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Friday 29 August 2014

You're Never Too Old... | Feel Good Friday

... for Disney tunes. There's nothing quite like 110% giving yourself to a song, belting it out and dancing like a maniac all round your room, but I can guarantee that it's the effect a Disney song can have on most people.

I think it's the rare combination of childhood nostalgia mixed with genuine love, and absolutely zero embarrassment (we all know we loved some bad, BAD songs when we were too young to know better - Barbie Girl anyone?). Disney songs are just SO wonderful.

This week I've been scouring Spotify, and have actually created a playlist, appropriately titled "The Best Songs Ever' and it's been my go-to jam ever since. Here's some of my all-time faves, classics, if you will.



Also, I'd like this opportunity to pay tribute to one of the most talented actors and greatest comedic legends there ever has, and ever will be, and star of one of my all time favourite Disney movies, Robin Williams.

R.I.P you funny, funny man. Thank you.




Thursday 28 August 2014

Good Things 'Miracle Mattifier' Moisturiser | Reviewsday


Ahhhh this moisturiser! I felt like I'd died and gone to heaven when Ella whipped this out of her bag in Budapest (great place, for more info click here and here)!

This product is perfect for people with oily or combination skin, or for anyone going somewhere hot for a couple of weeks. It does exactly what it says on the tin, moisturising well yet without being excessively oily, therefore combatting problematic oily areas. The formula is light, so doesn't sit on your skin taking an age to absorb, and is nourishing enough so as not to dehydrate any dry parts. It also contains blackcurrant and goja berries, which Good Things claim to be "superfruit beauty boosters".



I genuinely did fall in love with the this product, and ended up stealing it for the entire time I was with Ella, completely forgetting about my usual moisturiser. It really did help with the whole sweat and excess oil problem that comes with being in a hotter, more urban environment, especially seeing as I wore zero make up in the day so had no mattifying powder! Good Things describes the moisturiser as 'Anti Blemish' and I do agree: I noticed a reduction in the number of spots I got/had at the time. They credit this to the black currant extract, which absorbs excess oil on your skin. If you're worried about sensitivity, I can say that I have sensitive skin and did not experience one problem.


I cannot sing this moisturiser's praises enough, and at only £7.99* you really can't go wrong! If you'd like to read more about it, click here.

Have any of you guys tried any products you've absolutely loved/hated recently?

*There was a 1/3 off all Good Things products in store in the Boots in Chester (and just on this moisturiser online), so I got mine for £5.33. I'd check if I were you, it's worth it!

Wednesday 27 August 2014

Kalkan, Turkey | Wanderlust Wednesday


Now, are you sitting comfortably? Are you sure? Because I'm going to let you in on a secret.

Recently I went back to Kalkan with my family, one of my favourite places in the entire world, for the third time. I first went about eleven years ago, and then went again three years later, so I hadn't been in about eight years. And y'know what? I loved it just as much. It's one of those places in the world that you just can't tire of, and I'm so happy that I was able to go before it became more recognised as a tourist location. I almost didn't write this post because I wasn't sure if I wanted more people to know about it!

It's most definitely a place where you go for a pool and beach holiday. There are boat tours where you can go and visit places such as the Sunken City of Kekova, and nearby Patara beach is beautiful. This time round my brother, my dad and I all went scuba diving which was hands down one of the best experiences of my life. But asides from all that, what sets Kalkan apart is the 'vibe' - I'm really sorry about using that word, but there seriously isn't another way of describing it! Everyone is so friendly and relaxed, the sea and landscape are stunning, the food is divine. You can be almost anywhere in Kalkan or the surrounding hillside and hear the Mosque, which I think is so beautiful. It's not overrun by toursits, and everything is thoroughly based on Turkish culture.

Kalkan is a place where I will always be able to see myself returning.






















Anyways, who wouldn't go back to a place where they give you free bread and shots at tea time?

Tuesday 26 August 2014

The Body Shop 'Love Your Body' Reward Card | Review & Haul

In today's foray into Chester, I made a beeline into The Body Shop to lust after their Honey Bronze powder (please excuse the pun) and their new Wild Argan Oil products - I need the Radiant Oil and the Body Lotion in my life. As I wandered round I noticed a sign offering a free shower gel for everyone who signed up for a 'Love Your Body' reward card on that day.

Now, I really like The Body Shop but hardly ever shop there, and already knew that this card meant a wonderful 10% off all purchases, so needless to say I grabbed it and ran to the counter. What I didn't know were all the HIDDEN EXTRA LOVELY BITS included on this, the most perfect of cards. You get:
  • Up to £15 worth of free gifts a year (i.e. per card)
  • A birthday gift worth up to £5
  • Member-only discounts and events
  • Inside info - be the first to know about new products
Also, on the card I picked up they were offering 20% off the first online purchase you make, but I don't know if this is the same for everyone! Either way, for £5 for a year you really can't go wrong. I am not affiliated with The Body Shop in any way, I just wanted to let people know about what I consider an amazing offer! For more information please click here.

And now the haul! I managed to stay away from the make up section (go me!), and instead was well behaved and stuck to body and room things. For my free shower gel I chose 'Atlas Mountain Rose' which has an impressive 250 ml of product (I couldn't find a link for this unfortunately). It is just floral enough to be both subtle and aromatic, claims to soften and refresh your skin, and contains natural ingredients. I must admit I usually opt for fruity scents, but the lack of choice remaining at the checkout has forced me to experiment, which I'm glad about!



The other item I got was a repurchase from a couple of years ago. We've just found out that we aren't allowed to burn candles in our uni house next year, so when I spotted this 'Pomegranate & Raspberry Body, Room and Linen Spritz' for £7 near the till, I nabbed it straight away! I'm also worryingly low on perfume so this should be a lovely multi-purpose buy. As I left, I noticed out of the corner of my eye some Reed Diffusers in the same scents as the Body, Room and Linen Spritzes for £15, so I have a small idea what to spend my next 10% discount on - no one likes a smelly room, right?




Monday 25 August 2014

Raiding Sainsbury's Beauty Aisle | Haul

On Friday afternoon my lovely mother and I went for a quick trip into Chester. It wasn't the most successful trip, what with having to battle through the bank holiday weekend traffic and the cabinet my mum had wanted having already been sold. So it was in not the most joyous of moods that we arrived at Sainsbury's, but little did we (I) know, salvation was near! A quick trip down the beauty and hair aisles were all we (I) needed to put smiles on our (my) faces - she was still pretty miffed about the cabinet.


However, she still found it in her heart to look the other way as I popped these beauties into the trolley <3

£1.99 each from Boots



I already own the 'Bee Strong Strengthening Cream' and love it as an alternative to my Aussie leave-in conditioners as it leaves my hair feeling silky smooth and smelling amazing. Surprisingly though, the shampoo and conditioner set had escaped my eye, that is until a friend credited them for the massive reduction of split ends in her hair. Needless to say I was sold immediately! Hopefully they'll live up to the hype, and may be the answer to my hair complaints from my Hair Lust List? A girl can dream! Also, I find it really satisfying that the two bottles slot together so perfectly - is that weird?

Gillette Venus Spa Breeze pack of 4 cartridges
£9.99 from Amazon and Boots



These don't really require an explanation as to why I bought them, you all know how much I adore the Spa Breeze range from my Beauty Must-Have post! Please excuse the marks on the front of the box, it had a security mark sticker on it - they're THAT valuable, haha!

£4.59 from Boots



I saw this and instantly picked it up. My skin has been acting up recently, so it's claims of being "anti-blemish", with "spot fighting ingredients" Zinc PCA, Chamomile, Tapioca Starch and Aloe Vera, and "long lasting shine control" had me weak at the knees. I have used other Simple products for years, and I know my skin reacts well to them, so in an attempt to balance its pH level I'm sticking with the "experts in sensitive skin" who I know and love. Fingers crossed!

£1.00 from Boots


If this shower cream was a person, I would marry them, THAT is how much I love it. It leaves your skin feeling super soft, lathers really well and lives up to its name - I genuinely feel happy when I use this product, even at 9:30 8:30 before an early lecture. Plus, the orange blossom scent is too die for. They've changed the formula and packaging since I last purchased, so I'm eager to see if/how it's changed.

£4.99 each from the Good Things website



I have been massively in love with Good Things since Budapest, when Ella whipped out the 'Miracle Mattifier Moisturiser' (which I am still desperately trying to get my hands on). It worked so well for my skin, controlling oil and shine yet still moisturising, so when I spotted these hidden below Simple I had to get them! I have previously tried the exfoliator, but can't remember being too fussed about it either way so decided I should give it another go. The 'Stay Clear' promise of the cleanser was enough for me, I will fight you spots! As the name suggests, they're full of 'good things' and are suitable for vegans and vegetarians, so hopefully they won't aggravate my skin further.

So that's it, my Sainsbury's haul! I hope you enjoyed it, and if you've tried any of these products or anything else you'd recommend please feel free to leave a comment below!

Sunday 24 August 2014

Rimmel London 'Wonder'full Mascara with Argan Oil' in 001 Black | Reviewsday

I'd seen a lot of adverts in magazines and online about the new Rimmel London Wonder'full Mascara, so when I saw that it was on offer in Boots for £5.99, I snapped it up immediately.

The mascara promises lashes that are defined, conditioned and full of volume but without clumps, and I was excited to see if it lived up to it's claims.



Firstly, the pros:

The mascara boasts an impressive 11ml of product, which from a quick browse of my (ridiculous) mascara stash, I could see is significantly higher than many other drugstore brands. 
Additionally, I found that the mascara transferred to my lashes very well, covering them from lash to tip with only one coat, and lasts all day.
The colour of the mascara (001 Black) is a very deep, dark shade, and was not at all flaky.
It also delivered on its 'defined lash with no clumps' promise, which for me in a massive pro!


The cons:

I found that my lashes were not massively volumised, especially in comparison to my favoured mascaras, and I was never truly satisfied with the shape of my lashes whilst I was wearing it. 
I also found that the mascara was pretty hard to get off, yet sometimes smudges and runs during the day. For some, the difficulty removing will not be that big of an issue, but for me it is a tad annoying when you spend time taking it off at night and wake up with panda eyes! As for the smudging during the day, this may be down to the wet weather recently, but I value weather resistance in a mascara, and would guess that the high oil level in the formula may lend itself to smudging. 
Finally, I'm not a massive fan of the wand. It has an extension at the end of it about 4mm long, without bristles, which I found stores excess mascara that can transfer to your lashes during application, making it difficult to get even coverage.



Overall, I don't think I will repurchase this product, just for the simple reasons that I didn't find it measured up to my preferred mascaras, and it just wasn't for me. This is purely down to personal preference, and I know that many people will really like this mascara, and for £5.99 it is worth a test! If you would like to purchase it, Rimmel London are currently running a competition for you to win a years supply of Wonder'full Mascara, for more details see here.

I hope you guys found my review helpful! In any reviews I post on Challot I will always be honest and fair, I am not a professional make up artist or biased in any way, I will just give my personal opinion on the products, which most likely will be rave reviews haha!

Saturday 16 August 2014

Porridge with Grapes, Sultanas and Cherries | Sain Saturday

I am not the healthiest person out there. In fact, I am actually quite unhealthy. Not because I binge on junk food all the time, but because I don't eat and drink enough of the healthy stuff. Recently, what with holidays and lack-of-kitchen-itis, my eating habits really have hit a new low - the other day I ate an ENTIRE triangle of brie. On its own. By myself. I must be stopped.

So, I am embarking on a new series of blog posts called 'Sain Saturday' ('sain' means 'healthy' in French, and we all know how much I love France!) to try and encourage myself to eat a more varied and nourishing diet, and hopefully inspire some of you to do the same! I thought I'd start with a good old fashioned breakfast dish - it is the most important meal of the day, after all - so here is today's porridge with a few tasty extras.

I am usually a dedicated Demerara sugar and butter fan, so to experiment with different flavours was daunting but proved very very tasty!




For this recipe I used:

A handful of cherries - sliced into quarters
4 grapes - sliced in half
Enough sultanas to fit in the palm of my hand

I also added a drizzle of Lincolnshire honey (courtesy of my Grannie), but found that it contrasted with the sweet/sour taste of the cherries and that the natural sugars from the fruits were enough of a sweetener!

I really did enjoy having something healthy for a change, especially because I proved to myself that it is possible to still eat the things you usually do with a few little changes! I may have it again tomorrow!

27 Ways To Make Your Macaroni Cheese Cooler | Top Tips


I love Macaroni Cheese. It is by far my favourite meal, and one of the few things I never tire of eating! At uni, it is a staple for my friends and I because it is so cheap to make, amazingly tasty as well as super filling. Because we ate it so much, we started to vary what we put in it to make it slightly healthier and more interesting. Here is a combination of our ideas, and some of my own to give the classic Macaroni Cheese a little something extra!

When you’re making the cheese sauce:

Get Cheesy - swap the classic Cheddar for...

1. Blue Cheese
2. Red Leicester - this will give the sauce a deeper yellow colour, which I loved as a child!
3. Stilton
4. Mozzarella - this will give a very mild taste, so I would suggest mixing it with a stronger cheese, or adding it on top if you bake the macaroni in the oven

Once you’ve created the cheese sauce:

Keep It Simple - add these easy ingredients

Pesto Genovese Macaroni Cheese
5. ½ teaspoon of Marmite (it really enhances the flavour of the cheese, and as long as you don't go majorly overboard, doesn't taste at all like Marmite - take it from a Marmite hater!)
6. Black pepper
7. Crushed garlic
8. Top it with breadcrumbs and bake it ‘till you make it (or until it’s golden brown)
9. Basil - fresh is probably better
10. Pesto - my favourites are Pesto Genovese and Sun-Dried Tomato
11. Worcestershire Sauce - for a kick!

After you’ve combined the pasta and sauce:

Have A Health Kick


Pea and Chicken Macaroni Cheese
12. Leeks - fry/caramelise them first and then stir them in well so they’re evenly distributed
13. Mushrooms
14. Caramelised Red Onions
15. Spinach - add with a couple of minutes to go on a very low heat or after you’ve taken the macaroni off the heat to prevent wilting
Broccoli Macaroni Cheese
16. Broccoli
17. Peas
18. Tomatoes - sundried or fresh, either stirred through the pasta or used on top if you’re baking it

Red Pepper Macaroni Cheese
19. Peppers
20. Sweetcorn
21. Spring Onions

And/Or Make It Meatilicious/Fishy


Bacon and Pea Macaroni Cheese
22. Chicken
23. Bacon
24. Tuna
25. Ham
26. Salami
27. Pepperoni

Now get cooking! You can thank me later.

P.S. I love to make all the recipes that I post about, however we are currently getting our kitchen redone so I am without cooker (and have been for over two months now!). I was way too excited about this post to wait for it to be finished, but rest assured I will be posting pictures of all the macaroni I eat when that happy day arrives on Twitter and Instagram! All these pictures are from this Pinterest search.