Hello October.

Posted on by Hannah Louise

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I’ve been kicking October off with fluffy slippers, cosy blankets, nutty lattes and autumn scented candles.

Sounds divine, doesn’t it?

I wanted to take part in Blogtober this year but life has kinda got in the way. Plus, I’ve been uploading new videos on my YouTube channel. *happy dance* I will however be doing Blogmas like last year because OMG that was so much fun!

If you are taking part in Blogtober this year please do send me your blog links I would love to add them to my reading list.

Much love,
Hannah x

P.S. Listen with me: my current Autumn Playlist on Spotify 

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My Autumn Skincare Routine.

Posted on by Hannah Louise

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It’s got to that time of year again where your skincare products need changing up. The weather has gotten pretty cold over the past few days in England. My skin is certainly feeling the change in weather.

I picked these up from Superdrug and Boots last month last month. I decided that it was time to change up what facial wash I was using and this one has been doing wonders for my skin. It leaves it feeling so clean and refreshed. It’s also got exfoliating bits in it which is great for my dry areas around the edges of my face.

The moisturisers are from Superdrug, it’s their new de-stress range so I thought I would give it a go. My skin has been feeling quite tired over the last couple of months from bad sleep so these seemed like a perfect fit for me right now. Overall I’m pretty impressed with them both. I use the everyday day and night moisturiser more than the night mask if I’m honest, just because I feel it’s a bit think. I will continue to give it a go though, I think during the winter it will be great. The day and night one id great though! It’s not greasy and I can still apply makeup over the top which is always a bonus.

Now onto the Boho Beach Jelly! For such a long time now I’ve hated having curly hair, then I found this range of products and managing my curly hair is no longer a chore. It leaves my hair feeling light and it really brings out my natural curls.

Those are all the current skincare products I’m currently using. I’m going to try and film a skincare routine video for my YouTube channel. I will try and get that done in the next couple of weeks.

What skincare products are you using right now?

Much love,
Hannah x

Primark Haul – Autumn 2018

Posted on by Hannah Louise

Guess what?

I finally, (yes! Finally) uploaded a Primark Haul video for Autumn.

I received a lot of messages this year asking me if I was going to make a YouTube channel.

The answer is yes!

I have finally started posting more. I hope to be posting once a week from now on!

Be sure to head over to my channel and subscribe for new videos. I’m very excited about starting this adventure. It’s a way to make myself feel a bit more comfortable and confident in front of the camera as well as in myself.

Much love,
Hannah x

Coffee Adventure – Eleto Chocolate Cafe.

Posted on by Hannah Louise

Hello there, and welcome back to another coffee adventure post. A couple of weeks ago I decided that I would visit Eleto Chocolate Cafe in Canterbury. After many recommendations from a friend of mine I decided that I needed to visit and see for myself what this cafe was all about.

As I arrived it was quite busy outside and downstairs. I took a menu from the counter and made my way upstairs.

First impressions? Kinda quirky and rustic and definitely a place I could get some writing work done. It reminds me of a coffee shop I used to go to a lot during my time at University. I want to visit there again at some point, maybe next year.

I managed to get a window seat, I scanned the menu and omg! I was so spoilt for choice. I wanted something sweet and full of chocolate because after all this was the chocolate cafe. I ordered a Belgium Waffle and a cappuccino. When it arrived I was immediately taken to chocolate heaven, no exaggeration! It was so sweet and was just what I wanted. The cappuccino was on point too!

It will definitely be a place that I will be visiting again. I also picked up some chocolates and truffles to take home with me. They were divine!

Next time I visit I want to try one of their milkshakes and maybe some cake. They also have a branch in Folkestone so I might visit that one next!

Follow them @ Facebook
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Follow them @ Website

Eleto Chocolate Cafe, Canterbury
1 Guildhall Street
Canterbury
CT1 2JQ
t: 01227 464 164

Have you visited here? What were your thoughts?

Also, I am making it my mission to visit more and more coffee shops around Kent, and the UK so if you have any suggestions for coffee shops to visit please let me know.

Much love,
Hannah x

Getting Ready for Autumn.

Posted on by Hannah Louise

Good morning, hows your Sunday going so far? Restful I hope! Grab yourself a nice warm drink and get ready for todays post.

Today I wanted to share a few things with you.

  1. This gorgeous bedding that I bought from Asda Living.
  2. My bedtime routine.
  3. Creating a comfortable bedroom space.

Because most of my shifts have been starting at 6:15am, I’ve been trying to get into bed before 10pm. I make sure that I open the window an hour before. There is nothing worse than trying to sleep in a room that is too hot. I’ve been loving lighting candles and putting fairy lights up. It feels so cozy! I’ve been slacking on my reading over the past couple of months. I haven’t been able to get into reading as much as I used to. I’ve been challenging myself to read at least one chapter throughout the day.

I’m currently reading Kalyn Nicholson’s book called Catcher. You can buy it from Amazon. 

With Autumn just around the corner I’m in the process of moving some things around in the flat, this includes, new throws, pillows, candles, and art. Yes, art. I’ve bought a couple of pieces from Etsy. I just need to buy a couple of frames then they will be ready to put up.

The boy and I have just bought a rug for the living area, it’s looking and feeling more like our home already. I bought some cushions to match the rug. They are both neutral colours.

I’m so excited for Autumn. I’ve started filming more videos over on my YouTube channel. I will have two new videos going up next week. Click here to subscribe to my channel. 

Much love,
Hannah x

# We All Have A Story.

Posted on by Hannah Louise

After seeing this hashtag going around on Twitter this morning I just knew that I had to get involved. Created by The Blurt Foundation. I’m all about things like this, it’s such a fantastic way to get people talking about mental health. Raising awareness about mental health needs to be taken more seriously than it ever has done before. It’s important that people feel that they can reach out without feeling pressured or embarrassed.

I came across Me and My Mental Health Matter’s Blog and loved the questions they used so I decided that I would answer the same questions on here.

When did you first notice your condition?

I think I was first aware of my condition from the age of 13. I didn’t fully understand or know exactly what it was. I just knew that I didn’t feel ‘right’. I didn’t fit in, but not in a ‘normal’ typical teenage not fitting in way, as many people around me felt thats the phase I was going through. I knew something was wrong and that I didn’t feel right.

It wasn’t till the age of 18 that my doctors finally gave me the ‘depression and anxiety’ label.

When did you first get help for your condition? 

I first saw a school councillor at the age of 15. She helped me with stress management. That was the first time I was introduced to breathing techniques and meditation.

I saw three different therapists throughout my time at University. As well as a crisis team and sought help from the A&E department.

Do you take medication?

Yes. Over the past 6 years I’ve taken it on and off. At the moment I take two different dosages of Venlafaxine. It’s the only one I’ve been on that’s worked. Before Venlafaxine, no medication was working so my doctor referred me to a psychiatrist and they doubled my dose. I’ve been on this dose for the past year and 8 months. I will probably be on them for the rest of my life, but to be honest, if they help me live my life then I am okay with that.

What do you miss out on because of your condition?

In short, yes I do miss out on some things. But, as I get older I realise that my life is what I make it. Travel makes me anxious at times, but I take small journeys to challenge myself.

Would you get rid of your condition if you could?

No. I don’t think I would. It would have made my life a hell of a lot easier, but I wouldn’t have the acceptance and compassion for life that I have now. Yes there are many situations that make me anxious. There are days I feel like I can’t face the world. There are days where I feel like I can’t ‘do life’ anymore. But, I keep fighting. I keep living each day as it comes because I might feel depressed and hopeless one day but the next day I might wake up and be happy.

We All Have A Story. It’s your story and everyones is different. Keep fighting and pushing for what you want in life.

Life is so worth it.

Much love,
Hannah x

Coffee Adventure – The Curious Cupcake Cafe.

Posted on by Hannah Louise

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Hello and welcome back to another Coffee Adventure post.

For this post I decided that I would take a trip over to Margate and visit The Curious Cupcake Cafe. I’ve been wanting to visit here for the past year.

Upon arrival, I managed to snag a window seat. I took out the menu and decided what I wanted to order. Of course, I knew that cake was going to be my number 1 choice!

The interior was very cosy and welcoming. Big thumbs up for the fairy lights around the room! As I made my way up to the classic counter that I had seen oh so many times over on their Instagram. There was quite a large range of cakes, snacks and cupcakes.

After much indecisiveness from me, I decided that I would order a chai latte I’m so obsessed right now, a piece of coffee cake and a chocolate cupcake. The staff were so friendly and offered for me to take a seat and they would bring my food to me.

I so wanted to love this place, but if I’m completely honest it just didn’t live up to my expectations. I felt that the cake was very dry and maybe store bought. The cupcake too I felt was dry and claggy. As a baker myself, I just expected more.

I really don’t want this post to be a negative one, I just feel that I wanted to share my experience.

When I visited it was very busy. I feel that it’s the type of place that you wouldn’t visit alone. I’m all about taking a good book or my laptop and just powering through work or reading. I did get my book out for a while though. I just didn’t feel that this was a place that you could do that very comfortably. Or maybe it was the time that I visited?

I would visit again, however next time I wouldn’t go alone. Next time I would probably branch out and grab myself some lunch too, their sandwiches looked lovely!

Follow them @ Facebook
Follow them @ Instagram

The Curious Cupcake Cafe
4/5 Market Place
CT9 1ER,
Margate,
Kent

Have you visited here? What were your thoughts?

Also, I am making it my mission to visit more and more coffee shops around Kent, and the UK so if you have any suggestions for coffee shops to visit please let me know.

Much love,
Hannah x

Coffee Adventure – Hessian Coffee Company.

Posted on by Hannah Louise

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Hello and welcome back to another Coffee Adventure post. This weeks post is a little different in the sense that I will be sharing with you some coffee that I have recently received, rather than a coffee shop. It’s still an adventure though!

I have followed Hessian Coffee Company for a while on Instagram and they’ve been a company that I’ve wanted to work with for some time. I’m very excited to have received these sample packs for me to try!

Go follow them on
@ Instagram 
@ Facebook
@ Twitter 
@ Hessian Coffee Website

Okay, lets jump straight in!

Out of the three I definitely preferred the Bourbon Select and the Espresso Reserve. I feel that they were a bit sweeter. I have a very sweet tooth and the espresso No.1 was just a little too bitter for me.

I brewed the coffee for about 4-5 minutes.
I added a drop of caramel. Because why not?
Foamed a bit of milk and I was ready to indulge.

It made the perfect morning coffee to kick start my day!

I love that the Bourbon Select already had that hint of caramel, it was certainly enjoyable. Although, I do have to admit that the Espresso Reserve would easily become my everyday coffee.

I also used this coffee to make cold brews too and it was delicious.

It you are feeling super adventurous and want to make your own cold brew a little more creamy and luxurious, try this!

Ready?

  1. Brew your coffee as normal.
  2. Get your blender ready.
  3. Scoop a serving of vanilla ice cream in into the blender. (use milk as a lower calorie alternative) soya milk also works great!
  4. Add a couple of ice cubes.
  5. A drop of syrup.
  6. Add your desired amount of coffee to the blender.
  7. And. MIX!

And that’s it! It’s kind of like a homemade Frappuccino.

Give it a go, and if you do, be sure to tag me in your pictures over on my Instagram. @paint_me_a_smile_

I got a few questions last week asking why am I trying different types of coffee and traveling so much to different coffee shops?

Firstly, I love coffee! Like so so so much. And, I love coffee shops! I’ve always done this amount of coffee drinking and coffee shop going it’s just, I’ve never talked about it as much. (I don’t think…)

Secondly, it’s probably no secret to the people around me but in the next year or so, I will hopefully opening my own coffee and cake shop. It’s a project I have been working on for so long and I want to get it right. That means, the best coffee, the best location and I am in the best place possible to do it right.

Thirdly, I’ve wanted to do a coffee shop adventure type series on this blog for a while. I just decided now was the best time to do it.

I hope that you enjoyed this post and if you have any question coffee related or not feel free to drop me a message.

Are you a coffee shop owner or manager or does your company make coffee, I would love to work with you!

A massive thank you to Neil over at Hessian Coffee Company for kindly sending me these samples (I still have the tea bags, I will review them over on my Instagram very soon)

Stay tuned for next weeks Coffee Adventure post.

Here’s a hint about next weeks post: …Margate!

Much love and happy coffee drinking,
Hannah x

 

 

Coffee Adventure @ The Little Kitchen, Dover.

Posted on by Hannah Louise

Hello and welcome back to the Coffee Adventure series.

Today I would like to share with you a lovely little coffee shop in Dover, South East Kent. I’ve been here quite a few times now and each time I fall more and more in love with this place.

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Last week when I visited I decided that I would grab a pastry and my usual cappuccino. All together it was just over £3.00. What a bargain!

The Little Kitchen has such a friendly vibe. The atmosphere is so welcoming and relaxing that it makes you want to come back. I spent the majority of my visit planning Christmas projects (yes, I know it’s early haha) and reading my book. I’m currently reading Catcher by Kalyn Nicholson. I’m loving it so far!

 

The cappuccino here is lovely! They have a wide range of vegan and gluten free options too which is great! All homemade! As a baker myself, I truly appreciate this!

I can’t wait to go back, I’ve been eyeing up their all day breakfasts.

I’ve only been in Dover for 6 months, and this is a coffee shop that I want to go back to time and time again.

The Little Kitchen @ Facebook

The Little Kitchen @ Instagram

The Little Kitchen Address:
3 King St, Dover CT16 1NW

Have you visited here? What were your thoughts?

Also, I am making it my mission to visit more and more coffee shops around Kent, and the UK so if you have any suggestions for coffee shops to visit please let me know.

Much love,
Hannah x