A little motivation...

I could use some extra motivation this week, so I thought I'd share 5 of my favourite motivational quotes.

Let's kick this week's butt! ;)

Travel tip: My guide to visiting Lyon

As you may know, I studied abroad in France last year! While studying there I visited the city of Lyon several times and it kind of stole my heart ❤️ 

Lyon has some of the beautiful features that Paris has, without  being too busy or touristy. I definitely recommend paying a visit if you are ever nearby (or even if you're not)! 

Here is my advice on what to see, do and eat when visiting Lyon!

1) Get there early and start your day with a typical French breakfast consisting of coffee, fresh orange juice, croissants and/or pain au chocolat.

2) Start your tour of Lyon on the impressive Place Bellecour and just take in its grandeur.

3) Wander the small streets of Old Lyon and take in the atmosphere by walking past the little shops, cafes and restaurants.

4) Walk in the direction of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste cathedral on Saint-Jean Square.

5) Head up to the basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière. The basilica is situated on the Fourvière hill, from where you'll have the most amazing view of the city. You can climb up the hill on foot: the path through the parc is beautiful and it makes reaching the top even more worthwhile! If you want a break from walking, you can also take a cable car from Saint-Jean cathedral to Fourvière hill. I personally tried both options on different occasions and can recommend both, it just depends on what you're feeling like... I won't judge! ;)

6) When it's time for lunch, head back down to one of the bouchons (typical lyonnais restaurants) in Old Lyon. If you're feeling particularly adventurous, go for a three course meal consisting of local specialities (I recommend the lyonnais salad, quenelle and about every tarte on the menu!). And the best thing, it will only set you back about 15 to 20 euros!

7) After lunch, rent a Velo V bike (my favourite means of transport in Lyon) and ride along the river Rhône. There are wide designated bicycle paths where you can ride completely seperate from the busy trafic. The atmosphere by the water is amazing, especially if the weather is nice: there are playgrounds, benches, deck chairs and even a pool alongside the river! 

8) Bike to the Parc de la Tête d'Or: a beautiful public park with a large lake, open fields, beautiful pathways and even a zoo!

9) If you need a pick-me-up in the afternoon, try the local confectionary: pralines, almonds in a pink sugar coating. I especially like the praline versions of popular french pastries, like brioche aux pralines or tarte aux pralines.

10) And last but not least, Lyon offers a lot of shopping possibilities. Lyons main shopping street is the Avenue de la République, where you can find most popular European brands like H&M, Zara and Sephora. For a more authentic French shopping experience, also explore the surrounding streets! If you prefer indoor shopping, head on over to the Part-Dieu or Confluence shopping centres.

Have you ever visited Lyon? Are there any recommendations I missed?

Recipe: Lemon chia energy balls

These lemon chia energy balls are one of my favourite healthy snacks! They are easy to make, require only a handful of ingredients and can be kept in the fridge or freezer for up to a few weeks. I found the recipe on one of my favourite Instagram accounts and have made it multiple times ever since.

The only thing you have to do is put the ingredients in a blender or food processor, blend them into a paste and roll it into balls. Put the energy balls in your fridge or freezer, and enjoy when you need a quick pick me up (or throw them in your bag as you run out the door)!

Ingredients:

• 15 dates
• 1/3 cup of almonds
• 2 tbsp shredded coconut
• 2 tbsp chia seeds
• zest of 1 lemon

I always start with the measurements above and add extra dates to form a paste that can be rolled into balls.

Give these a try and let me know what you think!

February recap

Disclaimer: I'm sorry to start my february recap on a negative note, but these recap posts are kind of my online diary so here it goes...

February was a month of ups and downs, or better yet: downs and ups... Because it started pretty down: exams were over but I didn't have that "exams are over" feeling and I had to get back to college immediately after. If you read my post on why you should study abroad, you'll know I studied in France last semester so I returned to my school for the first time in literally 7 months! 

Another consequence of going abroad for the first semester is that I only have 5 hours of courses left a week! This sounds like heaven on earth, but I was thoroughly bored and totally unproductive... 

Okay, enough with the debbie downer talk! Because things also started to pick up during this month. I found a student job to kill time and make some extra money, I passed all of my exams and I finally received the work permit for my internship in Canada next month! :)

Beauty favourites: I know I promised you a more exciting month on the beauty front, but unfortunately February really wasn't that interesting either... I'm using up products that I already own in order to get rid of as much stuff as possible. Most products are okay, but nothing more than that and those are not really the kind of things I want to share on this blog.

My favourite products for voluminous, messy hair: Big shampoo from Lush and Surf Spray by Bumble&Bumble. 

Heavy duty moisterizing, courtesy of The Body Shop Raspberry body butter, Polaar hand cream, Origins Drink Up Intensive overnight mask and Revlon Colorburst lip butter in 096 Macaroon.

And like last month, the perfume favourite is a rediscovery: Jo Malone's Earl grey & cucumber cologne. Only downside is that it is a really small bottle...

Health favourites: Juicing

A lot of the free time I mentioned above was spent in the kitchen, especially juicing. I really enjoy trying different flavour combinations and the cleansing effect it has on my body. Ideally, I would buy a good quality juicer (the one we have is just a cheap version that is a pain to clean), but this will have to do for now...

Technology favourites: Audio books and Pinterest

Going back to school means spending a lot of time on the bus. Enter audio books! I've been really enjoying listening to them, as it's more "substantial" than just music. If I find a particularly engaging story, it even makes me look forward to taking the bus! I buy my audio books from Audible (new customers get a free trial book, if you want try it for yourself).

Too much free time = spending hours on Pinterest. Need I say more?
Follow me if you'd like to see what I get up to!

What were your favourites this month?

Organizing 101: Spring to do list

I know it's technically not spring yet, but I caught the spring cleaning bug! I'm feeling inspired to reorganize the whole house, however I haven't actually started organizing anything! Ideally I would follow one of those "30 days to a clean house" printables on Pinterest, but I still live with my mom and sister which means not everything is my mess to organize (kind of a positive thing, I know!).

So today I made a personalized plan! I wrote down the 3 main areas of the house I want to organize. Then, I divided these into smaller projects. It looks a little something like this:

I found the printable on this blog.

I'll keep you posted on the progress!

Why you should study abroad!

The school of life doesn't have holidays

I studied abroad for 3 months this past year and I can honestly say I had the time of my life! In such a short time, I learned so much: about myself, my strenghts and weaknesses, about cultural differences, about living in an appartment with 4 girls and so much more... 

My tips for living or studying abroad:

1. Always keep an open mind.
2. Take every opportunity and try everything at least once! Well maybe not everything, but you know what I mean...
3. Try to learn a new language while you can: native speakers teach you things no text book or teacher can.
4. Immerse yourself in this new culture: food, language, music, books, etc.
5. Get to know the locals, they are the best tour guides!

I know this is my personal experience and it is different to every individual. But if you are thinking about living abroad for a while, whether it be for study, work or other reasons, I strongly encourage you to take this opportunity! I guarantee you will become a much richer person because of it. 

Wish list

1. Lancôme Miracle Cushion foundation; 2. H&M Seamless Sports Bra; 3. The Glam Guide by Fleurdeforce; 4. Balenciaga Rosabotanica perfume; 5. TIU Ultimate Shaker Bottle; 6. Clarisonic Mia 2; 7. Astrid and Miyu Rose Gold Zodiac Ring; 8. Mr. Kate Tuxedo ear pins

What's on your wish list at the moment?

Healthy habits: How I plan to fall in love with running

Source: Google Images

Today I have a confession to make: I have some kind of love-hate relationship with running! I find it very hard to get myself motivated to go on a run but feel so amazing afterwards! It is one of the easiest and cheapest cardio workouts out there, so why can't I just be one of those people that loves to run!? 

Throughout the past year or so, I have however found some tips and tricks that help me get outside and start running. These tips are not foolproof but they help me to put on my running shoes more frequently, and I hope they will motivate you as well!

1. Follow a training programme! Especially for those beginners out there, following a programme is the best way to build endurance. Which is key, as running can't possibly be fun if you're no good at it. A training programme also forces you to run a few times a week in order to obtain the final goal. I personnally am doing the Start To Run programme, which helps you build up to 5K in 10 weeks. But you can find beginner running programmes all over the internet!
2. Plan your workouts! Another trick is to plan your runs and other workouts in your planner. I plan out the week ahead based on the TIU weekly workout schedule and take into account my other obligations for that week. This way, lack of time is no excuse!
3. Get inspired! Something that gets me going quickly, especially in the morning, is some fitness inspiration: blog posts, instagram photos, quotes, etc.
4. Prepare yourself to go running! Being prepared and ready to go is already half the work. Laying out your workout clothes and other things you need means you won't have to worry about it when you leave for your run. Everyone has other necessities to go running: for me it is drinking a glass of water beforehand, taking a handkerchief and using my inhaler because of my allergies. Of course I also take my phone and headphones.
5. Challenge yourself! Another excellent motivator, is to set myself a challenge. I especially love the Tone It Up #100byHoliday challenges! I always run a lot more during these challenges, because it is one of the best ways to add miles fast. Another way to challenge myself is by comparing my runs: can I go further this time, or faster, or maybe both? This way I don't just go on one run, they are linked and I can track my progress.
6. Use apps! An excellent way to track your progress, is using apps on your phone. I love using Runtastic because of the huge amount of possibilities but there are hundreds of fitness apps out there... Just pick the one that works best for you!
7. Reward yourself with a tasty healthy snack afterwards! I have found that one of my biggest motivators is knowing that there is a delicious breakfast or snack waiting for me at home. I try to have a healthy meal that complements my workout to reap as many benefits as possible. My favourite post-run breakfast options are TIU protein pancakes or overnight oatmeal (perfect to prepare in advance). If I go running later in the day, I'll generally go for a smoothie or some other kind of high protein snack.
8. Reward yourself with new workout clothes! Something that always motivates me to work out are new workout clothes. A cute outfit makes exercising so much more fun, right!?

Do you have any tips to add to this list? Also, I'll keep you up to date!

January recap

I'm SO happy January is over! 

The reason being that I spent the biggest part of this month in my room finishing school assignments and studying for exams. So I have to warn you about January's favourites: not very exciting in the beauty department!


Beauty favourites: dry shampoo, minimal makeup, skincare, and a rediscovered perfume

Exams = dry shampoo, or is that just me? The brand I'm currently using is not that special, it just does the job.

Studying for exams also means minimal makeup. I think I didn't wear makeup for at least half of January and if I did, it wasn't that much. My basic makeup look consists of: Rimmel BB cream, Catrice concealer, MAC eyebrow pencil, Marc Jacobs mascara, (tinted) lipbalm and maybe some Sleek contour and blush.

My skin wasn't at its best at the beginning of January, so I upped my skincare game. I focussed on keeping my skin clear and hydrated throughout the month. My go to products are: Kiehls Ultra Facial Cleanser, Bioderma, Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, La Roche-Posay Hydraphase Intense Riche, Kiehls Creamy Eye Treatment, Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight mask and Vichy Normaderm Hyaluspot spot treatment.

My last favourite is a rediscovery. Instead of buying a new perfume, I thought it would make more sense to use what I already have. The first one I grabbed was Givenchy's Ange ou Démon and I didn't use anything else! It is floral and feminine, a little heavier but not too much.

Health favourites: New Year's detox and smoothies

Like my skin, my body wasn't at its best after the holidays. I felt and looked bloated more than anything else! So I decided that is was time for a little New Year's detox: nothing too crazy, just more fruit, veggies and less processed foods.

My favourite way to incoporate all of this easily into my diet, is by making smoothies. I just throw some fruit into a blender, add liquid and maybe some green veggies and superfoods.


Technology favourites: Spotify and Netflix

I know I am so late with this, but I finaly discovered Spotify this past month! I downloaded the app on my phone and have been using it ever since. I especially love the playlists for different moods and occasions! However, I'm not sure about upgrading to the paid premium version yet.

Something else I have been loving, is Netflix! I have been subscribed since it was launched in Belgium a few months ago. I just hope they keep expanding their service!

What were your favourites this month?

2015: New year, new you!

As for most people, the start of the new year was a moment of reflection for me. I know the concept of New Year's resolutions is very cliché, but hearing about other people's good intentions kind of inspired me! I thought I'd share some of mine to keep me accountable...

Health goals:

1. Be confident about and happy with my body
2. Eat clean and work out consistently
3. Complete the Start To Run programme by running 5K

Beauty goals:

1. Quality over quantity when it comes to beauty products
2. Make an effort to do my hair, make up and nails regularly
3. Experiment with different beauty looks

Life goals:

1. Finish school and start my first real job
2. Blog consistently: post 2 times a week
3. Travel as much as possible

What are your goals for 2015?

Top 10: Cute college planners

A little over two weeks until my classes in France start, I'm thinking about everything I still need to buy before I leave. That's why I found myself spending almost a whole day searching the internet for cute college planners last week. So why not share my top 10 with you?

I firmly believe that a functional planner is the way to an organised life! (I'm not saying I'm the most organised person alive, but it helps me, a lot!) The last two years I used the planners that my school provides for free. I really liked them and found myself a pretty efficient system. But this year I want to buy my own planner.

 I'm looking for a planner for the coming academic year (september until june) that is practical and big enough to write down all of my homework, deadlines and personal commitments. Plus, it should look cute, because who wants to look at a boring planner every day?

These are some of the ones I found on the Internet (most ship from the US, for some reason it is very difficult to find cute planners in Belgium). In the descriptions I included the most obvious links, but you can always try Amazon for international shipping!

1. Kate Spade  2. Sarah Pinto  3. Etsy  4. Lilly Pulitzer

These four are the ones I like the most! They are both cute on the outside and functional on the inside.

5. Moleskine  6. Hema  7. Etsy printable

These three planners are my next choices. The Moleskine one is very functional, because it can be used both horizontally and vertically. They also come in a range of different colours. But I think there are cuter ones in this top 10! You can find number 6 at Hema (a Dutch store). They have a lot of other cute designs, except I don't really like the inside. They lack monthly overviews and don't have enough writing space per day. You can also find cute printables on Etsy, I just prefer buying an actual copy instead of printing all those pages myself.

8. May Designs  9. DIY with washi tape  10. Hema design service

These last three options, I also like but are just not for me. The first one I actually really loved but the shipping issue again! On the May Designs website you can design your own planner (but also a regular notebook, budget planner, etc.) from the background design to your own name or monogram. The possibilities are endless! Option 9 is a DIY project: the only thing you need is a regular planner and some washi tape. And last but not least, some photo printing services also offer an option for planners, in which you can include your own photos. I'm not really a photo person but if you like the idea of pictures of your friends and family in your daily planner, this could be something for you! I linked to the Hema website again for you Dutch/Belgian readers out there but I'm certain you can find similar services in your country.


I'm not quite sure which one I'm going for yet, partly because of the shipping issue. Let me know which one you prefer. Or if you have found other cute planners I would love to read your suggestions!

Haul: Estée Lauder Company Store

Last week I visited the Estée Lauder Company Store. Read: a factory outlet that sells the brands that are owned by Estée Lauder, at a 40% discount. Right up my street! 

I'm not going to go into too much detail, as most items are pretty selfexplanatory but I do want to share what I picked up!

From MAC I bought an eyeshadow in Satin Taupe (so pretty!), a 217 blending brush and an eyebrow pencil in Strawberry Blonde. I also got an overnight moisterizing face mask from Origins. I just had to buy my first Jo Malone fragrance and I chose the Earl Grey & Cucumber Cologne. I also bought a travel set with volumising hair products from Bumble&Bumble, which will come in handy while traveling or just to give them a try. Last but not least, I stocked up on my everyday moisterizer from Clinique. 

I'm very happy with all of my purchases and can't wait to give them all a try! If you're interested in a review on one of these product, let me know and I will definitely share my thoughts! 

Empties (July 2013)

I already have a second Empties post for you all! (check out the first one!) I'm just really enjoying using up stuff and replacing it with new products :)

• I'll start at the top: The little blue bits in the left hand corner are the remains of my favorite solid shampoo from Lush, Seanik. I figured that if I wait until it's completely gone I can't show you anymore... I like this so much that I already bought a new one (probably for the third or forth time by now).
• A jar of Virgin Organic Coconut Oil from Fushi, which I ordered from Feelunique. I use this for a lot of different things but particularly to take off my make up at night.
• Rituals Himalaya Wisdom body scrub, but only a sample package. I have a whole gift set of this line but the scrub is the first thing I used up because it only had enough for 3 or 4 uses. I'm thinking about buying the full size, mostly because I love the scent (it smells like a spa in my own bathroom), but first I'm going to use up scrubs I already have at home.
• A deodorant from Dove, very exciting! ;) Off course, I bought a new one already.
• A sample sized Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve, which I got for free when purchasing other Kiehls products. I kept this on my bed side table and applied it before going to bed. It's very rich but not greasy, which I like. I'm not sure if I will purchase it myself, maybe in winter when my hands get dry again?
• A tube of Nutribronze from L'Oréal, a body moisturizer with a little bit of self tanner. I use this on my legs to give them a hint of color because I have very fair skin. I have a second tube at home at the moment.
• A lip balm with Cocoa Butter from The Body Shop. I also kept this next to my bed to apply before going to bed. I liked it but I'm using another lip balm at the moment and it does the job too...
• And last but not least... Ultra Facial Cleanser, also from Kiehl's. This is also a sample size and in fact the second one I used up. It is a good standard cleanser for sensitive (or just normal) skin, plus it can be used on the eyes as well! Just like with some of the previous products I'm trying another cleanser at the moment but I may buy a full size in the future...

That's it! 

More stuff to throw away and replace ;)

Deauty Box July 2013

I have yet another Deauty box post for you all! I know it hasn't been long since I wrote about the previous Deauty Box but I wanted to put this up tonight as you can still order it.* 

That being said, I'm also pretty exited about this month's edition! Deauty did their first themed box and they choose to do a "Respect box". You may have noticed a difference in the packaging (to compare: the "normal" may and june boxes) but the content is also different! All the products are either natural, fair trade or good for the environment.

• An eyeliner by Avril, made from all natural ingredients. 
• A mini nail polish, also by Avril. I'm not crazy about the color but it doesn't contain any harmful chemicals, not bad if you ask me!
• Savon Noir (black soap) from Alepia. This soap is especially good for opening and cleansing pores and can be used for face and body.
• In the little green bag are a hair mask and leave in conditioner with shea butter from René Furterer.
• The last product is a mini Shea Body Scrub from The Body Shop.

I love that Deauty decided to do themed boxes! This one has a lot of products and brands that I normally wouldn't buy or know about but now I get to try them. I'm curious to see what they come up with next!

If you are interested in this box and live in Belgium, you can still order until tomorrow night (21st July).*


* UPDATE: you can't order this box anymore, but you can still subscribe for the following months!

Recipe: Sweet Potato Wedges

I made these sweet potato wedges a few times already and they were a success every time! Sweet potatoes are known to be a very healthy vegetable so why not add them to your diet? They have the same amount of carbohydrates as normal potatoes but more other nutritional benefits. I did some research and found that they contain a lot of fiber, vitamins and minerals. 

Let's get to the recipe!

1. Take the desired amount of sweet potato (I used half of a big potato for one generous serving)
2. I like to leave the skin on because it gets very crispy and most of the nutrients are just under the skin. If you choose to leave it on like me, you have to give the potato a good scrub and rinse to take off all the dirt. You can also peel it if you want ;)
3. Cut the potato into wedges (or something that looks like it, I'm not very precise). Just make sure the pieces are roughly the same size!
4. Season the wedges: I used a tablespoon of paprika, half a tablespoon of cajun spice and a sprinkle of salt. You can use any seasoning you like!
5. Drizzle with some olive oil. I don't measure this but I think it's about 1 tablespoon.
6. Mix the wedges, seasoning and oil until every piece is coated evenly.
7. Put them on a lined baking sheet, in one single layer, and bake at 200°C for 20-30 minutes. Flip them half way. 
8. Check if they are cooked (soft all the way through) and dig in!

Summer Fashion Haul (July 2013)

I went shopping a few times since my exams ended and I want to show you the results (aka damage?). Some of the items were on sale, which is always a good thing ;)

Black skirt (America Today - €10) - Striped T-shirt (C&A - €3,95) - Pink maxi dress (C&A - €14,90) - Neon shorts (America Today - €34,95) - Green bralette (Gilly Hicks at Hollister - €13,99) - Nike tight fit workout capris (Decathlon - €39,95 ) - Floral skirt (America Today - €15)

I love how a few new pieces make my closet feel up to date and ready for summer! <3

Organizing 101: My beauty drawer + Top 3 tips

Something I wanted to do for weeks is organizing my beauty "stuff". I accumulated a lot of products, especially sample sizes, over the last few months. I was storing them in a small drawer, originally divided between full size products and samples but there was just too much stuff in it. On top of that I had perfume samples on another cabinet and some Deauty boxes (may and june) I still hadn't unpacked. Obviously, I lost track of what I already had and where it was.

Before (almost too embarrassing to share!)

I started by emptying the bigger drawer I wanted to use and divided the products into categories (hair, skin, body wash, etc.). Fast forward to the result:

After :)

This was long overdue but I'm very happy I finally did it! It's like a small drugstore in my own room! I'm not using these products (regularly) at the moment but when I run out of something I will have something new on hand and be able to find it ;)
Can you spot the empty Deauty boxes I used for storage? They look so neat!

I'm in no way an organization expert but here are my top 3 tips:

1. Collect storage boxes of all shapes and sizes you already have at home (mine are mostly from Ikea and empty Deauty boxes). This allows you to try and fit the right combination in the space you want to organize. 
2. Keep cleaning supplies on hand. That way the newly organized spaces are clean as well.
3. Decide which things you want to keep, throw away (keep a trash can on hand) and give to someone else. Make sure you get rid of these last two as fast as possible!

I've been tackling some other cluttered spaces in the house, let me know if you're interested in more blog posts about that! I know it motivates me when I read about other people's organization...

Deauty Box June 2013

I know it's a bit late but I want to share my June Deauty box with you! (Deauty is a Belgian beauty subscription service)

From left to right, first to third row:

• Absolute NUDE eyeshadow palette from Catrice. I like it when my box has make up products but I was a little disappointed to be honest. Catrice is a relatively cheap drugstore brand that's very easily accessible here. My sister even has the exact same palette.
• The most interesting product this time is from Etat Pur. Not every box has the same product but mine is a serum for skin that tans difficultly (product A83). It contains tyrosine, an amino acid extracted from soybeans. I can't wait to try it and I hope it does what it promises!
• Revitalizing Supreme moisturizing cream from Estee Lauder. It is an anti-aging cream but the explanation says it can work for everyone so I think I'm going to try it.
• This box smelled very good when I opened it, courtesy of a natural soap from Lamazuna. It's a traditional soap from Syria with olive oil and roses.
• Even more make up, also from Catrice! A matte lipstick in "It's a Matte world", which is a bright coral-red color.
• The last product is a travel sized shave cream for men from Eucerin, which I gave to my boyfriend ;)

If you want to know what was in my May box, click here.

Manicure Monday: Bond with whomever

Essie - Bond with whomever (2 coats, natural light)

I'm totally in love with this pastel lilac color! It's not too pale but not too bright either and it doesn't make my hands look dead. I feel like it's different from your usual reds and pinks but still goes with almost anything.

It's yet again an Essie polish from the spring 2013 line. I don't know if you can still get it but I would definitely recommend checking it out!

You know how much I love Essie polishes so I'm not going to talk about the formula any more ;)

Drugstore Haul (July 2013)

A few new goodies I picked up from the drugstore recently :)

I accumulated some new beauty stuff over the last couple of weeks, so it's time for a drugstore haul! 

I bought: 

• Nail files
• A Burt's Bees lip balm
• A clarifying face mask by Formula 10.0.6. Hopefully it works better than the last one I tried.
• A BB cream from Rimmel. Maybe I'll have more luck than with the Garnier one?
• Deodorant, a regular sized one and a mini for my handbag 
• Dry shampoo from Batiste. I've written a lot about my love for dry shampoo (here, here and here), but never used Batiste before, so I'm curious!
• The most exciting part: two Maybelline Super Stay 14h Lipsticks! They were on sale so my sister and I picked the two colors we liked the most.

430 Stay with me coral - 110 Neverending pink