Top 3 places to eat in If your vegan in London

Now I am a huge Vegan food lover - though I wouldn't consider myself a full time vegan because I do like my eggs and a cheese sandwich in the morning as well as a chicken sandwich sometimes. Living in London and attempting to become Vegan I started trying out a few restaurants and here are my top 5 Vegan restaurants in London : 

1. KIN 

This place is absolutely amazing because it sells affordable Vegan food . Yes,  affordable for us broke students! They have everything from mixed bean and sweet potato stew to avocado sandwiches that have asparagus in them (Yes , were getting healthy). Its not that they just taste great , but they look pretty darn delicious too . Go check them out - you might even spot me there one day :) 

2. SAKONIS  

I really like this restaurant because it makes me feel cultural and the food is good too . I love their samosas and they are only £3.20 for 3 pieces and they are big pieces let me just say. The restaurant is not one of the best looking places - its defiantly not somewhere I go to parties at but I do get takeaway from. So if your into getting all culturally Vegan this is the place for you. For my main course I tend to get a Veg biryani (Recommended) . A must is getting their lovely lentil salad ! Try them out and tell me what you think .

3. WILD FOOD CAFE 

Now if your terrified of the idea of having to share a table with someone else maybe this restaurant is not for you. It has a lovely atmosphere and probably had a great interior designer who designed it because it looks amazing! Just thinking about the food makes me droll : wild Falafel , wild mushrooms on toast  hmmmm , sweet potato oh sweet potato , but you what the wild specials are always the best because who doesn't like a little surprise. P.s Covent Gardens in a place you need to visit ! 

  

Now these are just a few considering that I've only been to 8 Vegan style food restaurant this year and there could be more that I don't necessarily now about, so if there is tell me and I shall defiantly go check it out this summer . 

- Mina x 

Product Review : Deep cleansing Nose Pore strips

So I went out yesterday and I brought Deep cleansing Nose pore stripes that cost £1 which I thought was a pretty good deal and I really wanted to try them out .

They look pretty basic and they had 6 strips in them so I could use them for 6 weeks . I used one today and I have to say I am impressed because many people who have tried Nose strips have said that they do not work . I guess it depends on your skin type . I have sensitive skin so it was pretty veasy for my pores to be cleansed . Even though I do not see my difference on my nose , the strip that I peeled  it off my nose and it  did contain a lot of residue and black pores stuck onto them . (Ewww I know) . 

Overall I would say that if you haven't tried any type of pore stripes go purchase one and add it to your skincare routine . I will defeinetly be giving the Cleansing Nose pore stripes that contain tea tree oil a go next time . 

- Mina x 

4 tips that make your life easier !

1. KEEP MAKEUP REMOVING ITEMS NEXT TO YOUR BED

Sleeping with maeup on is a big NO  NO , but  I understand that sometimes your just too knackered to take it off properly so instead of leaving it on to damage your beautiful skin place a bottle of makeup remover and cotton next to your bed or if that is just too much to go through you can have makeup wipes next to you instead! Simple and effective in the long run .

2 . CREATE MASCARA EYELINER!

So if you ever run out of your black eyeliner in the morning or whenever here's a quick fix to everything .Take a small  brush and dab some of that mascara solution onto it  and just line your lips with it like you would with a gel eyeliner.

3. GET RID OF GREASY HAIR

So you have greasy hair and you really need to look presentable tomorrow ,but you have like no time to wash it . The trick is to apply baby powder all over your scalp before bed and sleep on it. In the morning your hair should definitely look and feel better.

4.WANT QUICK CURLS?

Don't have a curling iron?  Here's what you do . But remember to spray water on your hair before twisting . Twist it and then use a flat iron just as if you were straightening your hair . It will give you a beachy messy wavy hair look . 

- Mina x 

DIY: Simple trick to get rid of spots ! طريقة بسيطة للتخلص من الحبؤب

Bananas! Yes , I'm not kidding . Bananas  are full  of goodness-even the part we don’t eat(the yellowy skin).  The peel is actually the most important part for our skin ; it contain something called lutein, an extremely powerful antioxidant that reduces swelling and inflammation, and encourages healthy cell growth.Which leads me to tell you that you should never through Banana peels away again ! Rubbing a banana peel on your face can reduce the redness and  and discomfort of acne. The best part of this remedy is that you only need a ripe banana . And whilst your at it you could also eat the banana .

After you have eaten your banana and not thrown the peel away! Take the peel,not the outer bit , but the inner bit  and rub in a circular motion all over your face. Wait for 30 minutes and then wash it off your face. Another way is that you could take only a small piece of the banana and rub it on the spot . Do this  2-3 times a day and you should see the spot fade/be gone within a week . This does not leave any scars on the face so its a great method . It is especially useful for sensitive skin .

- Mina x 

Book Review : Me before you !

Most of my friends have been pestering me to read this book since the beginning of the year, so  after finding it at an Amnesty International book store , I decided to give in to peer pressure and buy it . In all honesty I was not disappointed. It was a book that I could not bring myself to put down ; It went everywhere with me when I was on the tube, eating , doing my makeup (yes I know a bit too much).

It’s about a woman, Louisa, who is desperate for a job and accepts a position as private caregiver to a young disabled man, a quadriplegic, from a wealthy family. This man, Will Traynor, – a high powered business man who pursued a thrilling life of action and adventure. But that all came to a sudden ,  he was the victim of an accident that left most of his body paralyzed. Now faced with the medical reality that he was never going to recover, his entire outlook on life changed and he made a shocking, but yet oddly understandable, personal decision which he felt was right for him much to the despair of his family. And that was where Lou came into the picture.

Will was cranky, moody, and had no desire to establish any kind of friendship with her. But as the days went by, things slowly began to change between them.The  personal choice made by taking a realistic look at life. I am still shocked at the ending .

It provokes so many questions. About life and death, about euthanasia and suicide, about disabilities, about love, about jobs and money. The book was realistic which was something I admire of the author as it is always easier for a writer to romanticize.

This book was/ is  powerful, heart-breaking, and bittersweet but also oddly heartwarming. I honestly think it’s impossible to come away from this book without an overwhelming sense of gratitude for all the blessings in your life.

” You only get one life. It’s actually your duty to live it as fully as possible.”

I would highly recommend reading this , however it will leave you in a book hangover . Be warned .

Product Review : Lush Bubblegum lip scrub !

I absolutely adore Lush products . The fact that they do not test on animals is just a bonus. This little pot actually cost me £5.50 which to me is a bit pricey for lip balm scrub thingy - I'm a Vaseline girl (don't judge me OK) . As soon as I opened it it smelt amazing! Amazing enough to eat . As I rubbed the product onto my lips I definitely got the feeling it was sweeping away the dead skin . Whats even more amazing about this products is that when your done exfoliating your lips you can just lick the sugar away and it tastes like heavenly bubblegum or if your not into eating lush products then you could just rinse it off with water. I would totally eat the whole pot , but i don't think that's what lush were really after when making this product.

I give this product a 4/5 as even though it is heavenly it is slightly overpriced for a exfoliate that I could make at home otherwise it does exactly what it says : Prep your lips with a buff and polish at the start of your make-up routine to ensure your lipstick glides on and stays put.Just apply with a clean finger, and let the exfoliating caster sugar and softening jojoba oil scrub away dead skin and infuse moisture to rejuvenate your smile. Bubblegum lip scrub won’t leave any greasy residue; just a sweet candy taste that you’ll enjoy licking off. Lip-smackingly good. - Yes Lush , yes it is Lip smackingly Amazing !!!

- Mina x

DIY: 2 Amazing ways to use yoghurt !

Everyone I know would love to look flawless without having to spend millions of pounds.It's a fairy tale dream , but what if I told you all you needed to do is to buy Tescos Yoghurt for £1.10 ! AMAZING right ?

Yoghurt is great for cleansing,fighting acne, and moisturizing the skin. Yogurt has the ability to act as a power-mask that will  sooth redness and reduce oiliness , regulating our skin.  Yogurt is a great ingredient for getting rid acne naturally, as it contains anti-bacterial properties and  alpha hydroxyl acids that kill acne causing bacteria. Its a win - win . Both tasty and replenishing.

Yoghurt Mask :

First off  wash your face with cleanser and warm water then pat dry to make sure that your skin is clear.Place one cup of yoghurt  in a bowl. Using your fingers, spread yogurt all over face and neck area.  Leave for 15-20 minutes then  rinse your face with warm water. TARAHHH! you will be feeling refreshed and at times paler.

Now I know I promised you wont be buying any more ingredients , but things change and I guess you might have to buy an egg and a tablespoon of olive oil which you can always borrow from your lovely neighbors . Its time to make the legendary hair mask that will leave your hair sooo shiny ,silky and less likely to fall out !So beat  the egg in a bowl , then mix the  olive oil and yogurt on top.Stir it.  Once mixture is creamy, apply from your roots to the tips of your hair.Leave it on your hair for 15 - 30 minutes . I would recommend wearing a shower cap and wrapping your hair with a towel during the time you are waiting. Then wash as normal . Make sure you wash the smell of the egg out properly. Dry you hair and WOWZAHH! Your looking ready for the runway with that hair.

Hair Mask:

So beat  the egg in a bowl , then mix the  olive oil and yogurt on top.Stir it.  Once mixture is creamy, apply from your roots to the tips of your hair.Leave it on your hair for 15 - 30 minutes . I would recommend wearing a shower cap and wrapping your hair with a towel during the time you are waiting. Then wash as normal . Make sure you wash the smell of the egg out properly. Dry you hair and WOWZAHH! Your looking ready for the runway with that hair.

How to push yourself to live the best life possible .

push yourself to get up before the rest of the world - start with 7am, then 6am, then 5:30am. go to the nearest hill with a big coat and a scarf and watch the sun rise.

push yourself to fall asleep earlier - start with 11pm, then 10pm, then 9pm. wake up in the morning feeling re-energized and comfortable.

get into the habit of cooking yourself a beautiful breakfast. fry tomatoes and mushrooms in real butter and garlic, fry an egg, slice up a fresh avocado and squirt way too much lemon on it. sit and eat it and do nothing else.

stretch. start by reaching for the sky as hard as you can, then trying to touch your toes. roll your head. stretch your fingers. stretch everything.

buy a 1L water bottle. start with pushing yourself to drink the whole thing in a day, then try drinking it twice.

buy a beautiful diary and a beautiful black pen. write down everything you do, including dinner dates, appointments, assignments, coffees, what you need to do that day. no detail is too small.

strip your bed of your sheets and empty your underwear draw into the washing machine. put a massive scoop of scented fabric softener in there and wash. make your bed in full.

organise your room. fold all your clothes (and bag what you don’t want), clean your mirror, your laptop, vacuum the floor. light a beautiful candle.

have a luxurious shower with your favourite music playing. wash your hair, scrub your body, brush your teeth. lather your whole body in moisturiser, get familiar with the part between your toes, your inner thighs, the back of your neck.

push yourself to go for a walk. take your headphones, go to the beach and walk. smile at strangers walking the other way and be surprised how many smile back. bring your dog and observe the dog’s behaviour. realise you can learn from your dog.

message old friends with personal jokes. reminisce. suggest a catch up soon, even if you don’t follow through. push yourself to follow through.

think long and hard about what interests you. crime? sex? boarding school? long-forgotten romance etiquette? find a book about it and read it. there is a book about literally everything.

become the person you would ideally fall in love with. let cars merge into your lane when driving. pay double for parking tickets and leave a second one in the machine. stick your tongue out at babies. compliment people on their cute clothes. challenge yourself to not ridicule anyone for a whole day. then two. then a week. walk with a straight posture. look people in the eye. ask people about their story. talk to acquaintances so they become friends.

lie in the sunshine. daydream about the life you would lead if failure wasn’t a thing. open your eyes. take small steps to make it happen for you. PUSH YOU !