Healthy Eating - Quinoa Recipes

Quinoa is a protein alternative, it is great for vegans and vegetarians!

It is super easy to cook! All you need is a cup of quinoa and two cups of water (one part quinoa, two parts water).

How to Cook:

Put the quinoa and water in a saucepan and bring to the boil.

It usually takes fifteen to twenty minutes to cook once the water comes to boil.

Once the water is gone (the time is up) or you feel as it the quinoa is cooked, take it off the hob.

Drain the excess water and add any ingredients you want!

Basic Recipe:

If you do not want to add anything into the quinoa, add stock to the boiling water before adding the quinoa. I add chicken stock and it tastes amazing!

Quinoa and Roasted Peppers:

Slice a pepper and place them on a baking tray.

Sprinkle the peppers with balsamic vinegar and roast in the oven for about a half hour.

Chop the roasted peppers into smaller pieces.

Mix into the quinoa and enjoy.

Quinoa, Green Beans and Carrot:

Boil some green beans in a saucepan, slice in half and mix into the quinoa.

Wash and peel a carrot. 

Grate some carrot (as much as you like) into the quinoa, mix in and enjoy.

Quinoa, Pine Nuts and Carrot:

Take a handful of pine nuts (or as much as you desire) and sprinkle into the quinoa.

Wash and peel a carrot.

Grate the carrot into the quinoa.

Mix everything together and enjoy!

Although I am not a vegetarian, I love quinoa! It is a quick and easy meal to prepare and will keep in a fridge for a day or two. It is perfect for lunch, I bring it into school most days! These are only a few of my favourite recipes. If you would like some more, let me know!

Have you tried quinoa before?

Do you have any recipes you would like to share?

Have you tried my recipes?

Let me know in the comments below!

Ciara,

xoxo.

Twitter: twitter.com/ciarakittyk

Instagram: instagram.com/ciarakittyk

Bloglovin: www.bloglovin.com

Your Tea - Tiny tea

A few weeks ago, the lovely people at Your Tea sent me their Tiny Tea. Due to a hectic schedule I have not been able to use the tea until now. You have to drink the tea three times a day (half an hour before meals) and my schedule for the past few weeks has not allowed me to do so.

My first impressions of the tea are great as the packaging was lovely and all the information you need is given on the inside of the lid or on the leaflet included!

Tiny Tea is a herbal tea that will cleanse and nourish your digestive system, leave you feeling less bloated and help you reach your physical and mental peak!

Tiny Tea helps to reduce bloating, remove toxins, improve energy levels and 'nudge away' any surplus weight. It is a completely natural tea that is good for you as a whole!

The instructions say you steep one tea bag in boiling water for 4-5 minutes and you drink the tea 30 minutes before or after eating, three times daily.

I will be starting my teatox tomorrow and after the fourteen days, I will do another post on my results!

For more information on Tiny Tea or the other teas that Your Tea have, visit their website here:

http://eu.yourtea.com/

Thanks to the folks at Your Tea for sending me this fab product and I cannot wait to see my results!

Have you ever used Tiny Tea before?

How did the teatox go for you?

Let me know in the comments below!

Ciara,

xoxo.

Twitter: twitter.com/ciarakittyk

Instagram: instagram.com/ciarakittyk

Bloglovin: www.bloglovin.com

Spring Wishlist

Spring is just around the corner..... FINALLY!

I am so ready to ditch my winter clothes and update my wardrobe with fabulous, spring ready clothes!

My Spring Wishlist is full of clothes and makeup that I would love to have!

1. Urban Renewal Vintage Customised Lace Trim Sweatshirt

                        

This top is so pretty and perfect for days shopping over jeans or nights out over skirts! 

The lace detail on this top is stunning and I would love to add it to my wardrobe. 

This top is only available online at www.urbanoutfitters.com for €50

2. #Flashmob Cosmetics Hair Chalk 

These hair chalks wash out very easily so they are perfect to use during school breaks! I would love a pop of colour in my hair without having to bleach it first. The #flashmob hair chalks are available from www.argos.ie for €6.99

3. Forever21 Rose Print Leggings

Leggings are a staple piece in any wardrobe. Spring is the time for florals and these leggings from Forever21 are so pretty! The leggings are available from www.forever21.com/eu for €10.50

4.Susanna Underwired Bra 

Every girl loves getting a new bra. I love the ranges from Clara Olivia. This bra is so pretty and comes in a wide range of sizes. Embrace your inner Anatasia Steele and head over to

 www.clara-olivia.com and check out the Susanna Underwired Bra!

5. Lavand Cardigan L46C232G04

Spring weather is amazing. You can ditch the jacket but still wear a cute cardigan over your clothes. 

This cardigan from Lavand is perfect - it's black so you can wear it over a variety of colours (namely pink). This cardigan is available in four different colours and it is  currently 50% on www.lavand.com so hurry up before they're all gone! 

This cardigan is €19.95 at the moment.

6. New Look Dark Blue Ripped Skinny Jeans

Jeans are amazing. I love buying new jeans and wearing new styles. These high waisted jeans from New Look are perfect for Spring  (and Summer, and Autumn and Winter). I find dark wash jeans are perfect for Spring as you can wear floral tops that are light and bright with them! These jeans are available on www.newlook.com for €29.99

7.  Lavand Pink Bag L48C021P01

Getting a new bag is always nice. This gorgeous pink bag from Lavand is gorgeous! I literally love this bag so much and need it in my life! The best thing about this bag has to be that it's on sale at the moment! WOOOHOOOO go sales!

This bag is available from www.lavand.com  for €34.95

8. River Island Pink Burnout Casual Long Sleeve Bardot Top

Pastels are a must-have this season! A wishlist cannot be a wishlist without some comfy clothes for lazy days! This top from River Island is perfect for days spent watching movies!

The Bardot Top is available from www.riverisland.com for €33.00

9. Nasty Gal Lace Case Skirt

Lace is one of my favourite trends this season! This skirt from Nasty Gal is perfect for nights out - it would look amazing paired with a crop top! 

The skirt is available from www.nastygal.com for €58.80

10. Love Clothing White Daisy Oversize Mesh Top

Love Clothing has a stunning collection of clothing! This daisy top is so pretty and perfect for Spring! You could wear this as an oversized top or you could tuck it into a skirt!

The White Daisy Oversize Mesh Top is available from www.loveclothing.com for €12.20

My Spring wishlist could go on for days but these are definitely my top ten!

Be sure to check out all the items on my wishlist!

Let me know what your Spring must-haves are in the comments below!

Ciara,

xoxo.

Twitter: twitter.com/ciarakittyk

Instagram: instagram.com/ciarakittyk

Bloglovin: www.bloglovin.com

Winter Lip Makeup Tutorial

As a lot of you already know, I love dark berry colours! They are perfect for winter and I am in love with maroon at the moment! 

I finally got my hands on Barry M's Ultra Moisturising Lip Paint in the shade 160 (Black Cherry) and I have decided to do a tutorial on winter lips using my favourite lipstick ever.

For this look I started with my normal base. I used Rimmel London Lasting Finish foundation in the shade 100 Ivory. The amazing Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Cool Medium. The W7 cream contour kit and the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in 001 Transparent. 

For my brows I used the Wet n' Wild Ultimate Brow Kit. For my eyes I used the Makeup Revolution  Awesome Metals Foil Finish in Rose Gold. 

On the outer corner of my lids I used the MUA eyeshadow in Bronze

And Max Factor Wild Shadow Pots in 55 Feral Brown

  

To finish my eyes I used L'Oreal Paris Super Liner in Black Crystals and No7 Stay Perfect Mascara.

For my lips, I lined them using the lipstick itself. Using my Blank Canvas Cosmetics brush in No.12,
I ran it over the lipstick a few times and lined my lips using the brush - I recommend this so you won't overdraw your lips on one side and have to start over!

After my lips were lined, I went ahead and applied the lipstick. Although it's not as dark as I expected, the lipstick is such a lovely colour!

 The lipstick itself is very moisturising so you won't have to use lip balm beforehand (you can if you want to but it is not necessary!).

 Here's the finished look! Perfect for a day or night look! If the eyes are too intense for your day look, you can just do the eyeliner!

I hope you have fun with this tutorial and let me know what you think of Barry M's lipsticks down below!
Do you have any winter lip colours you think I should try out?

Ciara,

xoxo.

Twitter: twitter.com/ciarakittyk

Instagram: instagram.com/ciarakittyk

P.S. I have gotten some questions about my hair. I don't use extensions at all! I have been growing my hair out for a year and love how long it has gotten!

How To Wash Your Makeup Brushes!

Keeping your makeup brushes clean is one of the most important part of any beauty routine! When you use your brushes, oil, dirt, makeup residue and bacteria can become trapped in the bristles.

I was my brushes once every fortnight due to the fact that I only use them at the weekends. If you use your brushes every day, I would recommend you wash your brushes at least once a week!

I have two brush sets, the Blank Canvas Cosmetics "My Face And Eye" brush set and the Real Techniques Core Collection.

"My Face And Eye" is available from www.blankcanvascosmetics.com for €74.99

The "Core Collection" is available from www.cloud10beauty.com for €24.99


To deep clean your makeup brushes, you will need:

*Baby shampoo or anti-bacterial soap
*A small bowl
*Your sink
*A cloth
*Two small towels

What To Do:

* Wet your brush under lukewarm water. Don't let the water get above the handle wet or the brush hairs could come lose as this is where the glue is!

* Fill the bowl with lukewarm water and add a bit of shampoo. Gently swirl the brush in the water - if needed, you can swirl the brush in the palm of your hand to work up a lather.

* Rinse the brush under running water once again. Continue to rinse the brush until all the shampoo is out of the brush and it feels completely clean (not slippery at all).

* Repeat steps two and three until the water runs completely clear from the brush.

* For added softness, use a small amount of conditioner and gently rub the brush into the conditioner on the palm of your hand. Rinse once more with lukewarm water.

* Use the towel to wipe your brushes clean, reshaping them as you go.

* Lay your brushes flat on a towel to dry.

How do you wash your brushes?

Do you think you'll use this post when washing your brushes?

Let me know in the comments below!

Ciara,

xoxo.

Twitter: twitter.com/ciarakittyk

Instagram: instagram.com/ciarakittyk

Goals for 2015

 Okay so my journal has literally been staring at me since January 1st just waiting for me to write my goals for the coming year. I finally came up with my top nine goals for 2015!

Meet Other Irish Bloggers

I'm fairly new to blogging and don't really know any other Irish bloggers yet. I would love to meet some Irish bloggers this year because it would be cool to have other blogger friends!

Meet New Friends, Leave Old Ones Behind

Friendships come and go, in 2014 a lot of friendships ended and I don't care. I lost friends but I'm okay with it because now I have friends that I know will always be there for me, not exclude me and always have my back. I am always open to making new friends and I hope 2015 will bring new friendships!

Reach 150 Bloggers on Bloglovin'

Since I'm new to bloglovin', I do not have that many followers as of yet. My goal for 2015 is to reach 150 followers on my bloglovin' account https://www.bloglovin.com/blog/13404595

Do A Boxswap
Boxswaps look like so much fun and I love shopping. I would love to fill a box full of beauty products and send it to someone - I just adore reading boxswap posts! They're so fun!
If you're interested in a boxswap, let me know in the comments below.

Keep My Grades Up
My grades this year have been really good, I am happy with the results I get for the amount of work I put in. I need high points in the Leaving Cert for the course I want to do (Business and Law), so I need to have consistently high grades for the next year and a half!

Study More
Along with keeping my grades up, I need to study more! I need to put the work in to achieve the grades I want. I hope to spend an hour to an hour and a half each day studying!

Exercise More
Everyone says 'New Year, New Me!' and it really is a cliché by now. However, I am determined to get fitter this year and want to exercise at least three times a week!

Drink More Water
I drink a litre and half to two litres of water each day. Drinking water is great for your skin and has a lot of other health benefits! My goal for 2015 is to drink two to three litres of water a day!

Be Happier
Being happy is just something I want for myself. Happiness makes people feel good and has many health benefits! Being happy is definitely one of the most important aspects of my life!

There you have it!

My goals for 2015 :)

As you may have noticed, I changed my blog name from 
adayinthelifeofanirishgirl.blogspot.com to
sparkleofpink.blogspot.com
I decided it was time for a change and I prefer my new name, I hope you do too!

What are your goals for 2015?
Let me know in the comments below!

Ciara,

xoxo.

Twitter: twitter.com/ciarakittyk

Instagram: instagram.com/ciarakittyk

Top Ten Beauty Products of 2014

Happy New Year everyone!

I hope everyone had a fantastic night :)

As 2014 is over, I've decided to share my top ten beauty products from the past year! It is a mix of high-end and drugstore products (mostly drugstore).

10. Carmex Cherry Lip Balm

This lip balm is absolutely fantastic. I used it all year and don't know what I would do without it! You can use it on its own or under lipstick. Whatever way you use it, Carmex will leave your lips smooth and conditioned.

Carmex is available from Boots for €3.79

9. Benefit They're Real Mascara

I have tried and tested a lot of mascaras this year and although They're Real isn't my favourite, it is definitely one of them! My lashes looked fabulous after putting this mascara on and it was fairly easy to remove. They're Real is without a doubt one of my favourite mascaras!

Benefit They're Real is available from Debenhams for €26.

8. L'Oréal Paris Super Liner

This little gem is by far the best eyeliner I have ever used! It is so easy to apply and lasts all day. This eyeliner has a sponge tipped pen which allows for quick and easy application without smudging!

L'Oréal Paris Super Liner is available in Boots stores nationwide.

7. Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder

The Stay Matte powder is a lightweight powder that lasts for most of the day! I usually have to reapply it once during the day - sometimes I don't even need to! It does not clog pores and is great for concealing imperfections that concealer won't. I use Shade 001 - Transparent.

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder is available in pharmacies and supermarkets nationwide for €5.99

6. Makeup Revolution Iconic 2 Palette

The Iconic 2 palette is a dupe of the Naked 2 palette made by Makeup Revolution. The quality and pigmentation of this palette definitely rivals that of the Naked palette. Iconic 2 was my go-to palette on nights out this year! 

Iconic 2 is available from makeuprevolutionstore.com for only €5.05

5. Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation

The Match Perfection foundation is a lightweight foundation that gives amazing coverage. I love this foundation so much! If you get the right shade for your skin, there is absolutely no makeup line which I love. 

Match Perfection Foundation is available from Boots for €9.99

4. Inglot Lipstick Shade 293

I am an absolute sucker for deep berry colours and love this lipstick so much! The lipstick is easy to apply and leaves my lips feeling soft and moisturised. This long-lasting lipstick will always be in my makeup bag - it's fantastic!

Inglot lipsticks are available in any of their stores or online for €14

3. MAC Mineralize Skinfinish

Everyone needs a highlighter in their collection and MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish is definitely my favourite. You cannot beat  MAC's quality and you can't go wrong with this highlighter.I use soft & gentle, it is perfect for any skin tone, especially those with lighter skin, like me.

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish is available online or in Brown Thomas for €30

2. Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless Mascara

I literally cannot rave about this mascara enough It is my favourite mascara and I cannot get enough of it! It lengthens lashes and there aren't any clumps. The mascara is amazing and the price is even better! You may need to apply two to three coats to get your desired effect but this mascara has amazing staying power and is fantastic!

Lash Accelerator Endless Mascara is available from Boots for €9.99

1. Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer

Wooooo! Here's my Number One beauty product of 2014! This concealer is waterproof and conceals blemishes like no other. Not only does it conceal blemishes, it also covers dark circles and claims to do so for up to sixteen hours! Once set with powder, this concealer will last throughout the day and the coverage given is just phenomenal. If you don't have this concealer in your makeup bag already, pick it up from your nearest Boots store right away!

Collection 200 Lasting Perfection Concealer is available from Boots for €6.49

Well there you have it, my top ten beauty products of 2014!

Let me know what you think in the comments below.

Do you have any other products you think I should try out? Tell me about them!

Ciara,

xoxo.

Twitter: twitter.com/ciarakittyk

Instagram: instagram.com/ciarakittyk