Life: A little update

Firstly a little apology as things have been a rather quiet here on Peonies and lilies - for the last month or so I've been struggling to find my place in the blogging world. Combine that with a busy work schedule and a touch of writer's block and before I knew it it'd been 3 weeks since my last blog post. Thankfully the time away seems to have helped and I'm really looking forward to sitting down and writing again. With it being summer there's been quite a lot going on and seeing as lifestyle posts are one my favourites to read I thought it would be nice to share a few updates:

 

Summer weddings 

1. In June I had the pleasure of attending not one but 2 beautiful weddings, one for a close friend and another for family. Although they were both very different it was lovely to see how the bride and groom added their own personal touches to such an important day. I loved that one had lots of lovely homemade elements and the other themed like a country fair with some seriously pretty backdrops. Plus not having a holiday yet this year it was great to get out of London and have 2 weekend mini breaks. 

Sticky Wings - Brick Lane

2. The London foodie adventure continues and this month we've been rather obsessed with wings. It all started with the delicious Korean wings at Shackfuyu, followed by their sister restaurant Flesh and Buns (blog review coming soon). Since then we've tried the On the bab as well as these amazing American buffulo hot wings from Sticky Wings in Brick lane. Definitely worth a visit if you're ever in the area.

Runkeeper app

3. With it being summer I've been trying to tone up and in an attempt to work off all the unhealthy treats I've been getting back into running again. I wouldn't say it's an enjoyable hobby as such but you definitely feel a lot better afterwards and nothing beats the satisfaction completing a 10k run.

4. Finally it''s time to start thinking about summer holidays and I would love to hear your recommendations. So far on the list I've got Dubai, LA, Hong Kong and Rome. Plus with having some time off next year I would love to visit to New York and Australia again.

What have you been up to recently? Where are your favourite places to dine out in London?

May beauty favourites

Another month over and unfortunately one of my quietest yet here on Peonies and lilies. May passed in a blur of night shifts and work deadlines and I must admit the lack of free time left me struggling to find the inspiration to blog. Thankfully June's looking a lot better with nicer hours, 2 weddings and a week of annual leave to look forward to. I can't wait to share my new beauty discoveries but for now a look back at my May's favourites: 

  May favourites

 Too Faced sweetheart blush

Starting with 2 new skincare favourites. My skin definitely suffered last month but thankfully Origins original skin serum and Proto-col miracle balm have helped to restore some of that radiance and hydration. I like that Origins combines the best of nature and science, the result of which is a light weight lotion which helps to refine texture and restore glow leaving my skin looking smoother and more awake. It's a quick addition to my skincare routine, but one that's made real difference. I've also been suffering from dehydration which is where the Proto-col miracle balm comes in. It's one of the lighter balms I've across across and with a blend of plant based collagen, orange oil, beeswax and vitamin E, it makes for a great lip balm as well as an intense booster for any dry flakey patches of skin.

I most admit I've not the most organised of people but with the recent sunshine I've started to fake tan again. The great thing about He Shi rapid 1 hour liquid tan is that there's no need to wait overnight. I simply exfoliate and apply the tan as usual and within 60 minutes it can be rinsed off, leaving me with naturally bronzed skin. With the weather being so unpredictable in the UK this has been an absolute essential - I can get ready in the morning and by lunchtime I'm tanned and ready to go.

For make up I've been loving Too Faced sweethearts blush in candy glow. A really gorgeous baked formula which can be applied separately or swirled together for a warm flush of colour to the cheeks. My favourite's the coral shade in the middle but used together the blusher gives a lovely peachy pink glow. It's sheer but buildable and I like that there's a hint of shimmer thus doubling up as a highlighter too. Plus how cute are the candy stripes and heart shaped packaging?!

Finally the new Body Shop virgin mojito range which is literally summer in a bottle. Minty fresh mojito's are one of my favourite drinks and the guys at Body Shop have managed to capture the fragrance perfectly. There's zestiness from lime, freshness from mint and of course the sweetnesss from crushed sugar. The body scrub's very gentle and suitable for daily use, but my favourite has to be body sorbet which is both cooling and hydrating on the skin. There's also a shower gel and body butter which I need to stock up on asap! 

Did you have a good May? What were your beauty favourites?