BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS.

Spring is in the air,

you get that feeling that life gets a little better, days get a little longer and people are a little happier.

You see people running in the streets and parks. And even on a sunny day, you can start to spot people on terraces with some sunnies on and with a glass of wine in front of their noses.

February is the moment where a lot of people start to plan their trips for the summer, their vacations even if it's a trip to the sun or a citytrip to a city you desire.

We were looking for a trip this summer and we were hesitating between a citytrip or a real summer vacation. So at first we took the decision on going to Kràkau, Poland. Which is obviously a weird decision, i get that. But it is close to Auschwitz and i really wanted to visit that as it is a part of my European history.

But one day we turned that whole idea around and went for the idea of sea, history, white beaches and salsa.

CUBA.

So i started to panic, beach, sea and bikinis? I'm like, what me?!

So i decided to start working out and eat healthy to kick ass in a great bikini while i'm sunbathing and salsa dancing with my boyfriend or Cubans.

We're 2 months later and after daily work outs at home (my paycheck doesn't allow me to buy a devilishly expensive gym membership.). And i eat clean, i have to say that in the beginning all of those things were so hard. I gave up like 2 times. I found it hard because i saw no results what so ever and after a week of working all day i didn't have the courage to go through with it. And then my image changed about the whole "getting fit for a vacation" image. I cannot work for a goal like that! I know that i will work hard towards it but after that, what then? I have no goal to achieve and no mindset. I'll fall hard and create crappy habits again. Do i want that?

No, i don't. 

So what i'm working for is myself, my future and my image. I don't want no size 2 or 4 nor do i need that.

I needed to change the way i lived and the lazy habits i had.

So i reinforced myself to go for it, and i do it. Every single day i eat clean now, to become what i want to be for myself and for the people to say how good i look.

So this is what my day looks like, every day for the rest of my life.

I wake up everyday at 5:20 AM, i make myself ready and go off to work.

My working day takes 10h a day, from 7AM till 5PM.

I come home at 5:45PM and i let the dogs out.

I jump in my sports gear and i start rope skipping, hula-hooping(which weighs about 3.5 pounds) for a half an hour.

I do sit ups, core working, every single type of work out you can do on a yoga mat + squating my ass off, also for a half an hour.

it takes all together 1h to do all of it and it makes you feel so much better. You feel fit and happy but most of all satisfied that you didn't listen to the inner you in the car who was saying that you were to tired to work out today.

I make a fresh salad, chicken, fish or any types of food with low calories and carbs. That's the food that keeps you going all day, it works well for a healthy skin and it's just good, in every way. The taste, the effects and the healthy feeling you get from it.

And if i don't have time to work out in the evening i work out in the morning, because one day of not doing that is one day wasted to where you want yourself to be. I also start to see some changes, my hips are getting toned and my arms are getting stronger. Also i have lost 8,5 pounds since i really made the commitment and that makes me happy, it really does.

So it's time to stop making excuses for yourself, you're not hungry in between different meals, you're stomach is just bored. And remember that, you are more important for yourself than anyone is.

xoxo

A NEW GEM IN THE HEART OF GHENT.

Weekends, 

a truly loved part of the week where everyone seems to be happy and fill their hearts with joy, laughter and drinks. A moment to be adventurous or rather lazy. Well none of them described my Saturday on the 7th of February. We, my beloved boyfriend and me, went on a Saturday to explore. I went shopping, i mean like duh of course what else would i be doing. 

In the afternoon we we're invited to a new great concept. A store located in the heart of Ghent giving you art, pleasure and an empty wallet. This new gem of this adorable city is called E JUWEELIER.

It's a jewelry shop, but not your average one. it's filled with handcrafted precious jewelry as well made by guest designers and the designer and shop owner herself, Elise Geers. 

Elise Geers,

 graduate and master in noble forge art, designs her own line of timeless jewels and accessories. Such as earrings, necklaces, rings, bracelets and more. As visiting the shop you are welcomed by a young, elegant and sweet lady. You get to take a look around on your own pace and you get to try the jewelry without any problem. 

As you look around you'll notice that the shop is timeless, industrial combined with modern and wealthy designs. Build and constructed with the finest materials and furniture, this space absolutely deserves your visit.

Neither the less, this amazing lady happens to be my sister in law. She works hard for what she desires and worked hard for what she accomplished. The jewelry she crafts are made with precious materials such as silver, gold and with all her heart. 

Price range starts from €24 up to €1500, there's a have for everyone from student to all of our hard working ladies who desire timeless jewelry.

The shop is located at Kortrijksepoortstraat 65, 9000 Ghent.

X o x o

E JUWEELIER.

MISS ELISE GEERS.

BUSINESSCARDS WITH STYLE.

A SNEAK IN THE SHOP.

THE SEE TROUGH WALL.

JEWELRY SELECTED BY THE SHOP.

A LOOK IN THE RANGE.

BACK NECKLACE, AMAZING PIECE OF ART.

A COUPLE OF MY PERSONAL FAVORITES.

MY SECOND FAVORITES.

MADE BY FLORENCE CROISIER.

THESE ARE JUST BREATHTAKING.

ARTY AND YET WEARABLE!

WAR OF THE M-U BAG.

"What is it with women and their bags?" Was the question that popped into my head when all the other thoughts and concentration was already in a weekend state of mind. I work in an open space with loads of people walking by every day for 50hours per week. Yes indeed, I work my ass off for a 23year old. 

So while being at the end of the week my mind is somewhere far, not concentrated at all and it's just thinking about bed and some other nonsense. 

How about reorganising my make up bag this weekend?! Yezzur, will do that. So I did.

It was, at most terms pretty fine, not that much to throw out. I was just having some fun swiping some of my colours that I use every day and yet still surprise me. So I decided to write a piece on: "what's in my M-U bag?".

Here you go, my perfect make up bag is a Primark one, it was about 3£/5€ and mostly the greatest one I've owned ( i even bought 2 of them just in case one gets broken or lost, I'm sick I know). 

It has 2 departments, a smaller one where your make up brushes will feel perfectly at home. The bigger one will eat up all your make up itself, everything fits and you can put plenty of stuff in it. 

Primark, 3£/5€

For the skin, from low to high coverage.

-MAC strobe cream(illuminating primer)

-Estée Lauder day wear(adapts to your skin colour and is the most natural)

-Bobbi Brown's BB cream(natural and flawless finish)

-MAC studio sculpt(for destroyed skin days with a high coverage matte finish)

-MAC Pro long wear concealer(love this one for ever!)

Finish for skin and eyes.

-MAC p+p translucent loose powder

-MAC blush in ambering rose

-MAC paint pot in groundwork(primer)

-MAC liquid last liner in black

-MUFE smoky lash mascara 

-MAC false lash extreme black mascara

-MAC omega eye shadow for the brows

-Hema brow gel in clear

Colours for the eyes.

-my mac customised pallet with different colours from light ones to dark, with different finishes(matte and metallic) 

-Urban Decay naked2 pallet, practically the apple of my eye. 

Daily lips.

-Bobbi Brown's lipliner in naked.

-Primark's matte lipstick in whisper(don't be shocked, Primark lipstick are really good!)

And of course, te brushes, as well for foundation(the. Blender from Jessup is dope), concealer, powder, blush and contouring. I still have weak knees or the MAC brushes, the quality is really good, I know they're a bit pricey but worth every penny. The Jessup one was cheap and works so nice!

Aaah, the eye brushes, no one could ever live without them because if I hadn't have these... I'd have no eyebrows or blended shadows. Word said, they're all from MAC. 

So what's in your bag? I know for sure within one week I have to clean it all over again same as with my purse, the story keeps on repeading itself. 

Xoxo love,

Have a great week.

BACK TO BLACK WITH OPIUM.

Yesterday was blue Monday. The third week of the new year 2015 and the day all our annual self promises are given up and we have no money left. All we are left with is some self pity and an anxious feeling for better weather. 

Behind all that sorrow this rather ordinary Monday I'd say it was a happy day. I finally received my perfume to brighten up these dark days. What I was left with last night while standing in the kitchen was a box of black opium by YSL, I was happy and that's the least to say. 

The scent was released in September 2014, founded by master perfumers Nathalie Lorson and Marie Salamagne in collaboration with Olivier Cresp and Honorine Blanc. 

This new vibrating scent gives a rock and roll interpretation to the classic "Opium" by YSL. It's a highlight to the dark, mysterious side of the YSL brand. 

The scent is rather winter/autumn but can be worn on a daily basis because of the fresh orange blossom tones mixed with coffee. At night this perfume really takes its stand, it's sexy and yet innocent but oh so dark it even makes me think of a masked theme party.

The perfumes notes are:

-coffee

-pink pepper

-orange blossom

-jasmine

-vanilla

-patchouli

-cedar

The bottle is the signature bottle from the Opium range. It's dark and decorated with sequins for the edgy glam rock look.

The face of the campaign is the pretty British model Edie Campbell shot by Daniel Wolfe.

The perfume is available in sizes 30,50 and 90 ml. 

It's still pricey, I have to admit but worth every penny. 

For now this is my favourite signature scent and i'm never going back to anything less but this YSL.

Xoxo

THE BATTLE OF THE LIPBALM.

lip balms, lip balms and lip balms. You get them thrown in your face wherever you go, grocery shopping, night shopping, shopping for clothes and every other kind of with shopping involved. But what is good actually? I mean seriously, there are millions of lip balms all over the world and they come in millions of different colours, shapes, tastes and scents. Do these elements make the product better? Is it worth spending the extra money? Let's find out.

I have been looking for the perfect lip balm practically all my entire life which contains a small amount of 23 years. Not that much, no indeed. But long enough to have broken and brittle lips everyday and almost giving up all hope about them. Lipstick looks weird on your lips because of the loose little bits of skin, the cracked feeling lipstick gives you and the bloody feeling, literally.

I've been testing some different lip balms for over a year now and i have to admit. it's not how more expensive it gets the better it is, no. Let's say for starters that Labello is no bueno, it tastes good and smells like a fresh spring morning in a flowerbed somewhere in the countryside.

Products that have been tested are:

EOS lip balm in blackcurrant. 8€

CARMEX original lip balm. 3.45€

CARMEX lip balm in tube with cherry flavour. 3.50€

MAC lip moisturizer tube. 15.50€

BABY LIPS lipbalm by maybelline. 4€

Of all these lip balms i tried i have to say i crack for the CARMEX original stick. It's minty, feels healthy and fresh. it leaves a soft layer on the lips protecting them and at the same time nourishing the lips.

Second place goes to the CARMEX lip balm cherry, there is less product in its container and you get bored of the cherry flavour in a short time. But it nourishes at the same high level as the original one!

Third is the MAC lip conditioner. Comparing to their other amazing products this one is way to expensive for what it gives you. it indeed moisturises the lips but it's not the wonder product you need and the tube gets really messy fast.

Fourth is the EOS lip balm. A complete trashy no, i am sorry for the people who thought it's a hype and is so freaking good. No it's not. It tastes and smells awesome, i admit. But as for nourishing and lip care it's worth crying. 

Fifth is the BABY LIPS from Maybelline. It doesn't even stay on for 2 minutes. even tough 4€ is not that bad the product is not nice. it's not smooth when you put it on and it seems to disappear within 2 minutes and you'll look like a lip balm addict when putting it on a zillion times a day. 

I hoped this helped you all out when choosing your next lip balm, don't doubt whenever it's cheap, the doubt should come when it goes over 5€. 

XOXO

Fe Alice

HOW TO JENNER.

No nonsense kind of day, that is what this day represents. It's a couple of days before Christmas and everyone is hunting like a mad hatter to quickly find that one present in time because the shops close at 5pm and they had to work until Wednesday. Na-ah, not for me. My nonsense kind of day is more about how I don't like the whole image about the Kardashian entourage. Except for the Jenners, especially the Kylie-kid. They don't own that artificial to much contouring look and they dare to wear less, I love them. They are young indeed and pretty much wild I have to say, seeing in what wealth they grow up they tend to be "normal". 

-Kendall and Kylie Jenner.

I am a sucker for Kylies make-up look tho, not to much eye shadow in matte colours and those pink mauve plumping lips that make your heart skip a beat. I adore it! 

-Kylie Jenner.

So I recreated the statement look she already put her name on. Simple eye shadow in 3 different matte tones, a lip pencil in a perfect mauve pink colour and the perfect skin. Great idea for the holidays!

Used products:

Mac face and body foundation in C2

Mac Pro long wear concealer in NC20

Mac soft and gentle highlighter

Mac bone beige sculpting powder

Mac prep+prime translucent powder

Mac blush ambering rose

Mac omega eye shadow for brows

Mac brulé eye shadow as highlight on lid and browbone

Mac sketch eye shadow in crease 

Mac carbon eye shadow in crease and lash line

Make up for ever smokey eyes mascara

Mac penultimate eyeliner

Bobbi Brown naked lipliner

Mac ample pink lipgloss

Xoxo and happy holidays,

Fe Alice

MAKE UP FOR EVER, FOR EVER.

Friday night december 12th of 2014. Chilly, cold and windy weather. All i can say about it that it is absolutely annoying and depressing for someone else , not for me. I'm in holiday for 5 days, perfectly sitting in front of my laptop in my comfy couch listening to Christmas music while my fireplace warms up the room and i'm dreaming of having a "white Christmas". Never going to happen so i'd better start writing again.

A couple of weeks ago i was invited to Make Up For Ever's launch event of their new eye shadows. i have to tell, they are AMAZEBALLS.

I went with my gorgeous friend and we were all excited about this, they had discontinued all their shadows, they had 125 colours available. Yet these have been replaced by 210 colours. Yes you hear it well, 210 colours! They come in 5 different dimensions:

ME: Metallic
M: Matte
S: Satin
I: Iridescent
D: Diamond

The texture of these new eye shadows is rather brilliant, it's powdery yet smooth. You'd think it's actually a cream when you put it on your brush or if you feel it by finger. In the beginning they are kind of hard to work with, they are really pigmented, i never saw the MUFE eye shadows being so strong and pigmented as these ones, thumbs up guys, i'm hooked.

They are €17,90 for a refill shadow, twice the size of a mac eye shadow.

If you love make up and love to play around with different textures and uses , you'll be pleased with these. You can use the shadows for highlighting, sculpting and brows as well, great ain't it?

Visit your MUFE shop to try these gorgeous shadows out, you'll fall head over stiletto heels with these babies. I can tell you, they got me addicted.

XOXO