Are You Ready For Your Close Up?

“I woke up like this… flawless” – Beyoncé

I would say that I’m not alone in thinking that it is pretty impossible to wake up flawless. That does not mean to say that people cannot look flawless, after having a personal trainer, make up artists, facials, spa treatments, expensive hair extensions, a private chef and millions of dollars. However for me, the way I look when I wake up is pretty different to how I look when I leave the house for work, and immensely different to how I’d look on a night out. Further, as a self confessed selfie taker, I know that good angles, good lighting and good filters can transform a girls face, sometimes beyond recognition. Therefore I’m always on the lookout for products that at least try to give the illusion that I’m edging towards flawless, in real life as well as on Instagram.

One thing I am happy with beauty wise is my skin. However, it is not merely Luck or Nature, and there are various lotions and potions that I use in order to create a smooth canvas. 

I start by exfoliating my face in the shower (but using a sink of warm water can work too). One of the best exfoliators on the market is St Ives Apricot Facial Scrub, costing around £3.

There are a few varieties but my favourite is the Naturally Clear version, and although it may sound obvious, there is a LOT of ‘scrub’ in there – my pet hate is using an exfoliator that feels like a face cream with a few bits of sand and stone mixed in (I’m looking at you Superdrug Vitamin E Scrub). It always leaves my skin feeling smooth, soft and fresh.  If you want something a bit more gentle for everyday use, I recommend Flake Away  by Soap & Glory which I reviewed HERE. Having dry/combination skin means having to use a thicker than average moisturiser before applying foundation. Otherwise, the foundation can emphasise dry patches and can even make them worse. I personally swear by Nivea Visage Rich Moisturising Day Cream. 

Choosing the right make up brushes is also key to achieving a flawless look. I love using the Real Techniques brushes. They are quite expensive to buy individually so I suggest buying a set for value for money. I chose 'Sam's Picks'. 

L-R - multitask face brush, contouring brush, buffing brush, pointed foundation brush, eyeshadow brush, liner brush.

The buffing brush is fantastic for putting on foundation, using light, circular motions. I recommend putting blobs of foundation onto your skin and then buffing it in, rather than picking it up with the brush.

The buffing brush works so well with one of my favourite foundations, Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24hr. It's well worth the money and lasts for ages. I normally save this foundation for going out in the evenings.

Maybelline has always been my go-to drugstore brand for daily wear foundation. Their newest product, Dream Flawless Nude, has had mixed reviews.

Some people love the light matte finish whereas others have slated it, especially those with dry skin. However, I really like it. Its super fine, and you are meant to apply it by letting drops fall off the applicator onto your finger. Clearly I have no time for that, so I normally just blob the applicator onto my forehead, nose, cheeks and chin. As long as you exfoliate and moisturise properly, and apply it to the drier areas first (with fingers, nothing else will work) then you can get a great finish. This will be a great summer foundation.

Another great Maybelline foundation with fuller coverage is their Superstay 24hr Better Skin foundation. 

This one works well when applied with the Real Techniques buffing brush. It does take a while to 'settle' into your skin and can look streaky at first. I applied a layer of Maybelline 'Fit Me' face powder with the Real Techniques multitask brush and it did give great coverage. It can feel slightly heavy for everyday use, but it depends on what you're used to.

Not entirely sure of what my face is doing here, but #nofilter

I went shopping with my friends on Friday and was amazed to discover that Primark have been doing some fairly decent makeup. While I would never wear their foundation, the eye palette and swirled bronzer (worn above) are gorgeous, and at £3 each are way cheaper than any other brand.

Talking of inexpensive brands, Make Up Academy London(MUA), available in Superdrug, is quickly becoming one of my favourites. Their eyebrow pencil is amazingly waxy and lasts forever. Most recently I picked up their Velvet Lip Lacquer, an amazing lip product that goes on like a gloss and dries matte, with intense pigmentation and long lasting staying power, even after food and drink.

The colours I chose were Reckless (the bright red worn above) and Dare, a deep pinky purply burgundy. 

I really would recommend all of the products I have written about in order to achieve a flawless, insta-ready look.

Lots of love,

Yaasica Lucia Xxx

“Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.” – Marilyn Monroe

New Home, New Beginnings

"There are always flowers for those that want to see them" - Henri Matisse 

Hello everyone! As promised, I've got another article for you today, to cement the fact that I am making an earnest return to the blog. I thought I’d give you a little update on some of what I’ve been up to since I’ve been away. As you may know, I used to live in East London, in the hipster paradise of Victoria Park Village.  As much as I loved living there, I’m thrilled to have moved to a fantastic area of North London, with a flat directly opposite Finsbury Park (the Highbury and Islington side). 

Our flat is just off of a busy, slightly dodgy main road, and looks a bit rough around the edges. However, walk to the other end of the street (Wilberforce Road) and we have one of the best café/deli/wine bars in north London, which I had to try out as soon as we moved in. 

Fink's Salt and Sweet is an absolute gem. The décor and furniture is minimalist and Scandinavian inspired. 

The menu is great, from Hansen & Lydersen salmon, to house granola with berries and yogurt, to flavoursome crunchy chicken salad sandwiches on sourdough. We chose the chicken sandwich, along a toasted English muffin topped with bacon jam and Sharpam Rustic Cheese, accompanied by a well presented latte. 

I love the peppermint green crockery they use, which contrasts nicely with the grey furniture.  The portions are a little small, so I would order a few things and share them between you.

There will be many more North London themed blog posts coming soon, especially as I live amazingly close to Upper Street in Angel, which is famous for having the most restaurants, shops and bars on one street in the whole of London.  Boris Johnson lives there too, although I’m yet to bump into him as I leave the office. 

We have gradually put our stamp on the new flat and it's turned from a house into a home, however cliché that may sound. These days in London, its hard for the average graduate to afford to live in a super modern, high tech flat, so there has to be some compromise. By filling the place with ornaments and plants, it makes it so much nicer to live in. Here are a few things that have made a difference... 

Pictures and cookbooks 

Real life chilis!

Paperchase have been doing the loveliest postcards recently, which cost 60p each. I bought a few and stuck them in £1 frames from Tiger, to make a cheap yet effective wall display. Similar things from Urban Outfitters can cost 10 times the price. Disclaimer: I am not, and never will be, an interiors expert. I just like pretty things. 

An effective and inexpensive way to make any room nicer is to fill it with flowers and candles. One of the best places in London for those is of course, Columbia Road Flower Market, which is the cutest little street between Hoxton and Bethnal Green. It is always, always packed out with people from all walks of life, on Sundays, both browsing and buying. I recommend turning up either at 8am, or alternatively around 1.30pm or 2pm, when you can get some bargains. We managed to get a bunch of roses and a bunch of lilies for £5 all in – so much cheaper than ordering from Interflora. 

 Mary Berry Jug, £8 in the sales

Tesco also do a cracking bunch of brightly coloured flowers for £3, which last around 2 weeks and smell beautiful. 

How to Be Parisian Wherever You Are, available HERE

I’m quite into the whole Parisian chic thing at the moment, as you can see from my reading materials etc. I know I'll never be a true Parisienne, but one can dream, right?

Coco Mademoiselle perfume, Chanel

Milkshake tumbler (used to hold makeup brushes/pens), Ikea £1.50

Lantern, Ikea, £2

I have a few little nooks in my room which I don’t like leaving bare, so I used an Italian Chianti wine bottle as a mini vase (I just liked the label), and added some candles and a lantern. 

Star Lantern, Ikea, £2

Monogram Candle, Oliver Bonas, £4, similar HERE

These are all simple ways of cheering up a flat without breaking the bank. 

That's all from me for today. Up next: I'll be reviewing a new, 'secret' cocktail bar in the heart of Soho, west London. I drank a cocktail from a ceramic wellington boot... but more on that next time! I'll also be doing a beauty based post soon too, I promise!

Love, 

Yaasica Lucia XXX

La Renaissance

"Like the Pheonix, we can observe in our own lives that disintegration brings with it transformation and rebirth."  - Donna Labermeier

I haven't written in a long time, and suddenly I feel awful about neglecting my blog. For so long, it was a way of expressing myself, taking my mind off of 'things' from the past and the present, a way of using my creativity to entertain others. Whether it was writer's block or external influences, I haven't picked up my pen and notepad since last July. However, one of my best friends RD has been encouraging me to write again for months now. Finally, I feel like the time is right to start again. So, hello again old readers, and welcome to new ones.

I thought I would start again gently, similar to the first trip back to the gym after a festive season of Baileys, cheese and general excess. This post is going to be focused on two food based favourites in my life at the moment - Pie and Eggs. Please be aware that I haven't turned into an obese crazy cat lady while I've been away (here's a happy, smiley, non craycray selfie to prove it)

I just love food, soz. 

These foodie loves are slightly naughty, but I'm having like, a Pie Renaissance, or a Pienaissance as my flatmates called it, which I think is rather nice. So here are my very rustic, basic and easy recipes of my Pies du Jour.... 

BEEF STEAK AND GUINNESS PIE - SERVES 4

Ingredients
1 red onion, 1 white onion. 2 sticks of celery. 1 bottle of Guinness. 500g of quick cook beef strips. 1 Knorr Rich Beef stock pot. 1/2 an OXO cube. Olive oil. Plain flour. Sheet of puff pastry. 1 egg. Salt and pepper to taste. 

Method
1. Heat some olive oil in a large saucepan, and chop the onions and celery into bitesize chunks. Fry said chunks in the oil. 
2. Dust the beef lightly with flour, and add to the pan. Crumble in the oxo cube and give a good stir until the beef has browned. 
3. Put stock pot in a mug of boiling water, and add to the pan. Give a good stir and scrape the bottom of the pan as you go. 
4. Add half the bottle of Guinness.
5. Cover for 15 minutes to infuse and reduce. Drink the other half of the bottle of Guinness while you wait (or wash up, whatever you prefer). 
6. Pour the mix into a pie dish and allow to cool for about 10 minutes. 
7. Cover with the pastry sheet, brush with egg, and bake at 180c for around 40 minutes. 
8. Serve with vegetables - we had kale, carrots, tenderstem broccoli, and new potatoes tossed in butter and fresh parsley. 

CHICKEN AND LEEK PIE - SERVES 3-4

Ingredients

Couple of chicken breasts. Leeks. Red onion. Knorr Chicken stock pot. Single Cream (I use Elmea). Sheet of puff pastry. 

Method
1. Fry chicken, leeks and onion in oil until the chicken has browned.
2. Prep the stock pot as before, and add to pan. 
3. Add a glug of cream, salt and pepper to taste. 
4. Pour the mix into a pie dish and allow to cool for about 10 minutes. 
5. Cover with the pastry sheet, brush with egg, and bake at 180c for around 40 minutes. 
6. Serve with veg, I had mine with tenderstem broccoli and it tasted great. 

If you look closely, you will see that I've topped my pies with cute little bunny shapes, because its spring now, and because, well, bunnies. You can use whatever shapes you like. 

If you have leftover pastry, don't throw it away. On Sunday evening, I topped the end of a sheet with Dolcelatte blue cheese, red onion, cherry tomatoes and spring onion, and baked it for 20 minutes. It made an easypeasy, pre-pub snack, and tasted great too. I know pastry isn't the healthiest food in the world, but everyone once in a while, its ok to treat yourself. Besides, at 150 calories per portion of Puff Pastry, as long as you add plenty of veg, it can be part of a decent meal. 

Recently, my cooking style has been more focused on taste rather than presentation, a more rustic approach. After working 9am-6pm in a fast paced job in real estate, the last thing I'm thinking about is whether my pie has neat edges. The other evening, I made new potatoes tossed in fried, buttered leeks. It didn't look amazing but my dinner guest was suitably impressed. I'm taking so much inspiration from Rachel Khoo's book, The Little Paris Kitchen. Its definitely worth a read and has great ideas for even the smallest cooking space and sparsest store cupboard. 

The Little Paris Kitchen, Rachel Khoo, available HERE

Eat Yourself Calm, Gill Paul, available HERE

I also recommend the "Calm Mood" and "Smart is the New Sexy" playlists on Spotify (thanks Katie), to both read and cook to. Just don't be too alarmed when vintage Enrique Iglesias pops up, por favor. 

Onto my slightly healthier food of choice, the humble poached egg. I recently worked out how to use those slightly alien looking silicone poachers (put a lid on the saucepan! Who knew?!). 

A really easy brunch idea is simply poached eggs, smoked bacon and half a chopped avocado. Simple, healthy and satisfying. Serve with Columbian ground coffee (arguably the best kind), fresh orange juice, and the Sunday papers. I mean... look at those yolks!

When you work long hours, its hard to socialise properly, and so I jumped at the chance of an early Saturday breakfast with a friend. We went to the The Hoxton Hotel, in Holborn. I've reviewed their first hotel in Shoreditch HERE, but their newest opening in Holborn is hella snazzy and less "East London" than its older brother, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. 

The hotel has a restaurant called Hubbard & Bell which has gorgeous decor, friendly staff, and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. We both went for the Eggs Benedict - poached eggs and ham, on an english muffin, topped with hollandaise sauce. The latte was made perfectly but I'm not sure if I liked the glasses they were served in. I also had a green juice with kale, apple, cucumber, celery, pineapple, lemon, spinach, parsley, and ginger. It was tasty but in a way where you're not sure whether you're enjoying it or whether you may gag. But you know, health etc. The rest of the menu looked amazing too, and next time I'll be trying the sourdough pancakes with pineapple and brown butter, yum. 

So that's me for today. I promise, promise, promise that I'll be back TOMORROW with another post, which will have more details about what I've been up to when not eating, at around 6pm GMT. Please come back and have a read, tell your friends, tell your family, shout it from the rooftops that I'm back :) 

In the meantime, don't forget to check out my Instagram for daily posts: https://instagram.com/yaasica_lucia/

Lots of Love, 

Yaasica Lucia XXX 

Make up article coming soon, too!

New York, I Love You

"These little town blues, are melting away

I'll make a brand new start of it

In old New York

If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere

It's up to you, New York... New York" - Frank Sinatra

Sometimes in life, it's easy to get bogged down with minor irritations and the minutiae of daily life, which results in a resolutely 'glass half empty' view of the world. The best way to combat this is to remove yourself from the situation, whether its for a day or a couple of weeks, to a year - its totally worth it. So what did I do? I booked a holiday to the most diverse, surprising, incredible place in the world - New York City!

New York Skyline

The City is a truly inspiring place, unlike any other. The main hub is the island of Manhattan, which in itself is made up of contrasting and complex neighbourhoods, from Broadway and the Theatre District next to Times Square, to the soul and culture of Harlem, the fabulous anything goes nature of the West Village, to the high fashion and amazing architecture of Park Avenue and the Upper East Side. Manhattan has it all. As F Scott Fitzgerald wrote in one of my favourite novels, the Great Gatsby, The City seen from the Queensboro Bridge is always the city seen for the first time, in its first wild promise of all the mystery and the beauty in the world. 

The key thing to remember there, is that you will never be able to see everything, there are New Yorkers that haven't achieved that, so don't force yourself to speed round on a whistle stop tour. A great place to start is the world famous and iconic Empire State building which gives you an amazing perspective on the city, and on a clear, sunny day it's breathtaking. 

There are plenty of photo opportunities, and being in New York, I of course tried to channel my inner Blair Waldorf...

As this was my second visit, I was able to explore a little further away from the traditional tourist trail, including to Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Little Italy, and Harlem, Upper West Side, which I will write about further in my next post. 

Central Park

Central Park

So, during the day, go and see all the sights, from the Met Museum, MOMA and the Guggenheim, Central Park, the amazing shopping on Madison Avenue,and so on. 

5th Avenue

But at night, its time to head out of your hotel and your comfort zone. New York is THE place to go for cocktails. As Simone Beauvoir said, There is something in the New York air that makes sleep useless. My favourite bar in central Manhattan is the R Lounge, part of the Renaissance Hotel, at 714 7th Avenue, in the heart of Times Square. 

The R Lounge is like an oasis of calm amidst the chaos below. It's a very chilled atmosphere, with classy surroundings, similar to that of the W Hotel group.

 The playlist was fitting for the feel of the lounge, with Two Door Cinema Club and Bloc Party playing softly through the speakers. More importantly, there was free Wifi (that starts to become key criteria when choosing bars) and air conditioning - summer in the city is hot and humid, and we experienced highs of 30c in early June. 

Whilst there, I had two cocktails. Firstly, the Strawberry Caipricoska, a delicious mix of Ketel One vodka, real muddled strawberries, fresh lime, and finished with a sugar syrup. Secondly, a Mango Sunset, which was created by mixing 1800 Silver Tequila, fresh mango puree, lime juice and a simple syrup. Both were amazing, a great taste of Manhattan. The R Lounge also do the best nachos I've ever tried, covered in nacho cheese sauce as well as Monterey Jack, fresh tomato and red onion salsa, guacamole, sour cream and to top it all off, sweet and sticky pulled pork. Heaven on a plate! 

Another great area to head for cocktails is The West Village/Greenwich Village, known locally as 'The Village'. Traditionally frequented by the gay community (the Stonewall bar at the centre of the gay rights movement is here), it is pretty similar to Compton Street in Soho, London. It's very inclusive and welcoming to people from all walks of life - so be open minded. Perla, at 24 Minetta Lane, is a fairly new cocktail bar and restaurant, with friendly bartenders and again, a fairly chilled atmosphere. 

I drank a Millenium Falcon (Bourbon, Cynar - an artichoke based liqueur - lime, angostura bitters, topped up with ginger beer) whilst A$AP Rocky and Juicy J pumped out of the speakers. In New York, you're just as likely to hear Lady Gaga as you are to hear French Montana, New Yorkers aren't phased by genre or style anymore, they just go with it. 

As a Sex in the City superfan (I'm Carrie AND Miranda), I couldn't go to New York without having the drink that epitomises the show and the city for women everywhere - the Cosmopolitan. My personal favourite, it is made with good quality vodka, Cointreau orange liqueur, cranberry juice and a splash of lime juice. Our hotel, the Skyline NYC in Hells Kitchen, on 49th and 10th, had a happy hour from 12pm-6pm every day, with cocktails at $5 each. The bartender there is lovely, originally from Nepal but has lived in the city for 18 years (he's already convinced me to move there for work eventually), so its definitely worth a visit. I wouldn't like to reveal how many of these I consumed... 

After all this alcohol, you need a decent breakfast to start the day afresh. The Skyline did the best American Style Pancakes with crispy, streaky bacon. The best part? The jugs of maple syrup on every table! 

An amazing way to either start or finish a night out (depending on your preference) is to visit the Top of the Rock, on top of the Rockefeller Center, which gives amazing views over the city and is fantastic at night when all the buildings are lit up. There is also an unrivalled view of the Empire State Building. 

When you leave, make sure when you get off the elevator, you take a picture with the iconic wall art, showing the brave and hardworking men that built the modern foundations of this amazing city, over a hundred years ago. 

Tom Wolfe once commented that One belongs to New York instantly, one belongs to it as much in five minutes as in five years. For me, he is completely correct. New York recaptured my heart and has fuelled my desire to live and work there one day. 

In NYC, anything is possible, so who knows? 

Yaasica XXX

P.S. Come back next week for my post on Harlem, Brookyln and Little Italy! 

Hampstead Heath: The Lungs of London

Although I was born in London, I spent the majority of my childhood in the Suffolk countryside, which means that even though I have moved back to the city, I still yearn for the great outdoors. Working a 9-5 in an office in front of a computer all day, I try and drag myself outside for a walk at lunchtime, but its all too easy to simply find a comfy chair, stock up on carbs and stay out of the cold and rainy weather (and its May!) Going for a walk halfway through the day is a surefire way to beat lethargy and grogginess, and will mean that during the afternoon you are less likely to drift off around 3.30pm... Whether it's in sunglasses and a summery top, or wearing a waterproof mac and an over sized umbrella, we should aim to walk for at least 30 minutes a day. 

Sunglasses: Primark

Necklace: New Look

Pink Waffle Top: New Look

Hampstead is an affluent area of London, popular with intellectuals, artists, and professional families in their early 40s that bought property while it was still reasonably affordable. Think of it as our generation's Clapham or Hackney.It is home to Hampstead Heath, one of the best open spaces in London, and one of the best city parks in the world. 

There is so much to do, as well as the vast and hilly parkland, there's a Lido (outdoor swimming pool), an athletics track, even a zoo! If you're feeling brave, during the summer months there are even natural swimming ponds, you must go and take a dip. 

The views from Hampstead Heath, sitting in a privileged position to the north of central London, are breathtaking. You feel so far from all the hustle and bustle when really you are a short tube ride away. Try and get one of the popular benches on Kite Hill, or indeed take a kite there and have some playful fun. 

After all the walking up and down and around, we sought some refreshment. THE MAGDALA is a cosy little pub and restaurant close to Hampstead Heath Overground Station. 

The restaurant was so lovely to go into on a chilly day, with comfortable sofas and chairs, and I loved the cute little tartan stools. The Magdala would not be out of place in the Suffolk countryside; perfect for spending all day drinking with friends, or a lazy lunch. There's also a courtyard garden which will be great when summer finally arrives.

The menu was varied and reasonably priced, and there was a great selection of ales, ciders and wines. I chose the Pork and Chorizo Burger with Soured Cream, served with perfectly cooked chips that were crispy and crunchy on the outside but soft and fluffy on the inside. It worked really well paired with a Crabbie's Alcoholic Ginger Beer. Just what is needed after a brisk walk!

After another explore, gazing at the gorgeous houses and fashionable boutique shops, we decided to stop for dessert at EUPHORIUM BAKERY. They began in Islington in 1999 and now have 29 different shops or outlets around London. The one in Hampstead certainly did not disappoint. 

In the afternoons, if you buy a hot drink, you get a free pastry or cake - this is my kind of bakery! There was a large communal table and several smaller ones, all strewn with The Observer and other weekend papers with magazines. There are similar places to this in Victoria Park where I live, for example 'The Loafing', but it is often full of pretentious posers and sullen staff which really puts me off. At Euphorium, I chose a smooth, silky, luxurious hot chocolate. The cups are on the small side, but as it is rich in flavour, you find you do not actually need a large size at all. I also had a cinnamon bun style pastry, with some sort of currant, which was coated in what I think was an apricot glaze. Whatever it was, it tasted fantastic. 

Come rain or shine, Hampstead is a great area to visit, a village community in the centre of London, reminiscent of Notting Hill, Primrose Hill and lately, Victoria Park. It's so easy to get there, either take the Northern Line tube northbound to Edgeware and get off at Hampstead Underground Station, or head to Hampstead Heath Overground Station. 

If you do one thing this weekend, you should head to Hampstead!

Yaasica Lucia XXX