Welcome

Hey everyone!!

I'm Nadine author of Nadia Elizabeth. I started this blog as away to self reflect on my journey through life and share with many of you my love for writing and self expression.

As a graduate in Media Studies I longed to share my life not only through a Journal,  but also through the lens of the modern day world. 

I'm a mother a hard worker and a keen fitness enthusiast, who’s working towards a more mindful and sustainable life. 

I've worked as brand ambassadors for fitness brands along with studying fitness adult and child nutrition and digital marketing.

When I'm not at home lounging around  at home or busy being a mum, you will find me working on a busy unit within the health care sector.

Please look out for my other projects Finesse and Beyond focusing more on  nutrition and minimalist living and my weekly podcast Lifestyle and Beyond talking about all topics lifestyle related. 

Contact nadiaelizabeth19@gmail.com or follow on Instagram @nadine_elizabethx

How I spend less money buying fashion Items to transition into Autumn

Boots forever 21 (old), Grey top Marks & Spencer's £17.50, Next Jeans £28, Neckless River Island (old), Black contrast bag Next £26

With the temperature becoming colder we all seem to be  finding ourselves deciding what to wear and how to make the transition from our summer wardrobe into Autumn.

Investment and strategy are the Key words

For this particular season one of the things I normally always go by is quality is better quantity,
so here is why?

You will often find that Autumn and Winter season clothing seems to be a little more expensive. Depending on fabric and style and of course the need to layer on more items, can normally mean you going down to the city mall to try on endless clothes to find the pieces that work well with your personal style. Having a strategic way to shop for such items, can be very helpful and allows you to buy only what is required. Getting used to asking yourself question such as-  how practical is the item? Can it be styled in many different ways? I'm I getting value for my money?

 Being a working mother I'm often running around after my children, so I know that anything I wear needs to work with my day to day activities.

My top tips

Shoes

Always make sure you invest well into a pair of boots, as these you will wear almost everyday and they will go through many vigorous weather conditions. The better the quality the longer they will last and, sustain the weather making them more cost effective over the years. I would suggest purchasing boots that are very basic in design with a classic look, this will mean that you can bring them out year after year without them looking dated and you won't need to worry about staying on trend.

My Autumn/Winter boots collection has grown slightly over the years currently consisting of 2 knee high flat boots (which I've had for 4 years) , 1 winter snow boots and 2 heeled ankle boots.  Having a variety is good as this gives you more styling options and, can take your outfits from day into night.

Always remember your collection can be built over time, so no need to go out and make a massive spurge all in one go.

Clothing Tops & Knits
The best ways to transitions your summer wardrobe and to save money is to invest in some light knit cardigan's, these are great for adding texture and colour, and a good all round layering piece for example you can wear a camisole top, layer that with a basic long or short sleeved tee and then layer the cardigan on top.  I personally do this every year and, it works because it means I can spend less money purchasing many different items.

Generally speaking I tend to save my bigger splurges for chunky knitwear to avoid bobbling and colour fades after washes. Again the key here is to stick to simple styles and colours, adding one or two bolder colours for a fresh look.
Washing your clothes with a washing detergent that is delicate and formulated for knitwear will also keep them looking fresher for longer, I current use Woolite fabric wash, but most supermarkets will stock there own brands which can be a little cheaper.

Outerwear/coats
When choosing coats or jackets for Autumn/Winter I would recommend going a size up to compensate for the fact that we are adding those extra layers. Faux leather, Faux fur, suede, tweed and the classic trench coat are great pieces that can work well as the weather gets cooler. Try to stick to basic designs and colours, however within your collection there is nothing wrong with having a few experimentally items  that can be useful and can help to make an outfit more relevant and playful.

Accessories

A great way to add a pop of colour using scarfs, bags or hats, if you are like me and hate the feeling of the wind on your legs while wearing a dress or skirt them some tights for those cooler nights will help to keep you warm, try going for those thicker fabrics 60 denier or above as these will last all through the Autumn and Winter. Some stores have tights with a thermal lining, these normally will last longer as the material is more durable they are a little more on the expensive side but, trust me I haven't brought a new pair of tights in 2 years.

1 day in London

As a family we enjoy the outdoors and exploring is a fun way to teach the kids about local history.

The day started off with one of  my favourite bus tour rides, enjoying the view from our the roof top.

First stop of course was Buckingham Palace our little one was excited to see royal history.

There are many different tour operators within the city but we used Golden Tours bus company, the buses either come with a recorded audio or a live tour guide which I have to say was a lovely touch.  Buses depart from all main tourist attractions. We purchased the a one day ticket hop and off boarding our bus Marble Arch.

I would recommend sitting on the top deck as you can see all the stunning views, people watch and take in more of the history and culture. London is a vibrant city full of many little surprises we visited Tower bridge, the National Art Museum, took a stroll around Trafalgar square, visited the  London eye,  Elizabeth tower and Kensington  palace just to name a few. We had a fantastic day and defiantly feel its a trip worth taking for all to enjoy.

I must say we very surprised just how much we learned about the history of London and how the city has transformed over the years.

Summer beauty Products I enjoy using

Hi my loves,

Hope you all have had a great week , As the weather has been sizzling hot in the UK, I've found myself reaching for my summer must haves.

Clarins hydro Essentials Face Cream  {for very dry skin)  is hydrating cream that is applied day or night, if you have very dry skin then this cream works well to keep your skin moisturised throughout the day.
Just a quick note if your like me and unsure of you skin type or unsure if this product is for you head down to your local Clarins beauty representative they are great for offering advice and free samples for you to try out, and if you sign up to there mailing list they will send you an email  that explains how to use the product to get the best results.

Soap and Glory Glow Lotion is creamy lotions with a slight shimmer. applies to the body chest, legs and arms and it gives a lovely glow.

Maglicool is a cooling spray that will help to cool you down when your feeling a little over heated, it has a slight but fresh fragrance.

Soap and Glory Heel Genius what an amazing product it smells divine and a great product for keeping your feet soft and moisturised. Apply during the night slip on some socks and feel the lotion doing its work, you will soon have lovely refreshed feet all day.

Original Sprout Natural Shampoo I'm in love with this shampoo as its great for all members of the family, children and adults using organic products that are natural with no nasty chemicals and is 100% Vegan.

Bobby Brown Bronzer Pallet-  This pallet was formulated for the summer and consist of  a blush, bronzer and highlighter as I'm super busy, I just like the idea of having an all in one product that takes less time and less storage space.

Soap and Glory the Righteous body lotion I'm sure you've noticed I'm a big huge fan of Soap and Glory and this product is no exception, a lovely summer scent that last for ages, as I have really dry skin I find this product keeps my legs moisturised all day - perfect for those summer days and nights.

Disclaimer:  This is not a sponsored post, nor did I receive the product for free. All products was brought with my own money and is my honest opinion.

How I prevented stretchmarks during pregnancy

I've been wanting to feature this product for sometime, and just wanted to share my thoughts and opinion on the Elemis Camellia Oil.

I have been asked many times what I have been using during my pregnancy on my skin and particular on my belly to keep it moist, and help with itching and prevention of stretchmarks. I have to say I have used Elemis camellia oil during both my pregnancies, and I personally find the product to be very effective for my skin with amazing results. Now I can't say that my results was all entirely down to this product because many factors, including, genetics and lifestyle play apart of how our skin reacts to any major change, but I do feel that the oil helped keep me skin moisturised for hours resulting in less itching, and preventing any stretchmarks forming.

The oil blend is thick in consistency with a light fragrance consisting of plant collagen and is apart of the Elemis mother to be pregnancy massage in selected salons. This product defiantly feels very luxurious and melts into the skin well, although I would recommend allowing the product to dry before applying clothing to avoid staining.

My only issue with this product was the design element, which I felt the bottle it self is elegantly made from a very solid glass material, and feels very expensive,  however I found the sliver screw on cap was very fiddly and would often fall on the floor which was a little annoying at times, however for such a small flaw I do feel that the product is great value for money, and a small investment if you want to keep your skin looking and feeling great during and after pregnancy.

I purchased this product from here or here

Disclaimer:  This is not a sponsored post, nor did I receive the product for free. All products was brought with my own money and is my honest opinion.

A day @ Twycross Zoo

A few weeks ago we took a trip to Twycross Zoo, and we was not disappointed.
The weather was amazing, and as I was still nursing a cold it was nice to breathe some fresh country air. The zoo prides its self on being the world's primate centre hosting a huge collection of monkeys and apes many of which are sadly threaten species .

There is so much to see here from elephants, leopards, seals-birds, reptiles, and the list is endless.
They also have there own parrot sanctuary where you can walk through there garden and feed the birds, you can walk with the lemurs and visit the lovely butterfly forests, where you can see so many lovely species of butterflies fluttering around you.

The zoo is clean and welcoming, and there is a lovely little splash area for the kids where they can cool off during the lovely summer months and the children's play area is well maintain and, catered for both younger and older children.

We had a blast and after our day we took a look around the gift shop, there is plenty of choice from jewellery, toys, ornaments and books.

I can not recommend this zoo enough, its fantastic for all members of the family.

If you require refreshments there's a great selection for everyone or of course you can bring your own and have a nice picnic.

Top 5 Gluten and dairy free products I Love

Since I was a teenager, I suffered terribly with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) for years I tried every product available on the market to ease my symptoms with very little joy, I was taking medication daily and was still feeling sluggish, in pain and unable to control my emotions. My doctor would recommend eating a high fibre diet, but this just made me worse. I couldn't understand why oh why I was doing as my doctor had recommended, but still I was suffering.

Then I decided enough was enough, it was time for me to take charge of my diet without relying on medication to control my condition.

Coconut Milk
I have converted so many of my friends and family to this product and here is why- its an excellent replacement and taste divine in porridge, tea. or you can use it when cooking dishes such as coconut rice or curries Its so versatile which makes it one of favourite's.


Gluten free porridge
There are some many different brands and it depends on the taste and texture you prefer but add your favourite fruit, honey or preferred milk and this a definite winner .



Lacto free Milk
I actual us this for my daughter, I find it's great with cereals unlike the coconut milk which I personally wouldn't recommend with cereal  and as my daughter was complain if stomach ache after drinking pasteurised cows milk after switching to this I never had a problem.

Gluten Free pasta

This has been one of the hardest product to find a good quality pasta that doesn't turn the water all white and slimy. My personal favourite is Asda' or Tesco's own brands they taste similar to normal pasta and I often prepare this for family and friends with no complaints.

Dairy Free yoghurt
Koko is a great brand, and I must say, I completely love this combination of coconut and strawberries . Its a great alternative to dairy or soya and if your like me and love the coconut taste then this is a great replacement product.


Luckily over the years the gluten free and diary free market has evolved . After some careful research and keeping a food diary I noticed that I had an intolerance to wheat and dairy as they both made me feel bloated and in constant pain, I wanted to try and test out what was on offer so I signed up Juvela newsletter  they also offer a free starter pack of great products, and can honestly say I never turned back. Since then I have tried so many different products from various brands and I can honestly say the taste, and variety has really developed over the years. Lastly I must say I'm not a medical, health or nutrition professional, so its important that if you have any symptom's that are bothering you, please consult with a professional first before taking action.

All picture sources taken from Asda.com