My Travel Bucket List.

Travel is so important to me, I just find it so educational. Experiencing how people live their lives, different cultures, foods & more.  

Here is my Travel Bucket List. 

Thailand.

 

Thailand has always interested me as it is such a beautiful place, it looks so calm and peaceful. The sense of freedom in the big open spaces and beautiful Islands of Thailand always appeal to me. 

The White Sand beaches seem so beautiful & imagine waking up in Thailand ? A dream, Thailand is on my list for next year.

Santorini, Greece.

Beautiful. How amazing does this Island look? I can literally smell the fresh sea air and feel the sun on my face. Greece has always interested me as I love Greek food and them buildings are so beautiful. 

Australia. 

This is the Basin, Rottnest Island in western Australia and I have always loved the idea of visiting here. Australia has been another country on my list of places to visit. I wouldn't move there but I would love to visit Australia for a month or so and see the beautiful country that it is. 

 Dubai.

 

Last but not least, The amazing Dubai. Myself and Adam have talked about Dubai since we have been together and we would love to live there for a while. Obviously not today or tomorrow but maybe down the line. Dubai has always interested me and I really hope I get to spend time there some day. 

So there you go, I really hope to get the chance to visit all of these places someday. I hope you all enjoyed this post. Let me know if you have visited any of these countries and your experience. I would love to read your comments.

Much Love & Happy Travelling,

Kayleigh xx

What's In my Handbag.

This is one of those posts that I have seen lots of my favourite Bloggers & Youtubers do & I have to say its a post that I love because I'm quite a nosey person. I wanted to do this post because I got a new handbag and its rather big and contains quite a few random bits and bobs.

This is the bag that my Boyfriends Parents got me for my 22nd birthday. Its from Parfois and I am obsessed with it. Its such a deep bag and I can literally carry my life in it. The picture doesn't do it justice but I promise its fab in reality.

So here is what I personally think I need everyday, I probably don't need all of this.

Purse.

The Purse I am using at the moment is a River Island Purse. I am a sucker for these purses, I find it hard to leave River Island without a new purse. They are just so practical and fit everything I need from cards, to cash & change. 

 

Perfume.

Elizabeth Taylor White Diamonds has been a huge favourite of mine since I was quite young as my Mam wore it & still does. As I got older I became more obsessed with it and it is now my favourite perfume to wear. I find myself over spraying myself just because of how beautiful it is. 

Glasses:

For those of you who don't know, I have quite bad eyesight. As a child I wore glasses & in the teens I was told I could stop wearing them that my eyesight improved. Well, that optician was wrong, I really need them especially for the likes of working on the computer or watching TV for a long period of time otherwise I get migraines that last a couple of days. 

Make-Up:

This is a must have in a girls handbag. I always tend to carry far too much make up in my bag. There are always 2 foundations-Mac Moisture foundation & Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Foundation, my Sleek contour pallet, Benefit roller lash mascara, Mac translucent powder, Benefit brow products and my catrice blush. Anything after that is a surprise that I throw in last minute.

Phone Charger:

It is the 21st century and phone manufacturers have still not made a long lasting battery. I work 5 days per week and even when Im in work doing treatments my phone still manages to die so carrying a charger is key. I cannot live without phone battery, yes I sound pathetic but I'm sure I'm not the only one who does this.

Gum:

My job is pretty hands on with being up close with clients, so I feel it is so important to have some kind of gum to freshen my breath throughout the day, especially after lunch. 

Hand Sanitiser and Cleanser:

I am completely obsessed with hygiene so carrying a bottle of Sanitiser is so important to me germs make my anxiety hit an all time high and that is simply because of my job. Also carrying cleanser with me is essential as I despise face wipes and will only clean my face with cleanser. At the moment I use the Ytsara Replenishing cleansing which can be purchased in The River Spa in the Knightsbrook hotel.

Car Keys:

Well these are an essential. I only got my own car a couple of months ago so theres are a newbie in my handbag.

Hair Accessories:

I always keep lots of hair ties and hair clips in the bottom of my bag, I am known for leaving clips and hair ties everywhere but hey what girl doesn't !!

Umbrella.

We live in Ireland guys, If you don't have an umbrella in your bag best of luck surviving int this country. My Umbrella is so cute its a Cat Kidston Umbrella that my Nan got me because she is literally the most glamorous gran ever.

 

Food & Juice.

I am a small girl with a huge appetite and if there is no food in my bag something is seriously wrong.

Right now I have half a bar of milk chocolate, a packet of Walker Crisps cheese & onion and a belvita biscuit. 

To conclude:

I suppose the contents of my bag is probably quite similar to most girls, Let me know what you carry around.

Much Love Beauties,

Kayleigh xx

My 6 Steps to Healthy Skin.

Beautiful Skin Requires Commitment, A Healthy Diet & A Happy Soul.


Skin is kind of a weird thing right ? You Guys know I experience skin first hand on a daily basis as it is part of my career.

Here are my tips to keeping your skin glowing.

1.  Remove your make up, no matter what you do, never go to bed with make up on. Your skin needs to breath. Throughout the day our pores get so clogged up with Sweat, Make up and everyday pollution so it is so important to cleanse your face at the end of each day. When I say cleanse I do NOT mean make up wipes, I mean a proper cleanser to suit your personal skin type as it completely cleanses the pores not just the surface of the skin.
2. Cleansing Routine, it is not enough to just cleanse the skin, you also need to tone and moisturise. Your skin will feel clean & hydrated and you will feel so much better for it.
3. Sleep is a huge factor, when you are tired your skin looks dull and your eyes usually look puffy so getting at least 8 hours sleep is so important. If you find it hard to fall asleep pop a movie on before you go to bed and it will most definitly make you sleepy. A few of my favourites are, Marley & Me, PS. I love you and Dirty Dancing. 
   
4. Diet. We all love our treats, but try to lessen how many times per week you overload your body with sugars and fatty foods. I know myself if I have a bad week of take aways and nibbles that I will breakout without fail. Try and fill your body with healthy foods such as fruit if you have a sweet craving & crackers if you want savoury. 
5.  SPF - Sun factor is very important especially in Ireland as we have such a varied type of weather. One second it is sunny and the next its raining, but, in any kind of weather there are UV Rays that we don't see and they are constantly attacking our skin. So whether its a sun cream you apply or a foundation with an SPF in it you should always make sure your skin is protected, Otherwise you can be a victim of premature ageing and sun damaged skin.  
    
6.  Hydration- A huge problem with skin is Dehydration. Ensure you take in plenty of water throughout the day. When the skin is hydrated it looks illuminated, plumped & moist. Hydration helps prevent premature ageing and wrinkles. It is so important to keep hydrated for the best results. Tea & Coffee can counteract the amount of water you drink as they dehydrate the skin so lessen your intake of both and replace them with water !! 

So these are my main skincare tips, I hope you all enjoyed todays post, I am so obsessive about skincare, I think it is a big part of why I wanted to go into the beauty industry.

Remember to give your skin some TLC and you will see such a difference in your skin.

Much Love,
Kayleigh xx

Chilli Con Carne With Kayleigh

Nothing beats a good wholesome Chilli Con Carne with a good kick, So here is my twist on Chilli Con Carne.


What You Will Need.

• A Large Pan
• A medium sized pot
• Chopping Boards
• Knives.
• Wooden Spoon

Ingredients.

• 500g Minced Meat 
• 1 Onion
• 2 Cloves of Garlic
• Hot Chilli Powder
• Olive Oil 
• Ground Cumin
• 1 beef stock cube
• 1 Can of Kidney Beans 
• Sweetcorn (half a can)
• Boiled Rice(Which ever you prefer)
• 2 table spoons of tomato puree 
• Soured Cream 
• 1 can of chopped tomatoes.
• 1 teaspoon of sugar

This Serves 4 people so if you have left overs keep them and pop them in the fridge for lunch.

How to make this Magical looking dish. 

1. Firstly, You need to get chopping. So start prepping your Veg, I always make sure I have everything chopped and ready to just throw onto the pan. So take your onion and garlic and chop up both how ever you like. 
2. Heat up your pan, pour 1 tablespoon of oil onto your pan and let it heat up quite well on a medium heat. Then pop your onions onto the pan. The key to cooking your onions right is keep stirring them and wait until they are almost translucent and soft. Then add your garlic and stir. 
3. Move onto the rest of your seasoning, adding 2 teaspoons of your hot chilli powder and 2 teaspoons of ground cumin. Mix everything together and let all your seasoning soak into the onions.
4. Now, onto your meat. Add your meat to the pan and start browning it, the seasoning already in the pan will soak into the meat giving it amazing flavour. Make sure to cook the mince meat until there is no pink left on the meat. 
5. Making your sauce is really simple, just pop your beef stock into a jug and add 250ml of boiling water to it and stir until it dissolves. Then add it to your pan. Add your can of chopped tomatoes to the pan and make sure to stir everything in so that the meat can completely soak up all the flavours. 
6. Add 1 teaspoon of sugar and stir until it has dissolved. Season with salt and pepper and then add your tomato puree. (2 table spoons.) 
7. Let everything simmer for 15mins on a low heat. Cover it with a lid. Make sure to check your dish every so often to make sure it doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan. It should look thick and juicy when its ready and not too runny. 
8. Add in your kidney beans and sweetcorn and stir everything together then turn your heat off and let it sit for 10minutes. 
9. While your dish is resting boil your rice.
10. Serve your chilli on a bed of rice and you can also add soured cream as a garnish. 

Now sit down with your loved ones, relax and enjoy your spicy, hearty dish and give yourself a pat on the back !!

Happy Cooking,
Kayleigh xx


                             

My 3 Favourite Foundations for Summer.

Summer has arrived in Ireland and that means a very different kind of weather. Humidity is a big killer when it comes to choosing the right foundation to wear. One minute we are melting with the heat and the next we have a thunderstorm causing us to be so warm and the lashing rain destroying our flawless layers of foundation.

Over the past couple of months I have been testing out foundations that I find last through all this crazy weather.

1.  Inglot YSM Foundation.
This foundation is one I was quite weary of at the beginning, I didn't like how it sat on the skin but when I researched it I learned that it all depends on the brush you use and the amount you are applying. So I went about trying it again. I used a kabuki brush to apply it, I applied one layer and gave it a few seconds to set on the skin, then applied a second layer and it looked so flawless. I then done the test and wore it to work to see how it would last as the Spa is quite hot and foundation just evaporates off the skin, but it didn't budge. I would highly recommend this foundation for summer especially for teens and young skin.

2. Mac Moisture Foundation.

Well this has been the talk of the town since it was released, I managed to pick it up on my trip to Poland in the Mac Store in Dublin Airport, It retails at 36.50 and there are 18shades of this foundation so a huge variety. I would highly recommend this for a mature skin or someone who has quite dry or dehydrated skin. I wouldn't suggest it for anyone with oily skin as it is quite moist and would slide off the face in heat. This would be really good for anyone going on holiday as it contains an SPF , its also great as its light and has a medium coverage so you don't feel caked in foundation but it still gives a flawless effect and last well especially with a light dusting of a translucent powder on top.

3. Benefits Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Foundation. (what a mouthful)

This is my all time favourite for summer that is why I left it until last. It is really important to prepare your skin before applying this meaning you need to cleanse the skin, applying a moisturiser and primer. I went to benefit and had my colour matched as I had never used benefit foundation so I wasn't sure of the shade I needed. This comes in 9 shades, It has quite a dewy brightening look on the skin and gives light/medium coverage perfect for summer. What really got me what the fact that its got an SPF of 25 so I was automatically taking this with me.  It retails at 35euro and is completely worth it I Promise !! 

I hope you all enjoyed this post, If You have any requests on posts just comment below and I'll be sure to get onto them.

Much Love,

Kayleigh xx

Gaining weight - My Journey so far.

Over the past couple of months I have started to attend a local gym, most people will say " You're so skinny you don't need to workout!" I cringe at that sentence as it just show how our society thinks. The gym is not just for weight loss, it is also for bettering your fitness and yes Gaining weight. "Hypotrophy" is the word used to describe the process of gaining weight in the form of muscle.
This is what I have been doing over the past while.

Why Am I On This Weight Gain Journey You Ask ?

Back in December I had my tonsils removed and over the recovery time it was ridiculously hard to eat meaning I was getting very little nutrients into my system. I ended up losing a wee bit of weight putting me into and underweight category.

Over the time of getting myself better I began to notice what people would say to me. It was never "How are you feeling?" but a shocked "Omg You Look so Sick" or "You look so skinny are you not eating?" Now obviously I just smiled and passed it off but deep down my emotions were going crazy, I hated my body, one lady I met in the Shop even said "God you're gone very pale and sick looking", Automatically I had a full shop of people staring at me, I just wanted the ground to swallow me up there and then.

Once I had gotten over the Operation and got myself better I began researching how to gain weight and the best foods to eat, that was an Epic Fail. My metabolism is ridiculously fast and food doesn't stay in my body any longer than it needs to it burns it off in a flash.

My last resort

The Fit Factory.

For those of you who have been living under a rock, The Fit Factory is a gem hidden in Gravelstown, Carlanstown in Co. Meath.
David Moran is the Genius behind the Fit Factory he basically created a haven of fitness and a place to go and just completely forget all your worries. There is nothing better than going to workout along side like minded people who are all there for their own reasons and don't look at you like you dont belong there.

Also a huge reason I love the Fit Factory "THERE ARE NO POSERS!!" Yes no-one taking pictures of their ridiculous arms and abs in the mirrors.

There is a free weights gym which basically refers to weights such as barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, and medicine balls, which are weights used for building strength , balance and muscles mass. Now I really only know this from listening to literally everything I am being told. The Free weights gym is where I spend my time as I am literally concentrating on gaining strength and weight. Paul who is the trainer in the gym does individual programs for each person suitable to their goals and they get tougher each session but make you push harder for your results.

David also runs classes which are so intense but amazing, the results people have got with these classes are jaw dropping. So it just proves when you have a trainer with the right knowledge and when you have determination, you can do anything.

I have been off my game this week with training but it was my birthday so hey I suppose I can use that as an excuse ;)

Thank You to Paul & David for their help so far in putting me on the path to getting nice and healthy.

so there you go guys and gals, if you are afraid of getting into fitness and working out don't be, I was a nervous wreck going for my first time but remember, everyone has a different story.

I Hope you all enjoyed this post !! Be sure to head over and like the fit factory page on facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/fitfactorymeath

Much Love

Kayleigh xx

UPDATE- Where have I been ?

Hello Beautiful People!

To say it is odd to be sitting here typing again is an understatement. The past year has been a rollercoaster in both positive and negative ways. My blogging took a huge backseat as I had to put both my health and career as my top priorities.

Whats been happening you ask ??

Well, there are multiple things that stopped me from blogging, now in fairness I have been updating you all on Snapchat daily so some of you will probably know what I have been up to. Over the past 6months or so my anxiety hit an all time high of panic attacks, insomnia, restlessness and paranoia, so if I was to say that hasn't been easy I would be lying.

Work has been great over the past while, we are so busy and have had lots of training in new products, treatments etc, for anyone who's asking "what do you do?" well I work in The River Spa in the Knightsbrook hotel in Co. Meath, I am a Spa Therapist.

Major News Guys .... I GOT A CAR , Yes I am finally on the road and could not be more happier. I got a bit of help from my parents which I appreciate so much and I paid my insurance (so expensive). Being on the road has helped me with my confidence which I have very little of although most people are like "You're so bubbly and not afraid to talk to anyone" Yes thats what it may look like but most of the time Im dying inside !!

My Birthday is also tomorrow. I will be 22 ! Yes i know your all singing that Taylor Swift song don't be Ashamed Ive been singing it all day long. Work is a priority again tomorrow as I am in work on my birthday but hey I'd probably just sit at home and eat cake all day anyway.

I have also been going to the gym Yes I actually joined a gym that I like going to but I will post properly regarding that as most of you will be like "Why are you going to the gym? you dont need to!" Watch out for my blog on that it could be a long one.

I hope this has updated you all a little I know its not very detailed or interesting but Ive had questions asking why I havn't been posting as frequently, so there you go.

Hope everyone is having a fabulous week.

Much Love xx