Hey guys, happy Thursday!

It’s been pretty quiet over here lately due to work et cetera but I promise I have some great recipes and skincare guides coming up soon which you won’t want to miss.

Today I am going to talk about June. How was yours? As we inch back to our social lives at a very steady, careful pace I have been remembering the things that helped make the month of June a happier and easier place.

Resistance bands

When I’m not (not enjoying) running, I enjoy a variety of exercises which sometimes incorporate equipment including dumbbells, my yoga bolster, ankle weights and, a resistance band.

The resistance band is honestly such a superstar and allows you to really up the ante on squats, lunges, arm exercises and barre. Using a resistance band is a really good way to build strength and are also used often in physiotherapy.

I always like to pack one of these in my bag when I’m going away, they’re tiny, versatile and you can do a full body workout with one.

I love this mini workout from Women’s Health if you are looking for a place to start.

Coconut Collaborative Pudding Pots

Until June I had only tried the Coconut Collaborative chocolate pots but these two are an absolute gamechanger! I am a person who always craves something sweet after dinner and these pudding pots are just the ticket.

The banoffee pots are so light and sweet and you can really taste the banana as opposed to just sugar which I love. The salted caramel pots are very, very moreish, they are sweet from the caramel, salty from the…salt, both of which pair perfectly with the dark chocolate. Plainly spoken, they are heavenly.

Both varieties of the pudding pots are so smooth and creamy and feel so indulgent. I love them. These are available in Sainsbury’s and other supermarkets.

Eyebrow tint

One of my self appointed tasks for 2020 was to tint my eyebrows so at the start of lockdown I decided to do them myself, I figured that if it went horrendously, at least nobody would see them.

Luckily for me it is really quick and pretty foolproof. I did a quick google and saw a lot of professionals recommend RefectoCil so ordered both the tint and the developer liquid and was good to go, they come with really clear instructions which I love.

• 2cm of the colour
• 10 drops of the developer liquid
• Mix together in a tray/pot
• Use a cotton bud/ your fingers to put vaseline around your eyebrows so none of the tint stains your skin
• Brush onto brows with a spoolie brush.
• It develops really quickly so I only leave it on for 4 minutes
• Remove tint with a warm, wet flannel.

I have been doing this once a month during lockdown and will definitely be continuing with at home eyebrow tinting from now on, although I am counting down the days until I can get my eyelashes tinted professionally because that is not something I enjoy doing myself.

Cold showers

I had been reading about cold showers and their benefits for a long time before I finally built up the courage to take the plunge and a few Mondays ago I decided to just go for it. I won’t lie, the first 30 seconds were bloody freezing but after that I started to acclimatise and it wasn’t as hellish as I thought it would be. I usually take quite short showers (maybe to compensate for my long baths) but for 2 and a half minutes I stood under freezing water washing my body and face and only cowered in the corner once which I was pretty impressed with.

On the second day I mostly remembered the first 30 seconds so it took a countdown to jump under but since then the fear has dissipated. I have been taking 5/6 cold morning showers a week for the past 3 weeks and have found them to be really invigorating and give me way more energy in the morning, my circulation has improved and I’ve also noticed that my face is less puffy after a cold shower. When I take a cold shower after a few drinks the night before I notice that I am more alert and less sluggish than I would have been.

They definitely aren’t a replacement for my beloved sweaty salt bathes but they have become a welcome part of my morning routine. Have you tried them out?

What have you been loving lately? Let me know in the comments.