Modest Mix

EVENT / GETTING CREATIVE WITH LUSH BELGIUM

27.4.13

Hello! I hope everyone's had a wonderful start to their week. I usually hate Mondays, but today's good weather made up for the day on the calendar for the most part. I am working on a (first!) review of a LUSH product I'm very enthusiastic about. I'm trying hard to find the right words, though, so I'm going to take my time to finish it instead of posting something I'm not 100% satisfied with.

Anyway, I felt like blogging today so I decided to make a wish list!

I spend too much time browsing online shops. The list of images and links I have on my laptop is endless...

1- LUSH Happy Happy Joy Joy I've been meaning to try out this hair conditioner for a while now. However, I don't feel the need to buy it yet as I still have plenty from other brands at the moment. Looking forward to getting this! I have dry hair and now that summer's coming up, I could use a good quality conditioner that makes my hair soft and gives it back its shine.
2 & 3- Creme studded slippers & Ethnic slippers I've had my eye on these shoes for ages! When they became popular - I think it was one or two years ago? - it took me a while to decide whether I liked these 'slippers' or not. Well, I've come across some lovely-looking pairs lately so I guess I'm convinced! These two pairs from Zara aren't too expensive, which is perfect because I have two big family events coming up and finding a nice shoe that fits a more 'dressy' outfit is quite the challenge for me. I settle for comfy Vans or Nikes almost daily. Getting a pair of these slippers will save me from having to put on heels - my clumsy ass is saved!
4- Skull & flowers top Because I love the print!
5- MAC Prep + Prime BB Beauty Balm compact SPF30 I haven't given BB creams a try yet, even though it's all everyone seems to talk about now. I think I've waited long enough, it's time to find out what all the fuss is/was about. I've read some great reviews of the BB cream by MAC, so I'm curious to see the result!
6- Green 'PHARAOH' beanie - pharaohlondon.bigcartel.com / I came across their website and thought it'd be nice to own one of these.

PERSONAL UPDATE + DIY HEALTHY REFRESHING DRINK

12.4.13

Spring is finally in the country after a long time of waiting and I couldn’t be happier! It’s not that warm out yet, but it feels so good to have the sun shining, which just makes everything more bearable in general.

Unfortunately, I picked up some bugs somewhere and have been bedridden for almost three weeks, so I haven’t been able to enjoy the weather yet – or to do anything for that matter... Boo. The doctor told me my body could use a lot more vitamins. Basically the lack of vitamins – and lack of sleep, I must admit – causes me to get ill all the time. Now that I’ve spent the entire Easter vacation at home, I’ve had the time to do some research about healthy food. I get served healthy meals every day, which I believe is a privilege, and eat fruit regularly, but apparently that’s not enough. So I tried to find a way to include more of those healthy foods (fruit, nuts, grains, even spices) and drinks in my diet, but in a fun way. I’ve found some interesting recipes that I can’t wait to try out and share with you!

The first thing I got from the store when I came back from the doctor was oranges. They are just so good and full of vitamin C. Whenever I get ill, that’s what I eat to get better – and it actually helps.

Now, instead of just eating them, I thought I’d make an effort. Something I wanted to try for ages is natural flavoured water. It is so simple to make and the flavour doesn’t disappoint. On top of that, it looks great on your kitchen shelf!

All you need is: fruit, ice, (sparkling) water and a glass or bowl.

You can choose whatever fruits you like. Flavoured water goes great with citrus fruit (orange, lemon or even combine with lime), berries, pineapple, watermelon... If you like herbs, you can also add mint leaves, rosemary or anything to give the water the flavour you’re going for. There are so many variations to this recipe that you can just pick whatever you want.

This is how you prepare the drink:

1- Put slices or pieces of fruit in the bowl (I went with 1/3).

2- Use a wooden spoon to squeeze the fruit, just enough so there’s a bit of juice in the bowl. Be careful not to ruin your fruit!

3- Add herbs if you wish (I used fresh mint).

4- Fill bowl to the brim with ice cubes.

5- Add water, stir so the juice spreads over the entire bowl and you’re done!

Like I said: so easy! It took me about 10 minutes to prepare and I wasn’t even in a hurry. What I love most about this is that you can drink it right away. Thanks to the ice cubes, the water doesn’t need cooling. Perfect for hot summer days or to take with you when you're working out! Not to mention all the health benefits in this lovely homemade drink! I’d list everything I’ve read so far, but I feel like this post will be too long if I do, so here's a link to one of the many pages that give more information.

My piece of advice: if you’re looking for a refreshing drink that doesn’t take much time to prepare and is full of vitamins and flavour, this is it!

Have you ever tried this yourself? Which fruits or herbs combinations did you use? Feel free to let me know!