Category Archives: Lifestyle

Simple At-Home Manicure: Gel Polish 💅🏾

Date entry: Tuesday the 17th of April 2018

Edited: Wednesday the 18th of April 2018

Hi💁🏾‍♀️

Yesterday afternoon I gave myself a simple manicure, which can be done in the comfort of your own home.

The products used in this look were from the Rimmel London collection. Two colours: Ora-ngy vibe + Danny Boy Blue were used in this making.

The whole process will take you no longer than 45mins. This includes cuticle wash + cut, cuticle oil and paint. It’s quite therapeutic because it requires a level of concentration to make sure you don’t go over your nail bed.

It’s also a good way to save money too, so you stay comfortably knowing you recreated the same experience at home.

All you need is base and gel top coat, your favourite choice of colour, cuticle oil, cuticle remover, a clipper (to cut the cuticles and a nail file set.

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After you’ve completed the polish, use hand cream and cuticle oil, this will help improve the conditions of hands and nails. Aim to repeat this routine every day for maintenance. You should see a change in the texture of your hands over a period of time (don’t expect instant changes lol, it takes time and patience).

More beauty/nail-related posts:

Thank you for reading this post☺️

Chanda D

P.S: Whilst you’re here, take a look at the Pretty Little Thing website. So you can get an outfit to compliment your nails😉 –  Pretty Little Thing

Disclaimer: This post contained an affiliate link, which meansI will receive small commission.

Life Skills 101

Date entry: Thursday the 5th of April 2018

Edited on: Friday the 6th of April 2018

visuals by chandademi
visuals by chandademi

I came up with this idea in the bathroom after I had a thought about growing up. As we’ve grown up, we have to learn how to do adult things. Even the minor stuff can seem to be a big thing because it’s something we haven’t done before. Automatically, as our parent/s have always done it for us. It can be so little but you realise after a while, how much of a difference it made in your life. This is when you had minimal responsibilities to take care of.

Below, I will be listing a couple of life skills I’ve learnt or observed along the way + hopefully, they will be of help to you in one way or another:

  • Teeth Brushing: you’ll need to change your toothbrush often. How you will know your brush needs changing if the bristles are not as effective as they once were. Usually, it goes spiky and leans out to the side; that is a major sign you need to buy a new one. Also, purchasing a firm brush over a medium or soft will do more, as it has greater strength to remove any excess build up of dirt and give your teeth overall a better clean. It will leave with better satisfaction, knowing its got up all in there. Electric ones are a good investment, so are Listerine Reach ones too.
  • Food Shopping: Either your mum or dad has been the main culprit of providing food in the house for you to eat right? Have you ever thought about doing a food shop for yourself? You may find as you get older, your taste changes. You want to branch out a try new things and find yourself not liking stuff you were once into as a child. Food shop is a good opportunity to test out a little independence. You don’t have to spend loads of money, set yourself a rough budget + see where the shop takes you.
  • Bills: Bills is a proper adult thing when you come to think of it. When you were younger, you were no way in any form thinking about that. Until you get to an age where you want the latest phone, so, therefore, you take out a contract. Or getting your first car, which requires high maintenance on a constant basis. The money is coming out of your hard earnings, adds to your adult boost.
  • Routine: It gives you a structured day, you can change it when and if it permits to do so. However, having a basic daily routine might make things easier for you in general. It gives you a well-rounded day of expectations. Or allows you to plan around (especially with work & meals). It can also make you feel comfortable, but everything is going as it should.
  • Expansion: I’ve spoken on doing new things before in the previous posts. It is great for your senses and your overall outlook on life. In some circumstances, you’ve been used to what you know. So, in this instance, expand out of your usual and do something different. It is up to you what you decide to do, just make sure you branch out into the unknown. Your body and brain will reward you, for teaching or letting you experience new things.

 

Thank you for taking time to read this post & whilst you are still here, check out other life-related posts here on my blog:

Stay tuned for more posts like this and don’t forget to follow me on social media:

Twitter|Instagram|Pinterest

Chanda D

#FilmReview: Black Panther🐅

Date entry: Monday the 26th of March 2018

Edited: Thursday the 29th of March 2018

black-panther-quad-poster
The Black Panther Squad

(I finally got round to watching the film, after feeling I was missing out. I decided to go watch it. Prior to the screening, I had seen reference to the word ‘Wakanda’. I did not know what people were on about, but obviously, now I do. All the pieces fit together now, so there’s a better image.)

The film is an action movie, with the duration lasting 2 hours and 13 minutes long and is available at most cinemas to watch. I’d recommend going during the day, where not many people are there. It frees your surrounding environment for you to relax and view it calmly. At certain points of the film, I heard a drill type beat. It got me bopping my head when it came on. It didn’t fully go into it, but it was enough to energise you during its segments.

It was a female-dominated movie, which I liked because it showed women to be strong characters. Usually, you would see girls in a role, where they are a damsel in distress or in a weak position. However it was different, they were able to defend themselves and others. It produced an instilling belief they are just as capable as men.

I’m going to go slightly of topic here because this will apply to the paragraph above.

Gender roles in society are segregated in terms of what males and females are supposed to do. Traditionally, for example, women are expected to fulfil housework duties. Whilst men are out being breadwinners. In today’s society, the roles have slightly, if not, fully merged. Women are now being pro-active about being able to provide for themselves, as well being able to still complete household duties. Men are not as heavily depended on as they once were in the past.

Back on the topic of Black Panther

Similarly, the women were strongly defending their rights and what they thought was right for their Kingdom – Wakanda. This was portrayed through their battle scenes and dealing with the problematic situation between the rivalling kings.

I don’t know if anyone of you is familiar with the TV series Top Boy, but one of the characters Letitia Wright (Shuri) featured in this film. It was nice to see her transition from British film to bigger productions. I remember her character well on Top Boy, but her acting was really pleasing to watch.

She had a few one-liners, which makes me laugh. It was cheeky, but humorous to watch. It helps lighten up the film, despite its darker context. Also, it starred four other well-known actors/actresses – Lupita Nyong’o (Nakia), Michael B Jordan (Erik), Angela Bassett (Ramonda) and Forest Whittaker. They all played their roles equally well, with the strong intention to bring their own influence into their characters. It was a blend of American and East African accent that showed diversity.

Overall, I enjoyed the film because it kept me engaged. It was hard to take your eyes away from the screen. Just in case you missed out on something. You couldn’t even excuse yourself to go to the bathroom because it all needed to make sense in one go. I guess that’s why action movies are so popular, as it provides high-level entertainment and requires brain stimulation to keep its viewers seated. It was similar to Lord of Rings, as it had that same tribal fighting appeal.

Thank you for reading this review & I hope you take time out to watch the film (if you haven’t already)

Chanda D

Image source: New Statesman Website

Tried & Tested: Basic Acrylic Manicure 💅🏾 #NailPost

Date entry: Sunday the 25th of March 2018 

Hellloo,

“New post, new week, it’s Monday✌🏾”

This post will be part BTS of what I have been doing last week & on the subject in the title too.

I haven’t posted in a while because I haven’t had the urge or spark to. Also, I’ve been taking time out as well. However, that all changed yesterday when I got inspired to do something different. I’ve tested out two new things I’ll be sharing.

One of them being halloumi cheese; at first, I was a bit apprehensive to taste it, but I can say I did enjoy it. It’s nice in a wrap with salad, hummus/garlic sauce and lemon juice. (Thank you to Turkish and Greek people). I’ve realised doing new things activates your senses, to make you more adventurous in your own way. I’d recommend doing new things every week if you can. You never know what you could end up liking.

Another thing I tried last week was acrylic manicure. I came across a video on social media, which sparked my interest. I was already planning to remove the old nail varnish, but this footage kickstarted the process. I came to the conclusion you could do acrylics, without the use of false extension tips.

As you may already know, acrylic nails can do damage to your natural nails. So it’s essential to take a break from them once in a while. A benefit of not using extension tips is it allows your nails to breathe. This will give room for them to grow.

This time I went for a black and pink theme. The nail polish is from Rimmel London 60 secs collection, completed with their gel top coat. It’s true what they say (I came across a quote that went along the lines like this):- “not enough fingernails for all the colours you’d like to put on your nails”. Here are pictures of the outcome of the nail design:

Pro: it gives you a flat surface to work with and it removes minimal smudging, as it’s raised above your nail.

Note: whilst you’re still here, check out the other nail related posts:

Thank you for taking time to read this post, #StayPolished + enjoy the rest of your day💅🏾💁🏾‍♀️

Chanda D

Image source: chandademiphotography 📷

Top 5 Memes I’ve Found So Far🖼🔖

Date entry: Monday the 19th Of March 2018

I’ve come back with something different. This is only because I’ve come across memes that either I can relate to or find funny.

I’ve always found them to be humorous. Especially, when the picture and text used works so perfectly together. It gets your mind working to establish the connection and how it would play out if it was moving image.

In this post, I’d like to share them with you guys reading this. Nevertheless, check them all out. They are in no particular order.

The concept of this meme makes sense. Hunger is a basic human need that allow us to feed our bodies the nutrients it needs.
When you can be anything you want, when you grow up.
When bae gets annoyed that you didn’t text him/her when you got home.
We all know lack of food can affect your mood, because your body feels depleted of what it needs
People who are into horoscopes will understand this. You may be able to relate to it too, depending if you’re a taurus or cancer.

Thank you for taking time to read this post & I hope you enjoyed the memes☺️

Chanda D

P.S: Follow me on my socials –

Teens & Social Media Use: How Much Is Too Much? – @TheSun

I came across this article on Saturday the 10th of March.

It reminded of how quickly teenagers have grown up these days. When you’re out and about, you can see teens who look older than you. It’s as if they’re growing up at a high speed. Obviously, growth is envitable, but they seem to be shooting from childhood straight to adulthood.

The increased access to the internet and technology has made this circumstance possible.    For example, kids from a young age are introduced to mobile devices, which are used for entertainment purposes. It follows through the years as they grow, then they’re able to receive their first phone. iPhones are a brand heavily used in today’s society. Everywhere, you are most likely to see someone despite their age using one. Understandably, we have moved with the times.

However, as someone who grew up in early 2000s, it is strange to see how outdoor childhood play has been replaced with technological play. From a personal observation, it is less likely to see children playing out. Maybe this is due to parents feeling their kids are not as safe as it once was to let your kids play outside. Instead, they provide play time via iPads, mobile phones or any other electronic device. It raises the question – whether this form of play it is better or not? Well that would be up for discussion.

Social media is a integrative part of current society. Most likely, you own at least one account on a networking site. Either Facebook, Instagram or Twitter (the popular three main ones). The history as I remember it, started with Facebook first, then Twitter came afterwards; slowly followed by Instagram. These apps and sites can be a good platform when being used for positive changes, business purposes or harmless fun. Especially Twitter, which is great for allowing you to express your thoughts (What’s on your mind?”). The line is drawn when it is used to cause malicious harm or upset to an individual or group. It is easy for people to type something from behind a screen and not face the consequences of their actions.

The Media And How It Can Affect Body Image

When I saw the article above, it got me thinking in ways how kids use social media. It stated their time on there should be limited. I agree, because they should be able to grow up not affected by it. Kids are similar to sponges, they take in everything in their environment. They can get influenced by the content, disregarding the fact if it’s healthy or detrimental. Certain aspects may cause them to see lifestyles that doesn’t exist in reality, left feeling obliged to follow and do the same. One way this is damaging is parents could potentially be forced to pay (unless they have a job) for the constantly-changing needs and demands of the child. As, they want to keep up with everyone around them. This can be done subconsciously or giving into peer pressure. Peer pressure become another issue, when they are older enough to understand information and form friendship groups.

Sociology Theory: The Lightbulb Effect x Consumption in Society 🔅💡💬

The concept of article was the push for changes in how kids’ times are managed online. It’s suggested time management of the internet will help improve the mental well-being. As limiting their activity will help balance out the extent in which they feed into the information. This will also allow them to remain present in their lives, taking the focus of what they don’t have to what they do have. The idea to put laws in place to make the concept concrete, may shake up the way kids are made to deal and become accustom to change in their current daily routines.

  • Will it be more challenging for kids to find other ways to fill their leisure time?
  • If the government plans do succeed to go accordingly, do you think this will make a difference in their lives?

Share your answer below in the comment box

Thank you for taking time to read this post and don’t forget to check out the other media-related posts. 

Chanda D

 

 

 

 

 

 

Feather Touch Spot📍

🛌🎑

(Excuse the lack of photography, this was a spur of the moment thing. I’ve added an emojis to make up for it😂😅)

It’s 23:58 as I start writing this

I gathered the breeze would give me a kiss

These are the times you’ll skip the less favourable song on the disk

A touch on the right spot relieves stress

It would be enviable to not give night time a miss

The covers wrapped around you with a perfect fit

This short story was inspired by a moment in the room

A brush of the skin with the wind broom

Sweeping past your mind introducing the spring clean

Baby don’t you know only that’s enough to satisfy me

Written by Chanda D ❤️

Check out the other poems on my blog too🍓

#BookReview : Everyday 📚📝

I finished this book on 6th March 2018

It was meant to be completed last month, but I wasn’t putting much effort into reading it every day. However, last night I was trying my luck to see if I could finish it and I did. I only had a little bit left and took a couple of hours to do so.

When you finally finish a book, you realise there is nothing to read anymore.. unless you have the next one lined up. Who knows..

The irony..

The story is set in America, mainly situating in different towns/cities. One main location in the book is high school, where mostly everything happens apart from in the respected houses.

This one showed A’s side of the story and how things were with Rhiannon. You get to see the interactions from his point of view. However, we also got see the daily struggles he faced in life. He was a different person each day in a different body, trying to integrate himself in society and it can become a problem. Especially, at certain points he was pressuring Rhiannon to accept him, even though she was in a relationship with Justin at the time.

He has grown attached to her, because he felt secure. She understood and talked with him. However, she also knew when to set boundaries with him, because the multiple characters of A were too much to handle. Eventually, her relationship with Justin ended and A saw that as a chance to move in. Rhiannon remained firm in his choice to remain friends. She was fresh out of a relationship, so she doesn’t needed any added stress to her life.

Although, this was something A didn’t want to hear, he had to respect her decision.

This book is something I have not read before and I don’t mean it as in I haven’t read books. I mean as in it’s different to others I’ve read. I don’t know whether it’s meant to be comical, but you can’t help but laugh and giggle some of the content. It feels way more personal, it was like reading a diary entry. The day was noted for each new chapter, to show the change in character and new day.

This was the second part to David Levithan’s Another Day. I have previously done a book review on that one, so you can check it out #BookReview : Another Day By David Levithan 📚. Whereas the first book was more serious, this book was funnier. You can definitely tell the two perspectives apart. You hear the story from a girls side and the boys side. In the circumstance, the male view doesn’t have a stern approach. It has a more of a breezing through life feel. Rhiannon telling the story had more depth and emotion to it. You could sense her up and downs and how she dealt with them. A spoke about it in a grounded, practical way. He gave detailed explanations on a day to day basis  of what he was thinking and what was happening around him that day.

Overall, I enjoyed reading the book, because it made sense to read both back to back. Two points of view helps gain a clearer insight into the story as a whole. It helped fill in the gaps that wouldn’t of necessarily been filled with one piece of information. If you are going to read it, I’d recommended getting both books, so you’re not either confused or left on a cliffhanger.

It’s available to buy at your local bookstore & WHSmith.

The price ranges between £7-10.

Thank you for reading this review & find your next spa day for you and/or your friend/s with spa finder

Chanda D

Image source: Chanda Demi Photography 📷

This post contained an affiliated link 

Naps

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Brief facts about naps

Hello, back with a new post in March☺️

I was inspired to write this post after having a nap yesterday (1/3/18).

FACTS ABOUT NAPS – YOUTUBE

Naps have been with us since the age of time. It is commonly known to be able to take one at any given point of the day. It’s nice preferably to have it whilst in bed, however that is not always possible. So, you have to make do with the environment you have.

In the video link, it shows how important and what naps does to/for us. It is recommend to take short naps, but no longer than 90 mins. As it can mess up your natural sleeping pattern, affecting your REM sleep. I think this is why when you sleep during the day, it is harder to go to bed when it’s actual bedtime.

I did further research into this topic, by googling more about naps. This led me to serotonin and dopamine. These two are affected when you experience pleasurable moments. Meanwhile naps help regulate your bodily functions. It enables it to have its time to recharge and repair. I can see why in certain countries/companies allows their staff to sleep. It must produce a efficient workforce. Otherwise it wouldn’t be applicable.

There are more ways to boost serotonin and dopamine:

WAYS TO BOOST SEROTONIN + DOPAMINE (NATURALLY)

If you would like to look into it further or even research the two separately. Information is available on the both for thorough understanding.

How productive do you think naps are? Leave your comments below👇🏾

BOOK YOUR NEXT SPA DAY HERE, FOR YOU AND/OR FRIEND/S; WITH SPAFINDER WELLNESS 365

Website cited: GoodTherapy.org + YouTube

Image source: Google

This post contained an affiliate link

Speaking Rhyme Time 🎶👯‍♀️

In the morning where the sun shines

Today is a day that is all mine

Wondering what you have to do with time

Be your own hope and everything will be fine

Sometimes it won’t be possible

That don’t mean your life will decline

In the midst of trouble, remain subtle

Keep something by your side

Water in a tin bottle

All the inconsistencies in the world

It would be hard to spot ’em all

Dizzee Rascal was the guy

That told us to stand up tall

The rays are an early morning wake up call

Written by Chanda D

Image source: Chanda Demi Photography📷

Book and find your next spa day for you and/or your friend/s

This post contained an affiliate link