*The jumper in this image was gifted by Femme Luxe Finery and comes in a Frill Waist Loungewear Set.
I don't want to talk about the quarantine or lockdown as I find it a very stressful and difficult topic, but I want to say that my heart goes out to those who have lost their lives due to the virus and the biggest thank you to all the key workers for doing amazing jobs.
During the first week of official lockdown, I was supposed to be jetting off to Amsterdam after 5 years of planning my trip. It is okay to be upset about a cancelled trip. So, I have been keeping myself busy doing a few fun things during this difficult time and I thought I'd share them with you.
1. Play The Sims.
I have been playing The Sims since I was 6 years old. I really loved the original game and I feel like none of the new ones will ever compare to it because of the sentiment behind it. The Sims 4 was free on Origin at some point last year so of course, I had to download it. I have recently purchased the Cats and Dogs Expansion Pack because let's face it, the game isn't as fun without the expansion packs!
2. Learn a new recipe.
I really enjoy cooking and baking but I hate the mess I make during the process. Washing up is such a huge chore that I often stick to simple recipes that don't require plenty of pots and pans. Since buying both of the Pinch of Nom recipe books many months ago I haven't used either of them, not even once. Now that I have plenty of time to cook and clean up the mess after, I wanted to give some of the recipes a go. So far, I have tried the Firecracker Noodles (I used chicken instead of prawns) and have planned out a few more recipes to test out for the following week.
3. Join a book club.
I've been a member of Beth's Book Club for a year now, but never really stuck to the plan and only read the books I came across when passing WHSmith. Now I have finished reading one book from the club, and even though it was a book to read throughout February I still really enjoyed it and I can't wait to start May's book (I'm currently reading April's book - Blood Orange by Harriet Tyce).
4. Declutter your wardrobe, makeup and skincare.
This is not my strongest point as I do think that I am a bit (definitely not a bit) of a hoarder. I find it hard to chuck out a foundation sample that's three shades too dark for me, so think about the things I actually use! This year I have decided to go on a makeup and skincare spending ban, which has allowed me to use up quite a lot of beauty products already - I love me a good old empty! So far, I have not bought any beauty products and have only purchased a few items of clothing that I wanted for a while from Zara and NastyGal; overall I spent less than £250 on myself this year.
As I work in the beauty industry, I am lucky enough to receive a little bit of monthly credit to use towards a product purchase which I always disclose in my hauls/posts. So if I ever need anything that I'm running low on e.g. the Origins Mega Mushroom Treatment Lotion (I use this a lot) then I will use my credit to buy it, so technically it doesn't cost me anything. I also receive PR samples from PIXI and others from time to time, which I am very lucky and grateful to try. I know that not everyone is going to be in the same fortunate position as me, but you can try great skincare on a budget while you try to avoid overspending. Decluttering will also help to clear your mind and make you feel super organised!
5. Work out.
This is something that I do not enjoy doing at all but it makes me feel amazing after I did a kick-ass workout! I have recently tried going for a 5-10 minute jog and I absolutely hated it! So now I've been really enjoying doing a 30-minute Zumba workout in my kitchen (with the blinds shut of course haha) and I have loved every minute of it! It's so much fun, and I absolutely love Nicole!
So those are the few fun things I've been enjoying during the lockdown. Let me know what you guys are doing to keep yourselves busy!
I hope you're all staying safe ❤️
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Lots of love,
Maya xo