.post-44591597632849055972015-12-24T08:00:00.000+01:002015-12-24T11:05:27.040+01:00Easy peasy recipe: a red smoothie.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vOaf0WU24to/VnvC6YTY7VI/AAAAAAAAClQ/NN_BM3STCyE/s1600/_DSC4804%2B%2528640x407%2529.jpg" /></div>
Christmas is here, which means parties with family, decorations, lights, presents and loadtrucks full of food. I personally overeat quite a bit during the Holiday season, so here's a lighter snack that still has a Christmas-appropriate colour!<br />
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Ingredients: A pre-cooked beetroot, a banana, and an orange. Simply blend them together and you'll get a gorgeous red smoothie. I used the beetroot because I heard it's good to help fight acne. This comes with a good amount of nutrients, but note that this smoothie is relatively sugary. That's why I like having it after having gone for a run.<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
Sincerely,<br />
R.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683646051510624629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337351841466256653.post-68390537731043233672015-12-06T08:00:00.000+01:002015-12-06T14:01:40.337+01:00Favourite foundation.<img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DfQIBeg4_ZE/VmQp3tvvweI/AAAAAAAACks/OyLeeXWHT9Q/s1600/_DSC4363%2B%2528640x640%2529.jpg" /><br />
If you know my make up habits a little, you'll know that I'm not a fan of foundation. I barely use it because it looks far from natural and it's never the right colour. That changed somewhat this autumn as I have discovered a foundation that I truly like!<br />
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<img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-paQGvTcntkY/VmQp3ouYfZI/AAAAAAAACk0/LSbzTgtKLdE/s1600/_DSC4361%2B%2528640x640%2529.jpg" /><br />
The picture gave away which one I'm talking about: it's the Bourjois 123 perfect cc cream. It says it has 3 pigments in there for colour correction, that it hydrates the skin, and it has SPF 15. I find it strange that it says to have 3 pigments, as the foundation is just 1 colour, I don't think it is any different than other foundation. I do really like the product! It is the right shade for me, which is a rare thing to find. Usually foundations are too dark and orange, and the one that is light enough, is slightly too light and hasn't got the right formula for my skin. The formula of this foundation works well with my skin, making the finish look pretty natural. And another plus is that it doesn't break me out!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2hlrO5_Ssu25Djui_a8tIAiSQamug2Jeb1ximDUnLLBLHGbAj9zYX6rMluTU4j3V3iV0rn6WiJvhE8_Exmtk6DZv9jQYm2I5AfKVT4BCXVv4SOjAK7yQdSfgbkXxt4FZ6XXAyzDURm3oC/s1600/_DSC4360+%2528640x427%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2hlrO5_Ssu25Djui_a8tIAiSQamug2Jeb1ximDUnLLBLHGbAj9zYX6rMluTU4j3V3iV0rn6WiJvhE8_Exmtk6DZv9jQYm2I5AfKVT4BCXVv4SOjAK7yQdSfgbkXxt4FZ6XXAyzDURm3oC/s1600/_DSC4360+%2528640x427%2529.jpg" /></a><br />
I bought this happy light primer to go with it as there was a deal if you bought two Bourjois products at the time. I like this primer as well, but I don't use it as instructed. I mix the primer and foundation together, and this cobmo makes my skin look pretty!<br />
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In short this is the best foundation I've ever used! That's a welcome change after buying several foundations, only to never use them because they look orange or cakey!<br />
Sincerely,<br />R.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683646051510624629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337351841466256653.post-89671125365310924892015-11-12T08:00:00.000+01:002015-11-12T23:20:01.705+01:00Easy Peasy Recipe: a green smoothie.<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D1x_2dUgbOQ/VkR-e8YUChI/AAAAAAAACkE/6uRg_ZPhTrI/s1600/_DSC4716%2B%2528640x640%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D1x_2dUgbOQ/VkR-e8YUChI/AAAAAAAACkE/6uRg_ZPhTrI/s1600/_DSC4716%2B%2528640x640%2529.jpg" /></a>As you can see by the number of times I've posted anything on this blog lately, I've been very busy. Nonetheless I'm trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Most recently I ventured into the world of green smoothies. As I understand it, those are smoothies with vegetables in them. Preferably a lot of vegetables and not too much fruit as to avoid too much sugar. So after blending a banana and an avocado that I still had laying around as an enthusiastic first attempt, I went to the shop to buy a few ingredients that I thought would work well together.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bL4C5lgETCo/VkR-e_QSftI/AAAAAAAACkA/9OIMUl_LPxg/s1600/_DSC4723%2B%2528640x427%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bL4C5lgETCo/VkR-e_QSftI/AAAAAAAACkA/9OIMUl_LPxg/s1600/_DSC4723%2B%2528640x427%2529.jpg" /></a>1 kiwi</div>
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1 banana</div>
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3 hands full of kale</div>
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2 tablespoons of oats</div>
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1 teaspoon of chia seeds</div>
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100 - 150 ml of almond milk </div>
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<b><u>How to make</u></b></div>
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Peel the banana and the kiwi, toss everything in a blender and blend! I heard in a YouTube video that its easiest to have the juicy ingredients near the blades so everything will blend well. </div>
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The fresh taste of the kiwi is the overpowering taste in this smoothie. If I make this one again, I'll add more kale since I could barely taste it now, but it had a lot of nutrients. </div>
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Enjoy!<br />
Sincerely<br />
R.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683646051510624629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337351841466256653.post-6633891980460836162015-09-27T08:00:00.000+02:002015-09-27T08:00:07.089+02:00A couple new home bits.I've been doing a bit of homewear shopping and decorating lately, so I thought I'd show you my favourite new items!<br />
<img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r7TbbalFpKo/VgP_6FUnxEI/AAAAAAAACjc/jaYmnvkQhkM/s640/_DSC4357%2B%2528640x413%2529.jpg" /><br />
<a name='more'></a>Firstly, I got an aloe vera plant. I like the look of it and it should be easy to take care of! The pot is from Ikea. It was silver coloured, but as I wanted to go with a bronze theme I spraypainted it. Doing so was the easiest DIY project ever: easy and effective!<br />
<img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EsF61-ZX9GE/VgP_6DvbCWI/AAAAAAAACjw/gaPoimEN4pM/s1600/_DSC4358%2B%2528640x420%2529.jpg" /><br />
I got this decorative lantern from Blokker. I like the shape and it fits into the bronze theme. The scented candle on the right hand side doesn't, but as it turns out I had a couple more silver coloured items already (like my bin and some picture frames) so I ended up with a bronze and silver theme. The candle is from HEMA. I liked the style of the sticker.<br />
<img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ucgiJAyBO3w/VgP_6CLDzxI/AAAAAAAACjg/cKoWtJ0U0Hs/s1600/_DSC4359%2B%2528640x612%2529.jpg" /><br />
So from that same line, I got the hand soap. The brown bottle looks nice against the clean white walls and the scent is nice and warm.<br /><br />I'm still looking out for a bronze basket to put my products in in the bathroom, just so it looks a bit more tidy!<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />R.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683646051510624629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337351841466256653.post-9289748104653627812015-09-24T08:00:00.000+02:002015-09-24T08:00:06.887+02:00What I ate today.Hello there!<br />
Well this is not a full blogpost, but I wanted to show this: my very first YouTube video!<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aO-I3zNPUbE?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br />
It's called "What I ate today.", so I suppose the concept is pretty clear to everyone. As the food journals I posted here were quite popular, I figured this might be interesting too!<br />Let me know what you think!<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />R.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683646051510624629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337351841466256653.post-27421126649457873532015-08-04T08:00:00.000+02:002015-08-04T19:36:51.555+02:00An exercise update.It's been months since my last exercise update already! In the <a href="http://once-upondecember.blogspot.com/2015/04/an-exercise-update-going-barefoot.html" target="_blank">last update</a> I'd just managed to transition from shod running to barefoot running. Here's how things have been since then!<br />
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<a name='more'></a><u><span style="font-size: large;">Shod or barefoot?</span></u><br />
Well I've been running both barefoot and in shoes. I prefer going barefoot, but sometimes we go to a wood chip track, which is too rough for my bare feet! So when we go there, or when I run in the street, I wear my minimalist shoes. I've gotten so used to going barefoot that my feet get too hot in shoes, so after a run I take my shoes off and do a tiny bit of barefoot running in the grass to help them cool down again.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>Distances</u></span><br />
My goal is to keep up my ability to run 5k. To some people that doesn't sound like much, but keep in mind my heartbeat goes up much faster than most people's! Sometimes I run less, especially when it's hot and moist outside or right before that time of the month. At the start of summer, I ran very slowly: it took me about 43 minutes to run 5k, but now I've ran my average of around 38 minutes several times. But on Sunday I had an amazing moment: I improved my PB by 47 seconds! And I did it barefoot!<br />
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<u><span style="font-size: large;">Yoga</span></u><br />
I've also been doing yoga since spring. It's been great to bring my mind to peace, but I like how my body gets stretched too! Especially in the back, neck, and shoulders!<br />
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Sincerely,<br />
R.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683646051510624629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337351841466256653.post-91687707177213380252015-07-31T08:00:00.000+02:002015-07-31T08:00:01.562+02:00German drugstore haul.So my sisters and I made another quick trip across the border and went to DM in Germany. I didn't really need anything, but it's always nice to try a few new things!<br />
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<a name='more'></a>I got the Balea Trend it up Beach-Style Salz-Spray. Other brands have this type of spray too, but this one had the shortest ingredient list. All of them seemed to have magnesium sulphate (epsom salt) in it. It makes my hair kind of rough, making it more easy to style. My hair is naturally very smooth and doesn't hold any style well, so this does help! And once I wash it, it's all smooth again, so there's no damage.<br />
<img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oOELanxNVGA/VbdgkwDclwI/AAAAAAAACiE/j1cvz-BuYwU/s1600/_DSC3778%2B%2528640x426%2529.jpg" /><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TNOxCgeTr94/Vbdgk-xvjUI/AAAAAAAACiI/pFD4aKUrdFM/s1600/_DSC3779%2B%2528640x419%2529.jpg" /><br />
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From the same brand I got anti Blasen Gel. It's a gel that you can apply to places where you might get blisters. It stops the friction and prevents blisters. I've tried this before when I already had blisters. It did relieve the friction and my blisters didn't pop.</div>
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<img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zpDjpFJVLoo/VbdgjehgwEI/AAAAAAAACh4/-uY8azfKUG0/s1600/_DSC3777%2B%2528640x427%2529.jpg" /></div>
I got a vitamin B complex. I had the impression that supplements were cheaper there than here in Belgium. These look a lot like sweets, so better keep them far, far away from kids! I like that they're nor too big, making it easy to swallow.</div>
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<img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-awyk36ZBm-g/VbdgiZnu9hI/AAAAAAAAChs/wiZ2v1IbBqM/s640/_DSC3776%2B%2528640x426%2529.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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Lastly, I got a make up item: another lasting color drama lip pencil. The colour is called Red Essential and it's a rather deep red shade, gorgeous!<br />
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I've been using almost all of this stuff since buying it, so I'm very pleased with my choices! I haven't used the blister gel yet as I haven't been wearing shoes much, but it will come in handy some time soon!<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />R.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683646051510624629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337351841466256653.post-23376524119314499852015-07-24T08:00:00.000+02:002015-07-24T08:00:03.009+02:00Summer make up.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Exactly one month ago I tweeted I'd gone to the drugstore and got a few new goodies. I've written about a couple of them already, but I thought I'd show you them, tell you what I think, and tell you how I've been doing my make up this summer. </div>
<img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iXr-05VX21k/VbD8Z-MA_zI/AAAAAAAACgM/xT8BjWuZsBI/s1600/_DSC3612%2B%2528640x427%2529.jpg" /><br />
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<a name='more'></a>The products I picked that day are the pro base powder, the blush brush, and the color drama lip pencil. I got the baby lips lipbalm for free!<br />
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For day to day make up, I start of with applying powder all over my face with a kabuki brush. It makes it look a tad bit more even and takes away the excess shine. I've written about the pro base powder before, and I do like it! In that same <a href="http://once-upondecember.blogspot.com/2015/07/five-pressed-powders.html" target="_blank">blogpost</a> I wrote about a powder dark enough to be a bronzer. My next step is to use that for contouring. I never liked contouring at all, and I think most people overdo it. But this powder is lighter than most bronzers so it still looks natural. I hope.<br />
<img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vg6rJC7SHcU/VbD8aWvLu0I/AAAAAAAACgc/evsBClULY1s/s1600/_DSC3613%2B%2528640x428%2529.jpg" /><br />
Then I apply some blush on the apples of my cheeks. I've been using a bright, <a href="http://once-upondecember.blogspot.com/2015/04/a-review-beautyuk-blush.html" target="_blank">matt pink one</a> from Beauty UK. I apply both the "bronzer" and blush with a small powder brush. This slanted blush brush that I got, is quite bend-y, which is why I don't actually like it for blush. It is great for hightlighter, which is what I use next. My favourite is the <a href="http://once-upondecember.blogspot.com/2014/01/topshop-highlighter-in-crescent-moon.html" target="_blank">Topshop Crescent moon</a> hightlighter!<br />
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Then I put some mascara on my lashes. I'm still using the <a href="http://once-upondecember.blogspot.com/2015/06/a-review-essence-lash-princess-volume.html" target="_blank">Essence lash princess volume</a> one. Lastly I apply something on my lips. The colour drama pencil is a very natural-looking option. It does have glitter in it (Why, Maybelline, WHY?), but luckily it doesn't show that much.<br />
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This lipbalm I got isn't my favourite. I used to enjoy the cherry version of this, so it could be nice. Unfortunately, the colour of this doesn't suit me at all!<br />
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That's what I've been wearing mostly this summer! What are your summer make up favourites?<br />
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Sincerely,</div>
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R.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683646051510624629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337351841466256653.post-44393527528479092602015-07-18T08:00:00.000+02:002015-07-18T08:00:00.756+02:00Learning to relax.Well, I haven't written many blogposts lately. Reason is that I need some time for myself. I've been very stressed out and need to learn how to relax. How? Here's some advice and a few products that I enjoy to help me.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><u><span style="font-size: large;">Breathe</span></u><br />
My physiotherapist taught me a breathing exercise for relaxation. Breathe with the diaphragm, not the chest. Then practice breathing very slowly, in through the nose and out through the mouth. Start with three seconds of inhaling and four seconds of exhaling. Work your way up to 4 seconds of inhaling and 8 seconds of exhaling. You can use 3-5; 4-6; 4-7; 4-8 as steps in between. In the long run it improves breathing even when you're not paying any attention to it, that is if you practice <i>very</i> often!<br />
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<img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w12JVtcV4m0/VaTc2lCgaCI/AAAAAAAACe0/ZBVTK5bY2zA/s1600/20141205_164128%2B%2528637x853%2529.jpg" /><u><span style="font-size: large;">Exercise</span></u><br />
Some days I feel kind of restless and agitated. Going for a run can work wonders in such cases! If your head's still filled with worries during the run, just notice this and try to focus on the motion and your surroundings. This is where barefoot running is great too: you need to be aware of your surroundings, unless you prefer stepping on pebbles of course.<br />
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<u><span style="font-size: large;">Yoga</span></u><br />
I started going to a yoga class. I don't know which type of yoga, but it's a very gentle and relaxing one. It's so relaxing that two people have fallen asleep in the class! Life just seems better when I leave there compared to when I arrive. One couldn't ask for more than that!<br />
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<img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-23sdoFR9laE/VaTbSjTvZJI/AAAAAAAACeo/gjpTD4y9q9w/s1600/DSCF9022%2B%2528640x480%2529.jpg" /><u><span style="font-size: large;">Cut back on the caffeine</span></u><br />
I've written about this <a href="http://once-upondecember.blogspot.com/2015/02/a-coffee-addicts-tea-picks.html" target="_blank">before</a>, if you're already stressed, don't consume too much caffeine! I switched to tea when I needed to. Any tea has less caffeine than coffee does, but black tea has more caffeine than other teas do. So green tea, white tea and herbal infusions are good options. There are also herbal blends the are supposed to aid in relaxation. I got these two Clipper teas and I especially like the sleep easy one. It's tastes orange-y.<br />
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<u><span style="font-size: large;">Relaxing YouTube videos</span></u><br />
When I'm having trouble falling asleep, I listen to relaxing YouTube videos. Look for something that works for you of course, but there's so many videos I'm sure you'll find a video you like! There are nature sound, ocean sounds, ASMR videos, yoga videos, guided meditation videos, etc.<br />
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<u><span style="font-size: large;">Wind down before bed</span></u><br />
Take some time to wind down before bed! you can take a bath or get comfy in your PJ's, have a cup of tea. It's best not to watch any screens: the blue-toned light keeps people awake! You can read a book or magazine, or do some yoga. I also like to light a candle and use a <a href="http://once-upondecember.blogspot.com/2015/06/two-new-rituals-products.html" target="_blank">pillow mist</a> sometimes. If you make bedtime a ritual, you'll teach your body it's time to go to bed.<br />
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What's your advice for relaxation?<br />
Sincerely,<br />
R.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683646051510624629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337351841466256653.post-66298069169157030532015-07-13T08:00:00.000+02:002015-07-13T08:00:00.801+02:00Primark purchases.Two friends of mine and I went to Primark in the weekend and naturally I got a few new things. It's always a special occasion to go there as we don't have one nearby. Here's what I bought!<br />
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<a name='more'></a>There weren't much clothes for daywear that I liked. And a couple of things that I did like, weren't available in my size. I did get this dress. It's a brick-red shade, it's got an elastic band at waist-height, and has a ruche in the front. It's not entirely opaque, so I might need tan underwear to go with it. I love that it's got pockets! The dress was €10.<br />
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I got a some joggers (or sweatpants, whatever you like to call them!) I have the same pair in navy already, and they're great for chilling and for yoga. So I got these new ones to replace another super old pair that lives in the back of my closet. These are grey with a fun print. They are cuffed at the bottom and they have pockets too. In short: awesome! They are €8.</div>
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Then we got to the nightwear section and we saw these Jurassic World pyjamas! We'd seen the film only a few days earlier and loved it! So I had to get these! The top is a baseball-style shirt and the bottom is in a similar shape as the joggers are. I almost can't wait for it to get colder now so I can wear them! Top and bottom were sold separately, and they were €9 each.</div>
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I also got a new purse. It's tan with a twist-lock, and a cut-out pattern on the front. It's absolutely huge, but I wanted one that's big enough to contain my driver licence. It was €6.</div>
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Lastly, we went to the home section and I picked up this scented candle. The jar looks quite chic, being dark and square. I love the pattern and print on the sticker too. Obviously I picked one that I liked the scent of, but everyone has their own taste! I'm curious as to whether it will really last long and burn up nicely. It was €3.<br /><br />That's the end of it. I can't help but be the most excited about the pyjamas! I really couldn't find much day wear to my liking, but I hope next time around I will!<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />R.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683646051510624629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337351841466256653.post-55157034670297659332015-07-11T08:00:00.000+02:002015-07-11T17:23:04.852+02:00Five pressed powders.As summer arrived, my face has gotten a bit more shiny too. I usually don't wear foundation, but a bit of powder is often a good idea. So I'd like to show you the pressed powders I've got before using them any further!<br />
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<a name='more'></a><u><span style="font-size: large;">The one that's dark enough to be a bronzer.</span></u></div>
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I've had this Catrice multi colour compact powder (010 Rose Beige) for the longest and as you can see it looks bad! The lid broke off and the print has worn off. It's a mattifying powder and it does the job well. The issue is the colour: far too dark for my skin. At the time I bought it, this was the lightest shade in Catrice's range. Luckily they produced lighter shades soon after that. I don't use it on my whole face any more, but it makes a good subtle bronzer now! It's €4.59 and contains 8g.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>The matte ones.</u></span></div>
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<img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Eo97LLTcJZ4/VZOzk1oNuLI/AAAAAAAACco/YAj7aSlJ1Bk/s640/_DSC3415%2B%2528640x426%2529.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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I discovered the joy of suiting shades in the UK. I'd used up one of the Natural Collection pressed powders and got this 'new' one <a href="http://once-upondecember.blogspot.com/2014/08/london-purchases-part-one-boots.html" target="_blank">in London last summer</a>. It gives a tiny bit of coverage and mattifies the skin. I tend to use a lot of powder, so it looks a bit powdery upon application, but that wears off after an hour or so. You get 10 grams of powder for £1.99.</div>
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This Inglot powder is a bit yellow, but that doesn't show on up on my face. It does the same thing as the natural collection one does. Of all the powders, this one has the best packaging by far! It looks chique, it's sturdy and flat, and it has a mirror inside.<br />
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I tried these two side by side and they look the same on my skin. The difference in colour is not noticeable, but they both look better than a pure white powder. There's 5 grams of powder in the pot but I don't know the exact price of this. I think it was about €6 or €7 in Poland, but Inglot products are double the price here.<br />
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<u><span style="font-size: large;">The glowy ones.</span></u></div>
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Since the hourglass ambient lighting powders had become so popular, I'd been looking for a powder that wasn't completely matte and that was less powdery. I wanted to try the MUA pro base powder, but it wasn't available here. Then I stumbled upon the Essence pure nude powder (10 Ivory). It's a baked powder with a swirly pattern. It's quite dense, meaning you don't get much product on your brush and you have to make a bit more effort to get enough powder onto your face. This gets a bit better once you're through the top surface. It's €3.59 and contains 7 grams of product.</div>
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A few weeks back, I saw that the MUA pro base powder had made it's way into the Belgian drugstores too! I couldn't resist giving it at try. The four colours are meant to be used for colour correcting. I like how they look in the pan, but I just mix them together. Unlike the Essence powder, a lot of product comes off when you swipe your brush across the surface. This powder was €6,49 and you get 4g.<br />
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Side by side, I can't tell the difference between these one they're applied, it just took a bit more time and effort to apply the essence one. I do use the MUA powder more often for it's ease of use!</div>
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<img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YRHHmE8FXpM/VZOzjJKwGCI/AAAAAAAACcU/mXHr-RvfdcI/s640/DSC3420%2528640x426%2529.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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Here are swatches of all five products. It looks as though the Natural Collection powder doesn't have any payoff, but in reality it does. It's barely visible since the colour is close to my skintone.</div>
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Well I like all of these and I'm sure I won't be needing to get another pressed powder any time soon! I've been using them loads since it's been so hot, so I do get a lot of use out of them!</div>
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Sincerely,<br />
R.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683646051510624629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337351841466256653.post-45859371332482851462015-06-25T08:00:00.000+02:002015-06-25T08:00:02.996+02:00A review: Essence lash princess volume mascara.For the past nine months I've been using the same mascara, but as I ran out of it (and it's not available here) I was forced to try a new one. I always go for budget friendly mascaras and the one I picked is the Essence lash princess volume mascara. So let's take a look up close!<br />
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<a name='more'></a>The packaging is lovely! It looks quite sleek being black and curvy. The tube is plastic, but the coral bits on the top are rubber, giving it a good grip.<br />
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Not unimportant is the brush! It' curved and has different lengths of bristles. Essence calls it a cobra-brush. It's not too big, which is a plus for me!<br />
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The product itself is quite wet and it made my eyelashes clump together dramatically! I remembered finding my previous mascara being too wet at fist as well, so I left this one open for an hour or so.<br />
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In terms of lasting power it does a great job! Once it's dried up it sits there all day, until you take it off again. I've been using the lash princess volume mascara for a month now and we're getting along better. It's dried out a bit more, and I've learnt that it works best for me when I apply it by brushing the mascara through my lashes with the longest bristles of the applicator, separating the lashes as much as I can.<br />
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Here are some before and after photos:<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdNynm6NQEdeX_9mfcFIHPrQvCPJVqNJtlr3dV82h7iBNpYmawL6zOiAsA0pGdw-C-k8PtKPM5bgOoH1fOG0witM0snMLUwbfRwz7uHjKm2_v56hyJli6mVMBQJzVVG1LIQFzvAHqHqo2/s1600/_DSC3318+%2528640x427%2529.jpg" /><br />
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I only applied it to my top lashes by the way. So to conclude I'd say that if you like a lot of volume, give it a try, but if you're looking for a very natural, separated lash-look, there might be better options! I'd like to try the lash princess false lash effect mascara to see how different that is!</div>
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Sincerely,<br />
R.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683646051510624629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337351841466256653.post-521280446070494532015-06-20T08:00:00.000+02:002015-06-20T08:00:02.734+02:00Two new Rituals products.Again it's been a long time since I've posted anything here. I've been very stressed out a couple months back and needed to rest without feeling obligated to do anything. I didn't feel like writing, and the world wouldn't stop turning if I didn't!<br />
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But here I am again, writing a new blogpost! I wanted to show you two products from Rituals that I got recently, one of which should aid in relaxation!</div>
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<a name='more'></a>I got myself the calming bed and body mist in a sale a few months back. I think the price was reduces because Rituals has revamped the Tao line. It says to be relaxing and help in falling asleep and meditation. It also promises to leave no stains. Look at this package; it's very pretty with those flowers on there! It says Yin (inner peace), Organic white lotus and yi yi ren.<br />
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The spray smells very light and airy, I like this smell. I enjoy using it although I don't know if it helps me fall asleep. I have good days and bad days - or rather nights- when it comes to falling asleep!</div>
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These are the ingredients:</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #6f6f6f; font-family: helvetica-neue-lt-std-45-light, helvetica; font-size: 14px;">AQUA / WATER, PEG-40 HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL, TRIDECETH- 9, PARFUM / FRAGRANCE, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, POLYAMINOPROPYL BIGUANIDE, BENZYL SALICYLATE, BUTYLPHENYL METHYLPROPIONAL, HEXYL CINNAMAL, GLYCERIN, CAPRYLIC / CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, LINALOOL, ALPHAISOMETHYL IONONE, COIX LACRYMA JOBI (JOB’S TEARS) SEED EXTRACT, EUGENOL, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, NELUMBO NUCIFERA (LOTUS) FLOWER EXTRACT</span></blockquote>
There's more fragrance in there than there is white lotus and yi yi ren. I don't like that kind of marketing even though all the brands do that, but in this case I don't really mind as it is a fragrance mist rather than a skincare product.<br />I do like this spray and I've used up about a quarter of it already!<br />
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Not much later, my mum gave me this scented candle as a gift. It's called sweet sunrise and it came in a nice looking package too. It smells of sweet orange and cedar wood, which makes for a very warm scent. It smells similar to (or the same as?) the body cream from the laughing buddha line: amazing!<br />
I didn't realise at first, but it says something on the glass: "A life filled with wonder is a wonderful life." It becomes more visible as the candle burns up, which by the way it does very slowly so it lasts a long time! Love this candle, thanks mum!<br />
<br />If you plan on purchasing something from Rituals I'd recommend both of these, and they make nice gifts too!<br /><br />
Sincerely,<br />R.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683646051510624629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337351841466256653.post-75743900682330682712015-05-06T08:00:00.000+02:002015-05-06T09:52:58.431+02:00A review: Kruitvat pure and nature lipbalm.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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On Saturday I was browsing through drugstore Kruidvat. I wasn't in need of anything but I picked up this lipbalm. The ingredient list is what persuaded me to buy it, so let's see if it's any good! I also added a few alternatives that should be available in the UK.</div>
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<a name='more'></a><u><span style="font-size: large;">Packaging</span></u><br />
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As all the lipbalms in the stand, this one is a twist up stick which is packaged in cardboard. The plastic tube is white and matte with navy and green print. Looks nice and clean! </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>Ingredients</u></span></div>
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Ingredients are:</div>
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Ricinus communis seed oil (castor oil), cocos nucifera oil (coconut oil), cera alba (beeswax), simmondsta chinensis seed oil (jojoba seed extract), candelilla cera (candelilla wax), palmitic acid, stearic acid, butyrospermum parkii butter (shea butter), alea eurcandelopaea fruit oil (olive oil), tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E acetate), aroma, helianthus annuus seed oil (sunflower seed oil), chamomilla recutita oil (chamomile oil), daucus carota sativa root extract (carrot root extract), beta-carotene, tocopherol.</blockquote>
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Well, to me that looks great! So many natural oils in there. Apart from tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E acetate), only green boxes show up for the safety rating at cosdna.org.</div>
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<u><span style="font-size: large;">Test</span></u><br />
The balm applies easily and leaves a layer on the lips. I really like it because it nourishes your lips and they stay nice and hydrated even after you take the balm off. It works much better than balms based on mineral oil, and only costs just as much!<br />
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<br />
The pure and nature lip balm carries the NATRUE label, meaning that:<br />
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<span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">NO SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCES AND COLOURS</span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">NO PETROLEUM DERIVED PRODUCTS (Parafines, PEG, -propyl-, -alkyl-, etc.)</span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">NO SILICONE OILS AND DERIVATIVES</span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">NO GENETICALLY MODIFIED INGREDIENTS (complying with EU organic regulation)</span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">NO IRRADIATION OF END PRODUCT AND BOTANICAL INGREDIENTS</span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">PRODUCTS MUST NOT BE TESTED ON ANIMALS</span></blockquote>
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Brilliant!<br />
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The lipbalm was €1.39. so my advice is: get your hands on this if you can!<br />
As you can only get this in the Netherlands or Belgium, I've found a few good alternatives via the NATRUE website. Lavera basis sensitiv lip balm and weleda everon lip balm look good!<br />
<br />
Sincerely,<br />
R.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683646051510624629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337351841466256653.post-31408708518452271532015-04-24T08:00:00.000+02:002015-04-24T08:00:03.886+02:00An exercise update: going barefoot.Spring is here, and there's only a few months left until bikini season. So how's exercising been? Well it's been awful for a while: I haven't been doing my planks and running was going bad. I neglected the planking because my shoulders were all tense (I'm getting that fixed now) and running wasn't going well because I've been under a lot of stress lately. But now I'm getting back on track with running and I'm doing it barefoot! Care to know how that's going? Keep reading!<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Since it's been warming up a little I ended my regular runs with a few laps around the backyard on my bare feet. Then, I joined my sister to the athletics track on a warm day and ran two laps without shoes, and ran a bit more with my shoes on. I enjoyed it it a lot, but didn't want to overdo it.<br />
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On the next run it was too cold, so I only did one lap on bare feet and a few more in shoes. Temperatures below 15°C are too cold for barefoot running I've noticed. It just hurts and if your feet get cold they may go numb, which may cause you to end up hurting yourself.<br />
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After this things got more serious and I ran three laps barefoot. My sister joined me on the last one too! Two weeks ago I did a run of 6 laps without any pain afterwards.</div>
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In this past week the weather was good and I was motivated to do more. So I added some distance and ran two runs of 8 laps each on Monday and Wednesday. They both went well, and the second was a whole two minutes faster than the first! Then I felt ready for a bit more distance, so I ran 10 laps on Friday! That's 4k! If it keeps on going this well, I might be able to run my 'standard' 5k all barefoot in a week or two! It's nice to see progress and I've been enjoying my runs. It is a bit uncomfortable in the first lap or so. But I do enjoy these runs, I wouldn't keep going without shoes if I hadn't!<br />
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My last run was on Wednesday. A. and I went for a 4k run in the street, and I did it all barefoot. It was a lot more uncomfortable than the track as the most of the streets on our route are very rough! My feet need some more rest now and I'll go back to the track next time.<br />
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I hope temperatures keep up so I can keep it up!<br />
Sincerely,<br />
R.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683646051510624629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337351841466256653.post-89371597199209466152015-04-03T08:00:00.000+02:002015-04-03T08:00:04.423+02:00A review: beautyuk blush.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hkgjQd-M6Y8/VOx4CUsXm1I/AAAAAAAACUA/3g-VIcZ4wKQ/s1600/20150204_143258.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></div>
Blushes are one of my favourite make up items! As I don't have much colour in my cheeks, they bring my face to live! On myself I much prefer pinks and peaches to brown and taupe. The blush I want to show you today is one of the brightest shades I have in my collection: beautyuk blush & brush in the shade Capital Pink.<br />
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<u><span style="font-size: large;">Packaging</span></u><br />
I don't particularly like the look of the packaging, it looks a bit cheap in my opinion. I don't like the brush either, so I just use my own. On the plus side, it is a sturdy packaging and it's easy to see the colour of the product. It's also nice and flat, making it suitable for stacking. So whilst it is not the most aesthetically pleasing, it's perfect from a practical viewpoint! And also: the colour scheme matches my blush brush perfectly!<br />
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<u><span style="font-size: large;">Ingredients</span></u><br />
Ingredients are: <br />
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Mica, Talc, Magnesium Strearate, Dimethicone, Caprilic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Ethylhexyl Methoxicinnamate, Butyl Methoxidibenzoylmethane, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Dietylhexyl Syringlidenemalonate/Caprilic/Capric Triglyceride, Tin Oxide</blockquote>
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May contain: CI 77019/ CI 77891, CI 15850:2, CI 45410:2, CI 77007, CI 19140:1, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI77499</blockquote>
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CI 19140:1 is a yellow pigment with comes with ared box for safety at cosdna.com and CI 15850:2 is not found in the database.<br />
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<u><span style="font-size: large;">Test</span></u><br />
The colour is a cool toned, bright pink! It's completely matte, which I quite like. It's a welcome change to the many shimmery blushes out there! I'm also impressed with the pigmentation. It's very pigmented and careful application is a must if you don't intend to look like a clown. If I accidentally apply too much, I just blend it it with my kabuki brush. So you don't need a lot which means it will last you a very long time.<br />
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Beautyuk does not test their products on animals, which is a plus too!<br />
The blush is priced at £2.99 and can be found at Superdrug (but not in all their shops).<br />
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So overall I think this is a good blush!<br />
Sincerely,<br />
R.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683646051510624629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337351841466256653.post-57170422007762633782015-03-24T08:00:00.000+01:002015-03-24T08:00:00.381+01:00Currently reading: Dreamland.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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Lately I've been trying to read just one book at a time and it's rather nice to do so! The book I'm reading at the minute is called dreamland and was written by David K. Randall, who's a journalist. It's a non-fiction book that handles one of my favourite activities and topics: sleep. As you can see I'm not reading it in English; I got the Dutch version.</div>
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<a name='more'></a>I'm about halfway through now and so far I love the book! It covers several topics such as putting children to bed, the meaning of dreams, effects of sleep deprivation. But it's not just about the science of sleep as there are also personal anecdotes and stories in there about how discoveries were made. For instance you find out about how first and second sleep was (re)discovered and how the military plays an important role in insight in the effects of sleep deprivation. So it's a mix of science and stories, making it a good read!</div>
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<br />I'd certainly recommend this book to anyone! We spend so much time asleep, you may as well learn a little more about it!<br />Sincerely,<br />R.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683646051510624629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337351841466256653.post-28853513176987613252015-03-10T08:00:00.000+01:002015-03-10T08:00:08.676+01:00Easy peasy recipe: the best porridge I've ever had.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
One day I was hungry and decided to make some porridge. I added some extras to make it more interesting and less carb-heavy. Now it's my new favourite breakfast! Here's the recipe!</div>
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<a name='more'></a><u><span style="font-size: large;">You will need</span></u><br />
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Almond milk</div>
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Coconut oil</div>
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Mixed nuts</div>
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Rolled oats</div>
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Chia seeds</div>
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<u><span style="font-size: large;">How to make</span></u><br />
place two to three heaped tablespoons of oats in a bowl and add almond milk. Add enough to cover the oats and then some more.<br />
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Microwave this for a minute, stir and repeat. The porridge will still be runny at this point. Add a teaspoon of chia seeds and mix well. This needs to sit for a bit, so you can go on and chop a handful of nuts in the meantime.<br />
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Now the good stuff comes in! Add a teaspoon of coconut oil and mix it in so it melts. I originally tried this because I didn't want a meal that was all carbs. I'm glad I tried it because the oil makes the porridge nice and creamy, and if you have the type that smells and tasted like coconut, which I highly recommend, it adds a sweet flavour too!<br />
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Lastly, mix in the nuts! These add a crunchy texture as well as many nutrients. They're also great because they give you something to chew on, and chewing is an important part of digestion!<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
Sincerely,<br />
R.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683646051510624629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337351841466256653.post-90434947053122827302015-03-05T08:00:00.000+01:002015-03-05T08:00:04.272+01:00Life with congenital heart disease.So this is the second instalment of my life with congenital heart disease series. Last time, I wrote about the <a href="http://once-upondecember.blogspot.com/2015/02/life-with-congenital-heart-disease.html" target="_blank">story of my past</a>, now I want to tell you about the present. As I was writing this, it got too lengthy for one post, so I split it up in two. This one deals with daily life and scars, and next time I'll talk about medication and general health, exercise and check-ups.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><u><span style="font-size: large;">Daily life</span></u><br />
My daily life is not much different from anyone else's really. There a a few things that I need to keep in mind though. Because my heart is more susceptible to infections than other people's, I need to avoid infections. This means I ought to disinfect any wounds properly. This was always done with bigger things like when I used to fall and end up with grazed knees as a kid. When I have a papercut on the other hand, I don't bother. I shouldn't get any piercings or tattoos, as they might infect. My ears are pierced though, this is because we were never been told about this before I was 16 or so. I got my ears pierced when I was 12. That's something that should definitely be discussed with patients and parents earlier! I also need to pay extra attention to dental care. I see my dentist twice a year just like the rest of my family does. But, when I have to to get a procedure done - such as filling cavities - I need to take antibiotics beforehand to ensure I won't catch any infections.<br />
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Other than avoiding infections, I shouldn't put too much stress on my heart. This of course means being mindful about exercise, but it also means I can't do every ride in amusement parks. In a lot of attractions it has a sign that says no heart patients should go in there. In some cases it is too strict for me - I can handle a rapid river attraction, really. So I decide for myself what to do and what not to do. I don't go into anything that has inversions or that drops very fast (towers).<br />
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My stamina isn't as good as other people's is. This affects how I exercise, but it also made me slower than others when I was cycling to classes for example. When I mention it, they often reply that their stamina is horrible too, but they don't realise that cycling up that hill is much easier for them than it is for me. They only see when they're cycling alongside of me and see that I'm struggling more than they are, or when they're in front of me and I tell then they need to slow down.<br />
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<u><span style="font-size: large;">Scars</span></u><br />
I have two large scars and several smaller ones. The smaller scars are from drips, needle pricks and drains. I have them on the back of my hands, on my wrists, in my neck, and near the big scars. There's some scars in both groins from the catheterizations I mentioned in the past pots. And there's also a line of about an inch long in the inside of one of my elbows. This one is a mystery really, I have no clue what it's from.<br />
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The oldest big scar runs from across my shoulder blade on my back to the bottom of my breast in the front, on the left hand side of my torso. I've touched upon this scar in the past post: it's been there for as long as I remember and I've never had a problem with it. It has always been a part of my body, just like my nose or my eyes.<br />
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For the other large scar, this wasn't always the case. It's the scar from the surgery that I has when I was 14. I remember looking in the mirror the day before and saying goodbye to my smooth chest, knowing it'd never look the same. I think this was a tricky age to get a scar in a place so visible, as you're already going through changes and have a lot of insecurities. My old scar is covered unless I'm in swimwear, but this new one would be visible to everyone in a lot of tops and T-shirts. It has faded now, but more importantly it has become a part of me. Some people don't even notice, others ask about it, and that is just fine.<br />
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Sincerely,<br />
R.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683646051510624629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337351841466256653.post-50923396892547023112015-02-28T08:00:00.000+01:002015-02-28T08:00:01.185+01:00A coffee addict's tea picks.Are you a tea person or a coffee person? I can safely say I'm on team coffee! I drink it every day and sometimes I have more than I should. Recently however, I've been drinking more and more tea. I was stressed out and cut back on the caffeine to make sure my body wouldn't go into overdrive. So today I present you with my favourite teas, including the one that made choose for tea more often. By tea, I mean both actual tea infusions as well as herbal infusions that don't contain the tea plant.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><u><span style="font-size: large;">Tea bags</span></u><br />
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we've got quite a few types of tea bags at home, but the box in the background contains the ones that I bought for myself. I have two favourites. One is the snore & peace infusion by clipper. <a href="http://once-upondecember.blogspot.com/2014/08/london-purchases-part-four-tea.html" target="_blank">I got it last summer when I was in London.</a> There's only a few,more bags left in my tea box, so I'm reluctant to use them as I don't want to run out of it!</div>
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The other is my favourite tea at the moment: yogi tea lime mint. The base of this is liquorice, which means the tea is sweet. Of course there's also lime and mint in there, but there's also turmeric and a few other spices on the ingredient list. It tastes unlike any tea I'd tried before, so good! This is the one that makes me change teams more often!<br />
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Every sachet of yogi tea has a nice message attached to it as well, very cute!<br />
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<u><span style="font-size: large;">loose leaf teas</span></u><br />
As for actual tea, I like white and green tea, but cannot stand black tea! I've got this white tea, which is very light. I got it from a shop in Leuven, but don't know what the brand is.<br />
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In that same shop I got a forest fruit tea. It smells like sweets! There's more smell to it than there is taste, but it is a nice tea!<img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ri-CqfvvQ4w/VPBPi6szRpI/AAAAAAAACV8/59I958jc880/s1600/DSCF8660.JPG" height="480" width="640" /><br />
Lastly, there's the fortnum & mason moroccan mint tea. It's actually a mint flavoured green tea. I often end up using too much of this because the leafs are rolled up, but it smells and tastes lovely!<br />
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Also props for the beautiful tin!<br />
<img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QWlvFkon-cU/VPBPDvs6f9I/AAAAAAAACVs/WMOQodeAlmI/s1600/DSCF8646.JPG" height="480" width="640" /><br />
Well, I'll go and pop on the kettle now!<br />
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What's your favourite tea?<br />
Sincerely,<br />
R.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683646051510624629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337351841466256653.post-78314673511130431382015-02-24T08:00:00.000+01:002015-02-24T08:00:00.072+01:00A skin saviour.When it comes to skincare, I only use very few product. Unless I need to take my make up off, I'll only use water to wash my face because I don't find skincare product add any value. Lately however, I've rediscovered a product that I've been using on and off for several years. This is Rivella's Derma Repair Complex. It's done my skin a world of good!<br />
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<a name='more'></a>It's a pink serum that promises to help your skin repair itself. So it can be used on abrasions or parched skin. It shouldn't be used on open wounds or by people with psoriasis. It's packaged in dropper bottle, which makes it easy to dose.<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN-fM3fP6YsdPItARmberW3AViJ6O5DmywrLYWvh_mS2fnZvzuFyfLZc_CNPkJazqRoB1qRB_JmmtnpWUcVj2b3cLf_m4nUPPKt1r8krDuRCkyyVMo9OxKU5P4euG0j8Ub5WSb4hwomZEk/s1600/20150212_122051.jpg" width="640" /><br />
I used it on blemishes that were healing and it truly made them heal faster! Then I also used it on my whole face for a few days and it made my skin look great! Unfortunately I don't have the box with ingredient list any more, so I don't know what's in there. It does say betaglucan on the vial, so that might be in there along with other ingredients.<br />
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The consistency is serum-y I suppose, it's thicker than water for sure. The instructions on the back say to put in on your face and neck twice a day after cleansing and put a moisturiser on top. I get good results only using it once a day, and I definitely don't need any extra moisturiser! If anything, I needed powder to take the shine away! It leaves my skin feeling tacky and look shiny, but it does not cause any break outs. </div>
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I believe the price is 21 or 22 euros, and it's totally worth it. It's worked for me, but also for other people around me. The bigger issue is that you can only purchase it on Rivella parties, which are like Tupperware parties, but with Rivella products of course. I wish they had an online shop or physical store near me, but alas...<br />
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If you do ever come across this, I highly recommend you buy it!<br />
Sincerely,<br />
R.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683646051510624629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337351841466256653.post-29649514264427680442015-02-20T08:00:00.000+01:002015-02-20T08:58:52.953+01:00Life with congenital heart disease.I've been in doubt for a long time about whether to write about this or not, but as I write posts on exercise regularly, it seems relevant to tell you about my heart disease and how it affects me. I'm not even sure where to start, but things I want to cover in this and following posts include a bit of my story, how it affects me in daily life, and how it affects how I exercise. So I decided to try and split it up into past, present, and future. Some things never change though, so it's not easy to completely split it up. Anyhow, here's the story of my past.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Congenital means that I was born with my heart defect. My aorta was narrowed and I had surgery to fix it when I was a mere 14 days old. During my early childhood I also had numerous cardiac catheterizations in which doctors go up from the large vessels in the groin to the heart or aorta with a small "balloon" in order to stretch the narrowing. I don't know how many times that happened, but it must have been many times since there's so much scar tissue on one side that they had to go through the other side. I cannot remember a single thing from all of this as it happened when I was very, very young.<br />
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Later in childhood I felt rather normal, but in hindsight I may have gotten ill more easily than other kids. I did have a huge scar - not the one in the photo - and had to go for check-ups once a year, both of which are still the case of course. The scar never bothered me, after all it had been there as long as I could remember and it has always been a part of me! The check-ups on the other hand, I dreaded. What I did know already back then, was that I should never push myself too far physically. Listening to my body is key! That's why I'm not allowed - by my doctors - to participate in sports competitions and PE teachers were told to judge me on efforts rather than performance. I always ended up last when it came to running and hated it, but I generally liked PE. and even did a bit of sport after school once a week.<br />
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Until my teens, nothing much changed. But at some point I noticed I got out of breath faster than usually, which I told my doctors about in my check-up. The year after this one, they told me one of my heart valves was not functioning properly and I had to have surgery to replace it. This was a major surgery, the kind where they open up your chest, put your hart to stop and connect your body to a heart-lung machine so the surgeons can work on the heart. These were terrifying times and the wait until the surgery (I think this was about two months) seemed like forever. Sleep quality is not great when you're faced with this kind of news and it was difficult to stay focused in school of course. But my family, friends, classmates and teachers were all very supportive. The surgery went very well and I recovered faster than even the doctors had anticipated. I haven't had any problems in the past ten years, but I know that I will need more (minor) surgery in the future. (More on that in the future post.<br />
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I realise that I'm lucky to be born in the time and place that I was, where the medical knowledge and equipment are available and affordable. So I ought to make the most out of the life I was given and take care of my health as well as I can.<br />
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In the next post, I intend to write about the present, so topics will include daily life, exercise, scars, and how people deal with me and I with them.<br />
Sincerely,<br />
R.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683646051510624629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337351841466256653.post-86189405728063457992015-02-17T08:00:00.000+01:002015-02-25T09:08:22.484+01:00A recipe: fool-proof American-style brownies.Do you like brownies? You know, chocolatey goodness, crispy on the outside and fudgy on the inside? Well if you do, keep reading! Here's a recipe that even I managed to get right from the fist time. When my family tried these, they told me how good they were and asked for the recipe, so they are definitely delicious.<br />
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<span id="goog_448863502"></span><span id="goog_448863503"></span><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W3opV-4BiDU/VN5QbcvIf4I/AAAAAAAACQM/6BVyIiy8YaY/s1600/20150212_131635.jpg" height="480" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /><br />
<a name='more'></a><u><span style="font-size: large;">Ingredients</span></u><br />
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20 g brésiliennenootjes *</div>
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200 g dark chocolate</div>
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1 tsp. baking powder</div>
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60 g plain flour</div>
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250 g butter</div>
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300 g sugar</div>
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80 g cacao</div>
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4 eggs</div>
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* These are caramelised almond flakes, chopped into fine pieces. You can omit this if you prefer, or use finely chopped nuts.<br />
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<u><span style="font-size: large;"> How to make</span></u><br />
Start by sifting the flour, cocoa, and baking powder. You can keep them together in a single bowl and set them aside for later.<br />
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Then break the chocolate into pieces and slice the butter into cubes and melt them in a bain marie together over medium high heat. You can go on with the next steps whilst they are melting but be sure to keep an eye on this and to stir every now and then.<br />
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-nPbRXy5vzprfEyNbBnrc6pZ3iRViG4i54Bc5pLNkwOl-k_ZEV03D3doELkdpArhxQZerOWUsHD-IJ6yOc5uAAzbezNvYUmJaAxOoNzwqRVUZSkOyORCpADUK6LIF59ojm_TEF-9lURPO/s1600/20150212_090132.jpg" width="640" /><br />
Break the eggs into a mixing bowl and whisk them until they're foamy. I used an electric mixer for this: fast an easy!<br />
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Add the sugar in and mix again. It will look like this.<br />
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When the chocolate & butter are melted, combine these with the eggs & sugar and mix again.<br />
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Then add the flour, cocoa, and baking powder too. Mix these in with a spoon before you use an electric mixer so the powder won't fly up in the air. Then mix until the batter is smooth. It will be very thick and sticky!<br />
Preheat the oven to 180°C and line a tray with baking paper. Pour the batter on there. A spatula comes in very handy with this sticky consistency!<br />
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Sprinkle some bresiliennenootjes on top and bake for 20 minutes.<br />
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Time to clean up! The batter itself tastes great too by the way! When the baking is done, the brownie will have risen quite a bit, but it will flatten again as it cools down. Now be patient: wait for it to cool down completely before slicing it!<br />
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It does stick to the baking paper a little, so I recommend you transfer the whole thing with the baking paper onto a cutting board and slide a large knife between the brownie and the paper before cutting it to pieces.<br />
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The best way the eat them is with vanilla ice cream! But I gave these to my grandma, that's why they're in a tureen.<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
Sincerely,<br />
R.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683646051510624629noreply@blogger.com