lifestyle

2020 trend predictions

lifestyle

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2020 is finally here & as I like to be on the pulse when it comes to trends I wanted to put together a few of the trend predictions that should be on your radar in 2020.

Most of the trends have popped up in 2019 already but are really about to have their moment.

I’ve broken these down into different sections to make this easier for you to read, read all of them or just ones that are relevant to you. Take what you want & leave what you don’t but have some fun trying something new in 2020.

I’ve kept it simple with my favourite 3!

Fitness trends;

Important of rest; yes 2020 is the year of low impact and recovery training. 2019 saw PTs telling us that we need to rest at least twice a week. To help us get on board Accessories like compression boots are trending, and even recovery-focused studios and services like flotation therapy (there’s a great little floating spa in the Jewellery Quarter of Birmingham). Cryotherapy is up next also known as cold therapy. I’ve not actually tried this however while at Hoar Cross Hall recently I spent some time in a salt room followed by a ice cold shower with ice. I’m not going to lie I totally loved this, I mean not at the time but when I came out I felt so fresh! It was amazing! I’ve also taken to blasting the shower cold before I get out in a morning.

SURFING; although I’ve never actually been surfing I’m all for any activity that gets me into the water. There are going to be more surfing competitions, clubs not to mention it’s recently become a recognised Olympic sport! Don’t fancy getting in the open water? Or wanting to try it out without relying on the famous British summer you can also get check out new man made surf spots like The Wave in Bristol. If you’re hitting the water why not try a sustainable swimsuit made from ocean waste and reused yarn. Im in love with this one.

Wearable tech; between wearable tech and new apps there’s nothing you can’t track; sleep, heart beat, downloadable running maps etc. Information is power & according to some research having the information on our phones updating daily is keeping us motivated & on track. However be careful here & don’t get too reliant on these, they can be addictive.

Beauty & Wellness trends;

Aluminium free deodorant and I am so excited about this because I have spent the last 12 months trying to find a good aluminium free deodorant. So far I really rate the soft and gentle.

Redefining self care self care is obviously here to stay! But instead of the goal being to schedule it in I think the power of self care lies more with freeing up time & removing unnecessary pressure on yourself.

Food trends;

Plant based is here to stay! PB has grown massively in 2019 but it’s about to get bigger. Expect to see more plant based options, meat alternatives & green filled options in stores & restaurants. HOWEVER I stand by my number one rule here, you do you! Listen to your body, you don’t need to suffer for a diet trend.

Kombucha I’ve already wrote about how much I love kombucha here

Brussel sprouts yes that’s right I said SPROUTS! I’m not here this at all but the health benefits are undeniable & people are getting creative with cooking them.

So there you have it my 2020 trends, what are your predictions I’d love to hear….

Love

-Tee x

Why you should drink kombucha

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Kombucha has been around for centuries but as with many other things the western world is only just beginning to fully embrace the wonders of kombucha. I was first introduced to kombucha at the back end of 2018 after attending a yoga class followed by a vegan meal, the yoga teacher brought in some kombucha for people to pass around & try & I was hooked, almost immediately. I’m not going to lie my actual first response was eww this smells like beer but once you get past the smell it’s actually delicious.

Kevita kombucha

Just to be clear when I say I was hooked… I mean like full on addicted. My car is actually filled with kombucha bottles and my mom even added a bottle to my Christmas stocking! It’s that serious.

There’s a reason health fanatics are so pro-Kombucha and me! The fizzy drink is full of good gut bacteria that offers a natural energy boost, it’s known benefits are endless check them out:

1.} Detoxification.

2.} Joint care.

3.} Aid in digestion & gut health.

4.} Helps with constipation ( fun shit– literally ).

5.} It’s immune boosting.

6.} Aids in liver function.

7.} The tea is vegan, gluten-free, & contains no GMO

It’s so good that Deliciously Ella talks about it all the time & makes her own!

Healthy kombucha

Okay so I may get overly excited on this topic so let’s back track a little…

What is Kombucha?

Kombucha is a fermented (yes fermented hence the beer like smell) tea packed with millions of good bacteria. It’s a probiotic containing both Vitamins B & C. It’s super cleansing and detoxifying and I think it’s an absolute power house of an elixir. 

What are the benefits?

If you still need convincing Kombucha is excellent for improving gut health & gut health is on trend for 2020! For years we have all underestimated the importance of a good healthy gut even though we’ve all seen the Actimel adverts. The diet culture of reduced everything has had its day & people are turning to more raw & basic foods to reduce risk of allergies and chronic disease. No one needs the fake overly processed options anyway even if they are low fat! Kombucha packs a punch and works wonders for your internal health. (And tastes delicious with champagne)

Kombucha champagne cocktail

So what makes Kombucha such a magical drink?

The key ingredient is scoby – a miraculous piece of living organisms. Not only is it fantastic for making Kombucha but there are so many wonderful things you can do with them. I’ve read about multiple face masks you can easily make at home with scoby & a Nutribullet, blending it down and putting it on your face! I’ve not tried this yet but I’ll keep you updated on Instagram (if you don’t follow me head over to my page reali_tee ).

My favourite;

My favourite by far is Captain kombucha get the raspberry it’s insane! You can pick it up in Holland & Barrettes or Kevita in every flavour going!!!!

Captain kombucha raspberry

Kevita kombucha

Have you tried kombucha? Are you just as addicted or should I seek help?

– Tee x

How to embrace ME time

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Hey hey hey!

Sooo…. Now that I’ve moved in with my boyfriend and live a short distance from my office I’ve found myself with a lot more alone time. My boyfriend leaves before me each morning and arrives home about 2 hours after I do each evening.

This is a total 180 compared to living with my father who was always home.

At first it was kind of weird but I couldn’t actually remember the last time I had had time by self.

Alone time

So I decided to embrace this me time and make a list of ways I like to spend time alone (I love a list, really helps me organise my thoughts… I can’t be the only one doing this surely 🤷🏼‍♀️)

6 things to do alone:

1.) Go outside: this includes taking a walk/ run and using that time to listen to a podcast. There are so many little side streets and areas of Birmingham that not even I’ve explored, my favourite route is via the canal. I just find water so relaxing.

Birmingham library

2.) Cooking: Okay this I do and time so dinner is ready for when my boyfriend walks in, sounds soppy I know but honestly I don’t like to eat late! I find cooking so relaxing, again I may have a podcast on or a Netflix documentary playing on the iPad or just music while I dance around.

Homemade meals

3.) Light a candle: add a cheeky dessert maybe a bit of music playing & just chill. I’ve seriously been craving cinnamon buns lately & after I found this recipe for vegan options I just had to make them. Honestly sitting down to enjoy this in peace & quite easy pure joy & satisfaction! Most of the time sitting down and lighting a candle goes hand in hand with reading a book. Reading is one of my favorite things to do, I honestly believe it makes me a more rounded person and I love the fact you can never run out of things to read. Sitting down with a cup of tea, a good book & a candle is one of my ideas of HEAVEN.

Candlelit dessert

4.) Go to a restaurant: ALONE! Okay I’ll admit I had never actually done this until recently when I found myself waiting 3 hours for breakdown to come out and fix my car. But OMG it was life changing! Now I love it I get to go a try places that I don’t normally go to with other people and just enjoy a meal maybe a cheeky cocktail and just people watch! Also there’s no one there to pull a face at my kale salad followed by a little cheesecake! Nothing like eating alone at a restaurant : ). It’s quickly becoming one of my favorite things ever.

Eating solo

5.) Drink a cup of coffee & CHILLLLL: I loveeeee enjoying a cup of coffee l. I really savour it! & as much as I enjoy going home to meet my dad in our favourite place I do enjoy a nice stroll to a local independent by myself and doing a bit of reading. Right now I’m feeling so festive and having a moment with coconut milk, sometimes I’ll have it as a mocha and other times a dirty chia latte but ALWAYS with cinnamon. I fully zone out in a morning while enjoying my coffee, honestly the barista asked me a question the other day and actually made me jump!

Perfect coffee morning

How do you like to spend time alone?

– Tee, xx

How to keep your shit together this Christmas season.

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‘Tis the season to be jolly! That said the closer we get to the big day the more stressed out we seem to get and we’re so focused making sure we’ve got everything for everyone else or too busy going out that the self care sometimes takes a back seat.

 

Whether you’re getting ready for your works do, going for festive drinks at lunch, seeing old friends or driving home, we all want to look our best this festive season.  Surviving Christmas does of course mean fighting hangovers, dull dehydrated skin, and puffy eyes & face thanks to one too many helpings at the Christmas buffet.

So here’s my Christmas self care survival guide, for your sanity, for your headaches and for your skin.

 

Relax this Christmas

1. Preparation
It sounds obvious, but with all the rushing around at Christmas, it can be so easy to forget the things we need.  I love a list and it feels so good when you tick something off. Whether it’s a list of presents to buy or a packing list if you’re away for a night or two.  Knickers, contact lenses, medication & skin care! Better to take too much than not enough.

Organisation

2. Eat well
When you’re starting every day in December with a lump of chocolate from your advent calendar it’s all too easy to let any kind of healthy eating plan go right out of the window! Treats are fine after all it’s Christmas but it’s also important to remember the age old adage that you are what you eat!  Trust me; you’ll feel, and look better for it. Stock up your plate with veggies and star your mornings with some fruit, these will help your insides (and let’s face it if you’re anything like me your liver will be working over time this month). Leave the bad dietary choices to your party goblin & make good choices while you can.

Bone broth veggie soup

3. Keep hydrated
Remember it’s 8 glasses of WATER a day, not Prosecco. During in the day I stick to water and herbal teas and only one coffee (don’t forget coffee dehydrates you!) Before heading out leave a glass of water next to your bed and down it before your head hits the pillow, you’ll thank yourself the day after. It’s not just the booze, long nights and cold days can leave my skin looking dull and dry, Summer Fridays jet lag mask is a absolute must for me most nights in December it’s so hydrating and leaves me skin with a nice healthy glow each morning. My second favourite beauty product is glossier balm dotcom, just a little bit is packed with antioxidants to nourish dry and chafed skin.

Hydration for the skin

4. Take your make-up off
This isn’t just a December rule,it should be an actual law! At the end of a long day, I get it your bed is so tempting and calling you at 1am but you need to resist. Stay strong and spend a couple of minutes getting it all off. Cleanse, tone and moisturise!  Lay your nighttime routine out before you leave so it’s there as a reminder when you’re back. No one wants a breakout at Christmas.

Nighttime routine

5. Relax
Between lunching with girlfriends, getting the food shopping done and fighting for the best Black Friday deals it’s easy to forget to chill out, especially if you’re out with friends but that can still be draining and if you’re out night after night your sleeping partner is bound to take a hit.  If you’re flagging, 15 minutes in a hot bath with a few drops of your favourite oils or natural salts does wonders for your soul – and keeps you glowing and refreshed!

6. Have fun!
It’ the most magical time of the year and you deserve to have fun! Try not to get yourself so bogged down with trying to make sure that everyone else has an amazing Christmas that you forget to have a good time yourself!  Step away from the already perfect Christmas tree and stop rearranging those baubles.  Christmas is a time of love, laughter and being in the moment.

Christmas fun

I hope you have a magical Christmas and enjoy all the festivities 🥳

What’s your survival tip for the festive season?

Love Tee

How to kickstart #projectcomeback

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Hhhheeeyyy, so I’m back after a short break and the truth is I haven’t been consistent lately because I’ve been in a weird ass FUNK. For the past couple of weeks I’ve not really felt 100% Tee, & for no apparent reason. I’ve been completely unmotivated, second guessing myself, increased self doubt and just not as much fun to be around.

Hands up if you’ve ever had a week or two like this 🙋🏼‍♀️

I hate weeks like this because I don’t feel very me and it’s probably not helped by the fact I had a sty which meant no contact lenses & no make up… while on holiday.

Fortunately for me I have two incredible people in my life that have been so great & I can officially say I’m over the funk (well we’re getting there & remaining positive).

I said there was no apparent reason to this mood dip but I do think lack of sleep and I have been a bit slack on cooking my own food lately (week leading up to my holiday I ate zero home cooked meal…)

We all know that food and exercise have a impact on your health and mood but they’re also soooo much more than that. You are what you eat and chemicals, salt and sugar is not a good combination. Part of the reason I’ve struggled so much to feel like me was partly feeling drained & partly looking drained and my skin was so dull – food plays a big part in BOTH of these aspects.

So #projectcomeback …. it’s all about finding my balance again and I’ve broken it down into 5 key areas

#projectcomeback

Sweat it out- now I’m back to studying my workouts have got to be AM which is harder for me in the winter because the lack of sunlight messes with my head. Fortunately I have a sunrise alarm to brighten up my room and tell my brain it’s morning. LETS GO GO GO…… sweating it out is a great way to get out of a funk mood because it boosts the good chemicals in your brain. I’ve been so unmotivated that when I have worked out it’s been half hearted. This morning I decided on swimming something I love and as soon as I got my swimsuit on I was buzzing to get in the pool. (All oiled up of course following the tips I talked about here)

Swimming is good for the soul

Hydration – do I ever write a post without my favourite H word? Hydrated skin is plump and glowy!

Sleep- I really believe in a good nights sleep it’s a great way to help you reset. I wrote more about it here.

Fresh air – get outside even if it’s just for half an hour. Even on miserable days the UV rays still come through and that’s what helps you produce D3 so you’re still getting some vitamins in. I love going for a walk especially if it means exploring a new city!

Exploring cities

GUT HEALTH

SO here’s what I really want to get talking about, but health. I’m so passionate about healthy gut as I really believe it’s the basis for glowing clear skin, strong healthy hair & nails, as well as mental clarity.

As a child I was always told to eat vegetables and fruit and all the usual healthy diet stuff. However, as a curious child when I asked why I was given old wives tales as answers.

‘Why should I eat carrots?’ You’ll be able to see in the dark- when I was watching cartoons where people could change the weather (Storm from the x-men was always my favourite because I hate the cold wet weather!) seeing in the dark didn’t seem like a super power I wanted.

Maybe it was the lack of google but no one seemed to have a real answer as to why we should do & eat certain things. We just should. Well this didn’t cut it for me & I rebelled against health advice.

Now I know that the best version of me is full of energy & completely switched on. That’s why I love eating foods that feed my gut, please do not think these are boring things at all.

Currently my favourite snack is a fruit bowl here’s what I put in and why;

BLUEBERRIES- we’ve all heard that blueberries are full of antioxidants, but why are these so important? Antioxidants shield the skin against harmful free radicals that can damage the collagen that keeps your skin firm.

RASPBERRIES- still packed with antioxidants but also come with ellagic acid which can keep the skin healthy and rejuvenate it. Our bodies have a natural UV protection built in (still use sun screen!) and raspberries actually help boost this which is a added bonus if you do a lot of outdoor activities.

ALMONDS- I love adding in some healthy fats such as almonds because they’re great for promoting clear acne free skin.

COCONUT FLAKES- coconut anything is good for us we know this, however I’m going to do a full blog post on all its different uses!

YOGURT- I add soy yogurt which has benefits of its own such as containing phytoestrogens that boost the production of estrogen in the body and help reduce the appearance of fine lines & wrinkles. However dairy yogurt (if you eat diary) contains lactic acid, an organic compound that aids in diminishing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines by tightening and shrinking pores. Just do you here….

Skin food bowl

It’s okay to not be bubbly & vibrant all the time as long as you address the cause.

Favourite beauty food?

How to start your day faster & still look good.

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Happy National Rosé Day. Surely this should be a bank holiday weekend right? We should be allowed an extra day off work to enjoy a nice chilled glass of rosé, although the British weather right now isn’t exactly screaming summer vibes. Okay I’m going off on a tangent here, lets circle back…

I don’t know about you but I am not one of those girls that can spend 3 hours + getting ready for a night out, if I’m going out I want to be out out! The whole, shower, wash my hair, blow dry, style, prime face etc etc just gets boring to me. I’m a one hour girl at most. I’d much rather be out drinking the rosé than reapplying my eyeliner for the 3rd time because the flick wasn’t right.

National rosé day

I’m an extrovert get me out of here…

My point is whether I’m going from the gym to the office, or from bed to the coffee shop or more importantly heading to a bar I want to be getting to where I need to be, not messing about with three different shades of blusher. But of course I ALWAYS have to look presentable, it’s just nice to take some pride in yourself right. So (no surprises here) but I have a routine, and I have this down to 45 minutes. It doesn’t matter if I’m getting ready at the gym or in my bedroom I know what products I need where they’ll be and I’m good to go.

Here are a 3 hacks I do to make sure my mornings start off right, if anything throws me off course too early it changes the whole tone of my day and I find that it will just throw me off, anyone else?

1) Sort it out the night before. Yes I’m hyper organised and if being a PA paid more I’d probably do that just for the enjoyment of organising peoples lives, but here’s what I do. I prep EVERYTHING the night before, & I mean EVERYTHING. Even the underwear I’m wearing. Because I think sleep is so important I like to get every last second I can in bed so all my meals will be prepped the night before, if I’m going to the gym my gym bag is packed all toiletries in the bag and gym clothes laid out on my chair so I can literally get out of bed, wash my face drink some water, brush my teeth get a peppermint tea to go and head straight out. This can result ion carrying about 10 different bags but it just makes life easier. I’ll also make an iced coffee the night before. I really try to limit how much money I spend on coffee a month and since I started getting coffee pods from Grind delivered (this is totally on point today as all their branding is pink, just like rosé) my home made coffees are just better. Sorry coffee shops but it’s true, I get the best London coffee straight out of my Birmingham home. Anyway, bags are packed food is ready and coffee is good to go. I’m out the door in 15 minutes.

Prepackaged your stuff the night before

2) Keep your stuff together. I feel like everyone is on the tidying hype lately with the likes of Mrs Hinch & Marie Kondo all over social media that organisation is in fashion. With fashion comes loads of cute boxes & storage options. I have two little boxes one for AM & one for PM (these are actually the boxes that my Grind orders arrived in, no plug I promise but they’re the perfect size, pink & really cute). As I’ve mentioned before I love to buy stuff in sample sizes because it’s just more gym bag friendly. This makes life so much easier when getting ready because I know exactly where my stuff is so I can just grab & go. Ironically there are three things I ALWAYS lose… headphones (I forget which pocket of which jeans/ coat/ bag I was wearing) glasses (which is annoying once I’ve taken my lenses out, now I need glasses to find my glasses) & keys…

The AM box

Keeping your stuff together

3) Keep the makeup looking simple. Call me a basic bitch but I’m not a fan of a heavy made up face. I like to look like me, and if it’s a day I plan to go running at lunch or to the gym after work I really don’t want to spend ages removing layers and layers of makeup. Honestly once the skin care is done, I can keep it as simple as 4 products. IT Cosmetics CC cream, clear brow gel to brush my brows into place, bit of mascara (honestly I can live without this some days especially if I’m wearing my glasses, big glasses are great to hide behind) & Lanolips 101 ointment, 100% natural multi-balm for your lips. I love this product so much. You only need a little but it really softens the lips smells great and leaves a classy shine.

Must have’s on the go

There you have it, my 3 little hacks to getting out the house and ordering that rosé so much quicker.

As usual nothing mention in this posted was gifted or sponsored but things I love and the options are my own, but I want to know yours.

What do you do on the go? Any top secrets on how to look completely put together in under an hour?

I want to know…

Love,

Tee

Gym hair don’t care!

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I’m so protective over my hair it’s unreal. I can be like nooo my hair! But with good reason, I damaged it so badly a few years back with no stop bleach and heat that it was actually frizzled at the front. The only solution was to cut my hair into a lob, not like this made much difference considering it kept splitting anyway. So now I do everything to keep it long and healthy to the point where I just don’t wash it. It’s effort and I don’t particularly enjoy it. If you’re a regular gym goer than you know the struggle is real, because you’re most likely going to work up a sweat tomorrow so what’s the point. Gym hair, don’t care! I’ve also learnt is not smart to train arms the day you wash your hair because holding the hairdryer for so long will come back to bite you! Anyway it’s so much more fun to style dirty hair. What can I say washing my hair is not for me. However if you do a LOT of cardio you probably need to wash your hair at least twice a week to help your scalp.

I’ve recently stretched my washes out to once a week, and quickly learnt the dirtier the better. Anyway who has the time to wash their hair everyday? I’ve got this down to swimming once a week and then washing my hair straight away.

Gym hair wash

Here’s why I don’t wash my hair;

1) I pay for my colour, why wash it straight out? It’s true blondes have more fun but the more you wash your hair the more you wash out the colour. I’ve never been able to keep ashy silver tones in my hair because it naturally has a red tint (thanks dad) but since I started to wash it weekly and switched to Charles Worthington toning shampoo the colour has never been better. Exactly what I wanted, and that’s still the case 8 weeks later. When I do wash my hair I always opt for sulphate free shampoo, this one is currently still my favourite. (Added bonus shampoo and conditioner lasts sooo much longer when you use it less often)

2) It strips out your natural oils, it’s the oils in your hair that make it look shiny and healthy. Isn’t that what everyone wants? So why strip them out, makes no sense to me. You can also end up causing your scalp to produce more oils to try and replace what you’ve washed out, leaving your hair more greasy and you end up in a vicious wash cycle.

3) It’s so much easier to style. Yep, probably helped by the amount of dry shampoo I use but my hair has so much more texture and thickness to it that when I style it it actually does what I wanted, most of the time.

Hair style curls

Here’s some tips for keeping it healthy;

1) The sleep bun, doesn’t need to be a bun but keep it up/ tied back. Buns are great and I use these great crocodile clips which don’t leave a mark in my hair but braids work just as well. I’ve honestly noticed a huge difference in my hair since sleeping with it up more, when I sleep with it down it’s noticeable greasy the day after. Last time I slept with it down my boyfriend rolled onto it in the night and I was trapped, lesson learnt.

Sleep bun

2) Hair mask, we all love a good hair mask but my hair is always so much nicer after a hair mask and gym session. Yes that’s right a hair mask and gym session, I heat from my workout helps the hair mask and it’s more efficient instead of sitting around waiting to wash it out. I will comb my favourite mask through my hair from root to ends and then tie it up, completely out of my face so no product touches my skin.

3) Grapefruit oil, I have a little spray bottle with a concoction of water and grapefruit oil. Post workout I spray a little water on my roots and blow dry them for thickness the spray a little grapefruit to make it smell nice. And I’m good to go.

Hair care

It’s so much fun to get creative with your hair when it’s dirt, here’s a few of my favourite styles;

Up down do

Double buns

Vintage wrap

When it comes to washing your hair I’m definitely a less is more girl.

What about you? Hair secrets accepted below.

Love

Tee

x

Ps: nothing in this post was sponsored or gifted just products and things I’ve tried and liked.